In recent years, the outbreaks of viral diseases have urgently demanded effective virus disinfection techniques. Among them, the use of cold atmospheric-pressure plasma (CAP) is one of the most promising approaches. CAP generates electric fields, charged particles, reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, and ultraviolet. CAP can effectively inactivate various viruses in a short period, whether they are on surfaces, in water, or in aerosols, without significantly raising the substrate temperature. This review highlights that the simultaneous action of physical and chemical means is the key mechanism of CAP in virus inactivation. It systematically summarizes the characteristics of plasma devices suitable for different application scenarios and further points out the opportunities and challenges faced by plasma virus inactivation technology. Plasma sources generate highly active cold atmospheric-pressure plasma (CAP). This active CAP can effectively eliminate a variety of viruses on surfaces and in water and air through the combined actions of physical and chemical processes.image