To improve the dynamic response speed and performance of active power filter controller, and improve the robustness, tracking ability, and disturbance rejection ability of linear active disturbance rejection controller (ADRC), an improved linear ADRC (LADRC) is proposed. First, a new error adjustment total disturbance is introduced into the linear expansion state observer to adjust the total disturbance of the linear expansion state observer. Then, on the premise of system stability, the controller is applied to the voltage outer loop of shunt active power filter (SAPF), and the mathematical model of active power filter is deduced, and it is controlled according to the first-order linear active disturbance rejection controller. Finally, through frequency domain analysis, the stability, noise immunity, and tracking performance of the improved LADRC are analyzed. Using MATLAB and Simulink simulation platform, the current stability and tracking performance of SAPF under improved LADRC control are simulated and verified, and compared with traditional methods. The simulation results show that the waveform fluctuation of A-phase voltage on the grid side of this method is relatively smooth, and the voltage on the grid side is always kept at ±50 V; the voltage curve of SAPF DC side is kept between the actual set values, about 820 V; the waveform fluctuation of A-phase current on the load side is small, which is ±220 A; the harmonic distortion rate is 4%. It is verified that this method has good tracking effect and anti-interference characteristics, which is of great significance to improve the control performance of active power filter.