Power outages suffered by users are mainly caused by the faults in medium-voltage distribution networks. Reasonable configuration of fault disposing modes is an important guarantee for the safe and reliable operation of medium- voltage distribution networks. The existing configuration principles focus on whether the power supply reliability requirement is satisfied or not, lacking in the analysis of differences among the configurations of various fault disposing modes, which influences the practical application effect. Therefore, domestic and overseas research status of the fault disposing modes configuration of medium-voltage distribution networks is overviewed. Among fault disposing modes based on fault monitoring, local reclosing, centralized master station and distributed intelligence, analysis and comparisons were carried out on the specific configurations from various respects including applicable types of power grid structures, communication requirement, sectionalizing switches types and action times, elapsed time of fault disposing and power restoration of non-fault areas, applicable types of power supply areas and economy. The configuration principles of fault disposing modes of medium-voltage distribution networks are summarized. Finally, some research directions of the fault disposing modes configuration of medium-voltage distribution networks in the future are prospected.