Laser　shock　peening　(LSP)　is　an　advanced　surface-strengthening　technology　that　improves　the　anti-fatigue　performance　of　metallic　components.　However,　there　is　a　significant　barrier　to　the　application　of　thin-walled　components　because　the　high-energy　laser　causes　deformation　and　nonuniformity　of　compressive　residual　stress,　thereby　reducing　fatigue　performance.　In　this　study,　an　LSP　technology　based　on　a　low-pulse-energy　laser　was　developed.　We　applied　it　to　a　thin-walled　AA7075　aluminium　alloy　specimen　(∼4　mm　thickness)　and　achieved　an　improvement　in　the　high-cycle　fatigue　limit　of　20.4　and　37.0%　for　the　smooth　and　pre-cracked　fatigue　specimens,　respectively,　in　the　absence　of　deformation.　It　was　discovered　that　the　enhanced　dynamic　nanoscale　precipitation　and　dislocation　multiplication　effects　of　the　high-pressure　shock　wave　contribute　to　microstructure　stability　under　cyclic　loading,　resulting　in　high　compressive　residual　stress　stability.　Moreover,　the　unique　heterogeneous　grain　structure　on　the　surface　layer　subjected　to　LSP　at　low　pulse　energy　effectively　restrains　crack　initiation　and　propagation.　Because　these　findings　apply　to　a　wide　range　of　alloys,　the　current　results　create　new　avenues　for　improving　the　fatigue　performance　of　thin-walled　components.　©　2022　Elsevier　Ltd