The mechanical properties, grain structures and precipitates of 2050 Al-Li alloy cold-rolled sheet in T8 temper with different annealing prior to solution treatment were investigated by tensile tests, electron backscattering diffraction analysis (EBSD), scanning lectron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM). The results show that the number of incomplete recrystallization, the aspect ratio of the grains and the number of the low angle grain boundaries and the fraction of Goss texture increase in 2050 Al-Li alloy cold-rolled sheet with annealing prior to solution treatment. The main strengthening precipitates are T1 and θ' phase. The annealing prior to solution treatment leads to the precipitation differences of T₁ phase on different {111}_Al surfaces during T8 aging process. T₁ phase number on some {111}_Al surfaces decreases, while it increases on some {111}_Al surfaces with high shear stress during pre-tensile deformation. This therefore changes the mechanical properties of the alloy. The annealing at 300℃ for 4 h prior to solution treatment enhances the yield strength and the tensile strength of the alloy cold-rolled sheet with T8 ageing, but the elongation is kept unchanged.