Aiming at the arsenic pollution problem that exists in the world and is difficult to completely repair, this article describes the causes and severe situation of soil arsenic pollution from the aspects of arsenic source and pollution status, summarizes the preparation methods, structural characteristics, functional group types and influencing factors of biochar, and expounds the specific methods of biochar modification. The application of modified biochar in arsenic contaminated soil and water remediation is introduced in detail, and the future research and application are prospected.