The　supported　Ni　catalysts　on　the　magnesium　silicate　were　synthesized　via　a　co-precipitation　method　using　urea.　The　influences　of　several　factors　such　as　time　of　urea　decomposition　(6–24　h),　urea　concentration　(0.25–1　M),　calcination　temperature　(600–800　°C),　and　the　type　of　the　surfactant　(PVA　and　PEG)　on　the　textural　attributes　and　catalytic　performance　of　the　catalysts　were　investigated　in　details.　XRD,　BET,　SEM,　H2-TPR,　and　TPO　were　performed　for　synthesized　catalysts　characterization.　The　results　showed　that　the　variation　of　process　factors　led　to　significant　changes　in　the　surface　properties　of　samples　and　resulted　in　the　different　catalytic　performance　in　this　reaction.　With　increasing　the　time　of　urea　decomposition　from　6　h　to　24　h,　urea　concentration　from　0.25　M　to　1　M,　and　calcination　temperature　from　600　°C　to　800　°C,　the　Ni/SiO2.MgO　catalyst　showed　a　decrease　in　surface　area　and　good　thermal　stability.　In　particular,　the　best　performance　sample　was　obtained;　the　one　with　decomposition　time　of　24　h,　the　urea　concentration　of　0.5　M　and　the　catalyst　calcination　temperature　of　700　°C,　with　the　specific　area　of　223.8　m2.g−1,　and　the　methane　conversion　of　67%　at　GHSV　of　24000　mL.h−1.gcat−1　and　600　°C.　©　2020