Metal detoxification is a crucial evolutionary adaptation in land plants, enabling survival in environments with varying heavy metal concentrations. From early bryophytes to complex vascular plants, detoxification mechanisms have evolved significantly in complexity and efficiency. Bryophytes, such as mosses and liverworts, primarily rely on passive strategies such as adsorption, sequestration, and immobilization of metals within cell walls or vacuoles, preventing metabolic interference. They also utilize organic acids and phenolic compounds to chelate metals, reducing toxicity. In vascular plants, such as ferns, gymnosperms, and angiosperms, detoxification strategies are more advanced. They synthesize metal-binding proteins such as metallothioneins and phytochelatins, which form less toxic metal complexes that are sequestered into vacuoles. Enhanced vacuolar compartmentalization further protects cells from metal-induced damage. Moreover, vascular plants have robust antioxidant defence systems, including reactive oxygen species (ROS)-scavenging enzymes like superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase, which mitigate oxidative stress caused by metal toxicity. Understanding the evolutionary progression of these mechanisms from bryophytes to vascular plants offers valuable insights into plant resilience and adaptability. These detoxification processes not only allow plants to thrive in metal-contaminated environments but also play a critical role in phytoremediation applications. By harnessing and enhancing these natural processes, researchers can develop sustainable strategies to manage heavy metal contamination in agricultural and natural ecosystems.