The working frequency band of the ambient kinetic energy harvester (KEH) is narrow, so it is difficult to match with the ambient excitation whose frequency is random, thus restricting practicality. The frequency matching method based on frequency self-tuning technology has the advantages of wide frequency matching range, high frequency matching accuracy, and no manual intervention, which is one of the effective technical solutions to solve this problem. By reviewing the home and abroad research progress in recent years, the frequency self-tuning technologies, realization method and specific realization under vibration excitation and rotation excitation were summarized from the principle. Then, the research progress of frequency matching methods based on the combination of frequency self-tuning technology and nonlinear technology were introduced. Finally, the advantages and disadvantages of different frequency self-tuning methods were compared, and the development direction of frequency self-tuning technology was summarized.