a b s t r a c tThe effects of cold deformation prior to aging on the precipitation behavior, microstructure and mechanical properties of an Al-5.6Cu-0.72 Mg-0.5Ag-0.32Mn-0.17Sc-0.12Zr (in wt%) alloy were investigated. Pre-straining disrupts the formation of Mg-Ag co-clusters, modifying the normal precipitation sequence. A strong increase in the dislocation density by a factor of 100 leads to a $ 40% decrease in the number density, N V , of the Ω-phase at pre-strains of εZ1% (εZ 0.01). The aspect ratios of the platelets in this phase increased from $ 21 to $ 42 after a negligible pre-strain of r1% (ε r0.01) and further decreased to $ 25 in the pre-strain interval of 1-80% (ε $ 0.01-1.61). In addition, the nucleation of the Cu-rich θ 0 -phase occurs on dislocations. The heterogeneous nucleation of the thick Ω-phase particles with low aspect ratios ( $ 12) and equiaxed particles of S-phase with dimensions r5 nm on the deformation-induced boundaries was found. After peak aging, the yield stress (YS) and ultimate tensile strength (UTS) increased from 4787 4 MPa and 522 78 MPa for the as-quenched alloy to 516 7 4 MPa and 568 7 6 MPa in the longitudinal and 5547 5 MPa and 601 73 MPa in the transversal directions, respectively, for the alloy subjected to pre-straining with a rolling reduction of 80% (ε $ 1.61). Cold rolling prior to aging induces the anisotropy in mechanical behavior through the formation of deformation bands.