Pullulanase and isoamylase belong to the GH13 family (glycoside hydrolase family 13) with similar sequence, catalytic mechanism and three-dimensional fold ((beta/alpha)8-barrel structure). Starch debranching enzymes can hydrolyze the alpha-1,6-glucosidic bonds at the branch sites of starch, and improve raw material utilization and production efficiency in the starch industry. In this review, the substrate specificity, protein structure, advances and new trends in the study of microbial GH13 starch debranching enzyme were systematically introduced. In addition, some opinions on the research status and prospect for starch debranching enzyme were discussed.