A method for producing a secondary battery including: an electrolytic solution containing a metal salt whose cation is an alkali metal, an alkaline earth metal, or aluminum and whose anion has a chemical structure represented by general formula (1) below, and a linear carbonate represented by general formula (2) below; a negative electrode; a positive electrode; and a coating on a surface of the negative electrode and/or the positive electrode, the coating containing S, O, and C, the method including forming the coating by performing a specific activation process on a secondary battery including the electrolytic solution, the negative electrode, and the positive electrode, (R1X1)(R2SO2)N  general formula (1), R20OCOOR21  general formula (2).