Layered　composite　rocks　(abbreviated　as　LCRs)　are　frequently　encountered　in　rock　engineering,　and　it　is　difficult　to　predict　whether　the　stress-induced　crack　propagates　through　the　layers　or　is　contained　within　a　layer　when　subjected　to　external　loads.　There　was　limited　advanced　knowledge　of　the　crack　propagation　mechanism　of　flawed　LCRs　because　the　previous　research　mainly　focused　on　the　single　lithologic　layer.　This　study　conducts　uniaxial　compression　tests　on　weaker　and　stronger　interbedded　sandstone　with　pre-existing　flaws.　The　crack　propagation　process　of　two-layer　weaker　and　stronger　interbedded　sandstone　specimens　is　studied　using　acoustic　emission　(abbreviated　as　AE)　and　digital　image　correlation　(abbreviated　as　DIC)　techniques,　with　the　focus　being　on　the　influences　of　the　flaw　position.　The　results　indicate　that　the　crack　initiation　mode　and　final　failure　mode　of　weaker　and　stronger　interbedded　sandstone　are　dominated　by　the　tensile　mechanism.　Three　crack　initiation　modes　are　identified,　which　are　closely　related　to　the　flaw　position.　When　the　flaw　exists　inside　the　weaker　layer　or　the　flaw　is　far　away　from　the　interface,　the　crack　initiation　mode　is　the　tensile　anti-wing　crack　initiation　from　the　flaw　tip.　Whatever　the　flaw　positions,　the　upward-propagating　cracks　arrest　within　the　stronger　layer,　but　the　downward-propagating　cracks　eventually　cross　the　weaker　layer,　which　is　the　main　mechanism　causing　failure.　This　study　sheds　light　on　the　failure　mechanism　of　LCRs　considering　the　flaw　position　under　uniaxial　compression.　©　The　Author(s),　under　exclusive　licence　to　Springer　Nature　Switzerland　AG　2024.