The　chemical　state　of　the　Co-relevant　active　site　determines　the　catalytic　performance　of　the　Co-containing　zeolite　catalysts　in　non-oxidative　propane　dehydrogenation　(PDH)　reaction.　Herein,　we　demonstrate　that　the　moderate　steaming　pre-treatment　is　an　available　strategy　to　enhance　catalytic　activity　of　silicalite-1　zeolite-supported　Co　catalyst　through　tuning　the　Co　state.　The　steaming-treated　Co@S-1-steam　catalyst　exhibits　sevenfold　increased　specific　reaction　rate　(0.44　s−1)　than　the　untreated　Co@S-1　catalyst　and　maintains　95　%　propylene　selectivity　in　the　PDH　reaction　at　590　°C.　By　comprehensive　characterizations　on　the　structural　properties　of　the　catalysts,　multiple　roles　of　steaming　treatment　are　discovered.　Steaming　treatment　can　induce　the　reductive　restructuring　of　the　Co　catalytic　sites　in　zeolite　micropores　to　form　tetrahedral　Co2+　species　with　enhanced　dispersion　and　unsaturation　degree,　and　significantly　accelerate　the　selective　activation　of　propane　C[sbnd]H　bonds.　Furthermore,　it　also　reduces　the　surface　acidity　and　consequently　promotes　the　desorption　of　propylene　intermediates　for　enhancing　the　catalytic　reaction　rate　and　anti-coke　stability.　©　2022　Elsevier　B.V.