“The latest research progress shows that 3-micron lasers have important applications in medical, gas detection, and military fields. The Er3+: ZBLAN fiber laser, as the main output method, has attracted much attention for its high efficiency and integrability. The study focused on erbium ion transition and delved into the structural principles and energy level systems of 3-micron laser generation, providing a technical solution for achieving high-power continuous and pulsed output. Meanwhile, significant achievements have been made in experimental research on Q-switched and mode-locked lasers based on saturable absorbers made of different materials. This article provides an in-depth analysis of the challenges faced by high-power output in the current 3-micron wavelength band, and looks forward to the future development direction of Er3+: ZBLAN lasers.”