The stable and reliable red phosphor with high-photon energy emission (620-650 nm) is critical for the fabrication of the phosphor-converted white light-emitting diode (WLED) with low correlated color temperature and high color rendering index. Mn 4+-activated phosphor is an emerging kind of red-emitting phosphor for WLED. Herein, the energy levels transition and photoluminescence characteristics of the Mn 4+ ion were introduced; then, the preparation, crystal structure and luminescent properties of as-far reported seven kinds of Mn 4+-doped oxyfluoride red phosphors (such as Na 2 WO 2 F 4 :Mn 4+) containing d 0 , d 10 or s 0 cations were reviewed. Currently, only in quite rare case of oxyfluoride, Mn 4+ was found to exhibit strong R-line emission, with local coordination remaining as either [MnF 6 ] or [MnO 6 ]. The studies on the chemical stability and quantum efficiency of Mn 4+-doped oxyfluoride phosphors are still insufficient. Finally, we prospected the future development of Mn 4+-doped oxyfluoride phosphor.