Hydrogenation　stands　out　as　one　of　the　most　promising　techniques　for　converting　biomass-derived　molecules　into　valuable　products.　The　expected　products　of　upgrading　biomass　molecules　include　hydrocarbon,　oxygenate,　and　methane.　Ni-based　catalysts　have　attracted　considerable　interest　owing　to　their　unique　properties　and　relatively　low　cost.　In　this　work,　NiO　prepared　by　the　calcination　and　urea　precipitation　methods,　namely　NiO–C　and　NiO–U,　is　investigated　for　the　hydrogenation　of　anisole.　It　is　found　that　reaction　temperature　exerts　a　significant　influence　on　the　hydrogenation　pathways.　At　150　°C,　C–reduced　NiO　proves　more　inclined　towards　hydrogenation,　while　U–reduced　NiO　demonstrates　a　tendency　for　hydrodeoxygenation　(HDO).　Moreover,　as　the　temperature　rises,　both　nickel　catalysts　change　the　reaction　route　to　hydrogenolysis　and　eventually　only　produce　methane　at　300　°C,　whereas　metallic　Ni　is　formed　as　the　catalytic　active　phase.　In　situ　FTIR　experiments　suggest　the　hydrogenolysis　pathway　and　the　formation　of　methane.　This　work　investigates　a　route　to　produce　methane　from　biomass　molecules.　©　2023　by　the　authors.