The design of suitable fluorescent chemosensors for trace detection and quantification of biologically relevant analytes has attracted significant research focus in the past decades. Zinc(II) ion is the second most abundant transition metal cations present in the human body and it is a “Life-Saving Commodity” that exhibits essential cellular functions in various metabolic processes. A wide variety of small-molecular-based fluorescent chemosensors have been designed and successfully employed for the trace sensing and quantification of Zn(II) ions both in vitro and in vivo. Among the various small molecular fluorophores, the amino-1,8-naphthalimide-based chemosensors have got special research interest because of their easy synthesis, facile structure, functional tunability, and interesting photophysical properties. In this review article, we exemplified the advancements made in the use of amino-1,8-naphthalimide-based fluorescent chemosensors for selective sensing and quantification of Zn(II) ions. We detailed the design, fluorescence sensing properties, and bioimaging application of various amino-1,8-naphthalimide-based chemosensors. © 2022 Elsevier Ltd