<p>Rare earth elements (REEs) are important strategic resources and a core of resource competition for global powers. Therefore, it is necessary to explore and implement optimized sustainable separation processes. Due to the over-exploitation of high-grade ores has led to resource depletion issues, while extracting REEs from low-grade ores remains a significant challenge. Consequently, the efficient separation and recovery of REEs from secondary sources, such as waste phosphors, waste NdFeB magnets, and fly ash, have become particularly crucial. Green solvents include ionic liquids (ILs) and deep eutectic solvents (DESs), which have gained attention as new solutions of metal recovery processes. This paper focuses on the research progress, current challenges, and development directions of DESs and ILs in the treatment of rare earth minerals (like bastnaesite, monazite, and ionic rare earth ore) and the separation recovery of secondary sources (such as waste phosphor powders, waste NdFeB magnets, and fly ash). Studies have found that, compared to traditional organic solvents, the selectivity and separation efficiency of ILs and DESs were better than those of the traditional system, which had great application potential in the field of rare earth mineral treatment and secondary resource recovery.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>