Abstract: The performance of modified HZSM-5 catalysts with different loadings of nickel on the aromatization of methanol was investigated in a continuous fixed bed microreactor using pure methanol as raw material. The catalysts were characterized by BET, XRD, Py-FTIR, and NH3-TPD techniques. Results show that the introduction of nickel species results in the formation of new Lewis acid sites. Furthermore, the total acid amount of the HZSM-5 catalyst increases gradually, especially the weak acid, with increasing amount of nickel. The total aromatic yield decreases first and then increases, followed by decrease again with the Ni loading. The introduction of nickel species may change the path from the hydrogen transfer aromatization to the dehydrogenation aromatization. In addition, aromatic hydrocarbons generated are mainly C7~C9 aromatics, while C6 and C10+ aromatics are relatively few. Meanwhile, by-products such as methane and COx increase gradually with the increase of nickel loading, which is probably in correlation with the enhancement of methylation of methanol caused by nickel species.