The 2010 revision of McDonald criteria for the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis (MS) has widely used in research and clinical practice. By combining the progress in scientific research in recent years, the international panel on diagnosis of multiple sclerosis reviewed the 2010 revision of McDonald criteria and recommended new revisions. The following changes have been made: in patients with a typical clinically isolated syndrome (CIS) and clinical or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) demonstration of dissemination in space, the presence of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF)-specifc oligoclonal bands allows a diagnosis of MS; symptomatic lesions can be used to demonstrate dissemination in space or time in patients with supratentorial and infratentorial lesions or spinal cord syndrome; and cortical lesions can be used to demonstrate dissemination in space. The 2017 revision of McDonald criteria is intended to simplify or clarify components of the 2010 revision of McDonald criteria, so as to facilitate earlier diagnosis. The 2017 revision of McDonald criteria also preserves the specificity of 2010 revesion, and promotes its appropriate application in diverse population to reduce the frequency of misdiagnosis. This paper presents the highlights of 2017 revision of McDonald criteria for the diagnosis of MS and gives some comments.