To investigate the effect of the content of yttrium nitrate on the microstructure and properties of micro-arc oxidation coatings on a ZK61M magnesium alloy, this study successfully prepared a ZrO 2-Y 2O 3-containing composite ceramic coating on a ZK61M magnesium alloy by using micro-arc oxidation (MAO) technology, adding different amounts of yttrium nitrate (0 g/L, 0.15 g/L, 0.45 g/L, and 0.75 g/L) to a zirconate electrolyte with the main components of 6 g/L of (NH 4) 2ZrF 6, 4 g/L of NaH 2PO 4, 1 g/L of NaF, and a pH value of 7.5–8.0. The microstructure, phase composition, corrosion resistance, and friction coefficient of the coating were investigated using a scanning electron microscope, an energy spectrometer, an X-ray diffractometer, a photoelectron spectrometer, an electrochemical tester, and a friction and wear tester, respectively. The results showed that the composite ceramic coating was composed of c-ZrO 2, t-ZrO 2, m-ZrO 2, MgO, Y 2O 3, and MgF 2. Among the MAO coatings prepared in this experiment, it was when the concentration of the Y(NO 3) 3 was 0.75 g/L that the coating exhibited the best corrosion resistance and wear resistance. The corrosion current density ( Icorr) was 1.415 × 10 −8 A·cm −2, which was four orders of magnitude lower than that of the substrate. The friction coefficient and wear volume of the coating were reduced by 30.77% and 96.55% compared to the substrate, respectively.