The invention discloses a method for extracting hydroxytyrosol from olive leaves and belongs to the technical field of plant active ingredient extraction. The method disclosed by the invention is characterized in that the olive leaves are used as raw materials, alkali liquor with the pH value being 11 to 14 is used for carrying out heat insulation extraction under the condition of 80 to 100 DEG C, obtained extraction liquid is concentrated and passes through a macroporous adsorption resin column, methyl alcohol or ethanol is used for washing the column, the thin layer chromatography tracking detection is carried out, and alcohol washing eluent is collected; and the alcohol washing eluent is concentrated, extracting agents are used for extraction, extraction phases are collected, concentration and drying are carried out, and the hydroxytyrosol is obtained. Compared with the prior art, the method has the advantages that the olive leaves are subjected to heat insulation extraction by the alkali liquor with the pH value being 11 to 14 under the condition of 80 to 100 DEG C, the extraction and hydrolysis steps are simultaneously carried out, the extraction efficiency is high, and in addition, the hydrolysis reaction is complete; and on the other hand, the extraction and hydrolysis steps can be synchronously carried out, and the transition step is not needed between the two steps, so the work procedure is simplified, the labor and the material are saved, the production cost is reduced, and the industrial production is easily realized.