Provided are a negative electrode for a lithium metal battery, a method of preparing the negative electrode, a lithium metal battery including the same, and a composite electrolyte. The negative electrode includes: a lithium metal layer including lithium metal or a lithium metal alloy; and a protective layer on at least a portion of the lithium metal layer, wherein the protective layer includes aplurality of composite particles having a particle size of greater than about 1 micrometer to about 100 micrometers or less, wherein a composite particle of the plurality of composite particles comprises a particle comprising an organic particle, an inorganic particle, an organic-inorganic particle, or combination thereof; and a coating layer disposed on at least a portion of a surface of the particle, the coating layer including an ion conductive material including an ion conductive oligomer including an ion conductive unit, an ion conductive polymer including an ion conductive unit, or a combination thereof.