Membrane　fouling　is　a　significant　challenge　in　membrane-based　water　treatment　processes,　significantly　impairing　water　recovery　efficiency　and　reducing　membrane　lifespan.　Electrochemically　assisted　membrane　cleaning　(EAMC),　which　employs　electrons　as　the　reaction　medium,　has　demonstrated　effectiveness　in　removing　various　membrane　foulants,　thereby　mitigating　fouling.　As　an　emerging　technique　free　of　solvents　and　chemicals,　EAMC　has　received　considerable　research　attention,　with　a　large　number　of　studies　published　in　recent　years.　However,　reviews　in　this　field　remain　scarce,　underscoring　the　need　for　an　updated　study　to　guide　future　research.　This　article　offers　a　critical　review　of　the　recent　advancements　in　EAMC.　It　begins　with　an　exploration　of　the　mechanisms　of　membrane　fouling　induced　by　different　contaminants,　followed　by　a　thorough　examination　of　the　operational　principles　and　factors　of　EAMC.　The　review　then　delves　into　the　fouling　removal　mechanisms　and　the　practical　applications　of　EAMC,　evaluates　the　strengths　and　limitations　of　this　innovative　approach,　and　concludes　with　a　discussion　of　the　challenges　and　potential　future　directions　in　EAMC　research.　This　work　provides　valuable　insights　into　the　development　and　application　of　EAMC　technology.　©　2024　Elsevier　B.V.