Abstract: In order to explore the influence of microwave loading path on the effect of microwave cracking coal, in this paper, a self-developed microwave radiation experiment device was used to carry out coal cracking experiments under different microwave loading paths, and the P wave velocity, elastic modulus, coal surface crack evolution and coal microstructure damage of coal samples before and after microwave radiation were studied. The change characteristics of the factors reveal the influence of different microwave loading paths on the cracking effect of coal. The results showed that the average P-wave velocity of coal samples decreased by 40.13% after microwave radiation, and the decrease amplitude of microwave continuous loading was 56.47%; the elastic modulus of coal was significantly affected by microwave radiation, the average compressive strength has dropped as much as 74.91%, and the average elastic modulus decreased evenly under different paths, the elastic modulus decreases by more than 65.01%, and up to 80.11% under continuous loading; the cumulative damage factor of the coal body is related to the loading path, and different microwave loading paths cause different degrees of damage to the internal microstructure of the coal body; both continuous microwave loading and intermittent loading promote coal. The development of cracks on the surface of the coal under continuous loading, the development of cracks on the surface of the coal sample is more complex and the damage is more significant. Therefore, the change of the microwave loading path of the coal can effectively crack the coal. Underthe experimental conditions of microwave energy of 216 kJ, the continuous microwave radiation of the coal sample can crack the coal to the greatest extent, and the coal has the best cracking effect.