Toll-like receptors (TLRs) belong to the pattern recognition receptor (PRR) family which can recognize multiple pathogen-associated molecular patterns (PAMP) and damage-related molecular patterns (DAMP). TLRs are widely expressed in the innate immune system, and link up the innate and adaptive immunity through indirectly lead to T cell activation by promoting the expression of costimulatory molecules on antigen presenting cells (APC) when binding to their ligands. Previous studies mainly expound the function and mechanism of TLRs in activating the innate immune cells, but few studies on its function in adaptive immune cells. However, it has now become evident that TLRs are also expressed in T cells, and can directly regulate the metabolism and function of T cells in the form of costimulatory molecules without APCs. It has been reported that TLRs can regulate the function of different T cell subsets via directly regulating their metabolism. The present review attempts to summarize the direct regulation of TLR signaling in metabolism and immune function of different T cell subsets, which provides a new idea for the prevention and treatment of T cell-mediated diseases such as cancer, inflammation and autoimmune diseases.