A series of Ru based ammonia synthesis catalysts supported by magnesia with different promoter precursors were prepared. The effects of different promoter precursors on the catalysts were investigated by XRD, HRTEM and performance evaluation techniques. The results indicated that the activities of catalysts were increased by the introduction of fluoride and some oxygen of magnesia was exchanged with fluoride in KF-Ru/MgO catalyst. It was suggested that the exchange of oxygen and fluoride changed the structure and surface property of support, hence improving the metal dispersion and the different interactions of ruthenium and the support. Consequently, the activity of catalyst prepared with KF was higher. At the same time, the activity of catalyst prepared by BaF2 was also higher than the one prepared by BaO, though the configuration of fluoride and barium was BaF2.