Abstract: Objective To address the problems of high network loss during the operation of island distribution networks containing a high proportion of distributed power sources and the slow convergence speed and poor stability of existing algorithms in distribution network reconfiguration calculations, a dynamic reconfiguration strategy for island distribution networks based on the improved Grey wolf optimization (GWO) algorithm and the minimum network loss is proposed. Methods The dynamic reconfiguration model of island distribution network is established with the minimum active network loss and voltage offset as the optimization objectives, and the global search capability and convergence efficiency of the Grey wolf algorithm are improved by multiple strategies, such as probabilistic perturbation, dynamic forbidden table, dynamic adjustment, and so on. Results The results of the dynamic reconfiguration modelling and simulation study of an island distribution network containing a high proportion of distributed power sources show that the improved Grey Wolf algorithm exhibits greater stability, higher accuracy and better solution efficiency than other algorithms such as the original Grey Wolf algorithm and the improved particle swarm algorithm. Under static reconfiguration conditions, the active network loss of the island distribution network is reduced by 21.8% and the network minimum point voltage is improved by 2.03%; under dynamic reconfiguration strategy, the active network loss is reduced by 27.98% in one day. In addition, under extreme weather and line fault scenarios, the reconfiguration strategy still maintains stable network operation, with intra-day losses reduced by 22.16% and 26.30%, respectively. Conclusion The results show that the improved Gray Wolf algorithm provides a new theoretical method and optimization path for dynamic reconfiguration of island distribution networks.