<p>Heavy metal contamination poses a serious threat to environmental and public health due to the persistence, toxicity, and bioaccumulative nature of metallic pollutants. Conventional remediation techniques are often limited by high operational costs, energy consumption, and potential secondary pollution. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of microbial bioremediation as a sustainable and eco-friendly alternative for heavy metal detoxification. It highlights the major microbial groups (bacteria, fungi, algae, and archaea) and summarizes their diverse physiological strategies for metal removal and transformation. Furthermore, the review discusses recent advances and emerging approaches, including the use of microbial consortia, genetic and metabolic engineering, and integration with nanotechnology to enhance bioremediation efficiency. The practical applications of these strategies in soil, water, and industrial systems are examined, along with the current challenges related to scalability, ecological balance, and regulatory compliance. Overall, the review underscores the promise of microbial bioremediation as a key component of sustainable environmental management and calls for continued interdisciplinary research to facilitate its large-scale implementation.</p>