With the rapid development of science and technology, there is an increasing demand for sustainable energy sources. Although triboelectric nanogenerators (TENGs) can realize self-powered supply by using various weak mechanical energy, the device's robustness and reliability are seriously affected by frequent, direct, and long-term mechanical shocks, as well as negative environmental factors during equipment operation. Therefore, researchers have developed non-contact triboelectric nanogenerators (NC-TENGs) based on the principle of electrostatic induction. This technology enables electricity generation via relative movement of friction layers even when they are not in direct contact, which consequently leads to enhance device robustness, prolonged service life, and broadened operation scenarios. In this review, the recent progress of NC-TENG from fundamental theory to practical applications is systematically summarized. The basic structure and working principle of NC-TENG are first introduced, followed by a discussion of the devices’ structural construction and performance optimization methods. Furthermore, applications of NC-TENG in automatic force position detection system, non-contact human-machine interface, and electrical energy harvesting are reviewed. Finally, a brief prospectus for the future development of NC-TENG is provided.