Organic photodetectors have attracted much attention in frontier science and technology fields such as image display, optical communication, and biosensing due to their tunable detection wavelength, low-cost fabrication, and easy compatibility with flexible/lightweight devices. The photoactive layer is the core functional layer for organic photodetectors. As an important class of photosensitive materials, Phthalocyanine compounds have great potential for application in the photoactive layer because of the narrow and tunable optical bandgap, excellent physicochemical stability, and high photogenerated carrier efficiency. In this review, the structure, properties, and classification of phthalocyanine compounds were first introduced. Then, the detection principle, basic structure, and photoelectric properties of photodetectors were briefly described. Further, the research progress and influencing factors of different types of phthalocyanine compounds in the preparation of photoactive layer, regulation of detection wavelength, and global optimization of device performance were comprehensively reviewed and analyzed. Lastly, the future development direction of phthalocyanines in the field of organic photodetectors was summarized and prospected.