An apparatus for controllably unfolding a flexible mesh for a continuous miner includes a mesh roll storage rack, a height adjustment post, a mesh rolling shaft and a flexible mesh. The flexible mesh includes a mesh roll and an unfolded mesh. The mesh roll and the unfolded mesh are an integrated structure. The mesh roll is located on the mesh roll storage rack. The unfolded mesh is clamped on the mesh rolling shaft, and is pressed on a cut un-supported tunnel roof via a roof bolt. The mesh rolling shaft is rotatably connected to a top portion of the height adjustment post. The mesh roll storage rack and the height adjustment post are both mounted on the continuous miner. The mesh rolling shaft is located at a back end of the mesh roll storage rack. A limit mechanism and a damping mechanism are disposed on the mesh rolling shaft.