© 2017, Pleiades Publishing, Ltd.We have studied the activation of magnesium hydride decomposition by means of its pressing with a catalyst. It is established that pressing leads to the formation of metal nuclei, which favor a decrease in the temperature threshold of magnesium hydride decomposition. The introduction of catalytic additives also reduces the temperature of dehydrogenation. The most effective in this respect was found to be the addition of nickel powder.