Human activities have raised CO₂ concentrations in the atmosphere more than 40% above their pre-industrial level, and this rising trend is projected to continue for the coming decades. As a critical part of climate change, elevated CO₂ and its subsequent effects on terrestrial ecosystems have been increasingly investigated, either solely or in combination with other environmental factors. Numerous studies suggest that elevated CO₂ can enhance photosynthesis, productivity, and net ecosystem productivity, suggesting stronger CO₂ uptake by ecosystems, which could counteract the global warming. As a primary carbon pool, small changes in soil organic carbon can drive tremendous variations in atmospheric CO₂ concentrations, increasing the uncertainties in forecasting climate change. However, the impact of elevated CO₂ on the dynamics and persistence of soil carbon pools remains unclear, which largely limits the prediction accuracy of terrestrial carbon cycling in response to climate change. This paper systematically reviews the domestic and international research progress of elevated CO₂ on plant net primary productivity, plant inputs, and soil carbon pools, aiming to reveal the response mechanism of physical, chemical composition, and turnover characteristics of soil carbon pools under elevated CO₂. We further explore the driving mechanisms of soil microorganisms and nitrogen availability on the dynamics and persistence of the soil carbon pool under elevated CO₂, providing theoretical support for an in-depth understanding of soil carbon cycling with further global changes.