In order to analyze the roof movement rule of goaf in filling working face, the method of theoretical analysis and field test was proposed. The plates and shells theory was used to analyze the breaking process of roof hard rock in filling mining, which was not a progressive failure layer by layer, but a whole failure of hard rock and its controlled rock group. When the rock formation broke, the roof would suddenly settle in a wide range during the goaf roof activity. Monitoring scheme of goaf roof activity rules in filling working face was designed, the monitoring data showed that when the roof sank in the final stable state, the subsidence amount was about 361.8 mm, which was close to the equivalent mining height of 399 mm. The settlement of 22 m roof behind the working face was very slow, and the goaf roof activity tended to be stable. Sudden settlement would occur in the process of goaf roof mining, when it occurred, the advance distance of working face from the last pressure position was about 17.6 m, indicating that a serious overburden fracture would occur every 17.6 m advancement of the working face. The measured results were highly consistent with the theoretical analysis, and verified each other.