Butt joints of 3.0 mm thick sheets of an Al–Li based alloy have been produced using Nd:YAG laser welding without filler metals. The hardness distribution and microstructure of the alloy and welded joints were investigated. The changes in the grain shapes, grain orientations, microtexture, and precipitates of the fusion zone were analyzed using optical microscope, electron back scattered diffraction (EBSD) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The results show that Nd:YAG laser welding leads to a change of the microhardness, grain shape, grain orientations, and a disappearance of the microtexture and precipitates. A narrow band of EQZ along the fusion boundary and a predominantly equiaxed dendritic structure are developed in the fusion zone. The formation of the predominately equiaxed dendritic grains is due to a heterogeneous nucleation mechanism aided by equilibrium A13Zr phases as well as the growth of pre-existing nuclei created by dendrite fragmentation, or by grain detachment resulted from Nd:YAG laser welding processes. In addition, Nd:YAG laser welding produces lower Vickers hardness than that of the base metal due to the decrease in the in quantity of δ′ precipitates in the fusion zone.The grain shapes, grain orientations, microtexture, and precipitates of the solidified fusion zone were investigated and compared with the base metal using optical microscope, electron back scattered diffraction (EBSD) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). EBSD orientation map of laser welded joint in 5A90 alloys is presented in Fig. 3. It clearly shows that a narrow band EQZ along the fusion boundary and the predominantly equiaxed grains have been developed in the fusion zone of 5A90 alloys. Also, it is clear that the microstructure of the base metal is characterized by laminated grains with preferred orientations, whereas the fusion zone is predominately equiaxed grains in different colors having random orientations.Highlights► The predominantly equiaxed dendritic structure is developed in the fusion zone. ► The fusion zone with equiaxed grains shows random orientations and microtexture. ► The loss in hardness in the fusion zone is due to the decrease in δ′ precipitates. ► The non-epitaxial growth occurs at fusion boundary. ► The equilibrium A13Zr phases maybe the nuclei of new grains in the fusion zone.