This　paper　focuses　on　the　interfacial　characteristics　of　dissimilar　Ti6Al4V/AA6060　lap　joint　produced　by　pulsed　Nd:YAG　laser　beam　welding.　The　process-sensitivity　analysis　of　welding-induced　interface　joining　quality　was　performed　by　using　the　orthogonal　design　method.　Microstructural　tests　such　as　scanning　electron　microscopy　and　energy　dispersive　X-ray　spectroscopy　were　used　to　observe　the　interfacial　characteristics.　The　mechanism　of　interfacial　crack　initiation,　which　is　an　important　indicator　of　joint　property　and　performance,　was　assessed　and　analyzed.　The　preferred　propagation　paths　of　welding　cracks　along　the　interfaces　of　different　intermetallic　layers　with　high　dislocation　density　were　analyzed　and　discussed　in-depth.　The　results　indicate　that　discontinuous　potential　phases　in　the　micro-crack　tip　would　mitigate　the　mechanical　resistance　or　performance　of　the　welded　joint,　while　the　continuous　intermetallic　layer　can　lead　to　a　sound　jointing　performance　under　pulsed　Nd:YAG　laser　welding　process.　©　2019　by　the　authors.　Licensee　MDPI,　Basel,　Switzerland.