Abstract In the historical intersection of digital empowerment and carbon neutral goals, in order to make up for the deficiency of relevant research on low-carbon empowerment of digital platforms, based on China’s 2011–2022 provincial panel data, the study innovatively discusses the effects of digital platforms enabling carbon neutral technology innovation from the dual perspectives of market incentives and government constraints. The findings demonstrate that digital platforms significantly and positively directly influence carbon neutral technology innovation, with the effect showing the characteristics of “southeast>northwest”; Technology market development and environmental regulation have a significant intermediary effect in the process of enabling carbon neutral technology innovation by digital platforms. Digital platforms can indirectly promote carbon neutral technology innovation by improving the level of technology market development and environmental regulation; Based on regional heterogeneity, digital platforms can better promote carbon neutral technology innovation at a higher level of technology market development and environmental regulation. The study’s conclusions enrich the theoretical system of digital empowerment, guide the practice of green high-quality development, and provide a reference for the formulation of relevant policies of digital empowerment innovation and development.