This　study　examined　the　axial　force　loss　of　high-strength　bolts　after　a　3-kW　continuous-wave　laser　(CWL)　treatment.　Friction　connection　specimens　with　M22　high-strength　bolts　were　prepared,　and　a　fixed-angle　rotary　CWL　transmitter　with　a　26-mm-diameter　laser　ring　and　rotating　platform　was　used　for　nut　rotary　cleaning　of　high-strength　bolts.　Changes　in　the　axial　force　and　temperature　of　the　bolts　were　monitored　during　the　laser　treatment　based　on　the　irradiation　duration　on　the　nut　surface.　The　experimental　results　indicated　that　the　minimum　and　final　stable　values　of　the　axial　force　during　CWL　treatment　are　affected　by　the　irradiation　duration.　Multiple　rounds　of　irradiation　can　reduce　the　bolt　axial　force　loss　for　the　same　total　irradiation　duration.　The　26-mm-diameter　laser　ring　can　sufficiently　cover　the　surface　of　commonly　used　bolt　heads　and　nuts　in　bridges,　and　the　local　temperature　effect　does　not　influence　the　axial　force　loss　in　adjacent　bolts.　The　distribution　of　the　bolt　temperature　when　the　CWL　treatment　the　bolt　is　simulated　by　an　FE　model,　which　proves　the　overall　temperature　of　the　bolt　does　not　exceed　300　°C　and　remains　in　a　normal　working　condition　when　the　continuous　irradiation　duration　is　less　than　45　s.　From　the　relationship　between　the　axial　force　change　and　treatment　duration,　the　axial　force　loss　formula　was　fitted,　which　can　help　provide　a　maintenance　plan　for　M22　bolt　cleaning　using　3-kW　CWL.　©　2023　Institution　of　Structural　Engineers