Global challenges of phosphorus pollution and scarcity underscore an urgent need for the efficient recycling of this critical resource. Biochar, a sustainable and economical material, has demonstrated significant potential as an adsorbent for phosphorus, offering a viable solution for its recovery from wastewater. Various techniques have been explored to improve the ability of biochar to adsorb inorganic phosphate. While numerous studies have reviewed methods of biochar modification, the underlying adsorption mechanisms, and the thermodynamics and kinetics involved, a thorough examination that addresses the practical challenges of real-world wastewater treatment is currently lacking. This review aims to fill this gap by quantitatively analyzing the impact of coexisting species in wastewater on the adsorption of phosphate and by exploring the potential for simultaneous removal of other contaminants, such as nutrients, heavy metals, and dissolved organic matter. The review also discusses factors that affect the desorption of phosphate from biochar and presents practical applications for biochars post-adsorption. These applications include their use as slow-release phosphorus fertilizers, additives in concrete, and as novel adsorbents for the removal of heavy metals. This comprehensive analysis serves to synthesize current research on phosphate recovery by biochars and to propose practical uses for the adsorbed phosphorus, thereby guiding the development of biochar adsorption technology towards more effective and practical phosphorus management strategies.