The work aims to improve the rolling contact fatigue properties of 25CrNi2MoV steel. The surface of 25CrNi2MoV steel was treated by shot peening. 3D profilemeter, optical microscope, microhardness tester, X-ray stress analyzer and rolling contact fatigue testing machine were used to detect and analyze the surface morphology, surface microstructure, microhardness, surface residual compressive stress and rolling contact fatigue properties of the samples before and after shot peening, respectively. Compared with untreated sample, the surface morphology of shot peened sample was changed from grinding groove to dimple-like crater, the surface roughness of the treated sample was increased, the surface microhardness of the treated sample was increased from 503HV0.2 to 577HV0.2, with an increase by 14.7%, the surface residual compressive stress of the treated sample was increased from -90.0 MPa to -758.0 MPa. When the shot peening intensity was 0.445 mmA, the sample had the best contact fatigue life, and its specified life (L10), median life (L50) and characteristic life (L63.2) were 4.973×106, 6.558×106 and 6.945×106 cycles, which were 11.1, 7.3 and 7.0 times the corresponding life of the untreated sample, respectively, and the main rolling contact fatigue failure mode of the sample was classified as fatigue spalling. When the shot peening intensity was 0.596 mmA, the micro cracks appeared on the surface of the sample, resulting in a decrease in rolling contact fatigue life, the main fatigue failure modes of the sample were pitting and fatigue spalling. The main fatigue failure mode of untreated sample was delamination. Shot peening can refine the surface grain of the sample, the surface roughness, surface hardness and surface residual compressive stress of the sample were increased by shot peening. Shot peening with appropriate intensity can inhibit initiation and growth of surface and subsurface cracks on the sample, which can significantly improve the rolling contact fatigue properties.