A　discontinuous　cover-plate　connection　(DCPC)　was　proposed　for　prefabricated　steel　plate　shear　wall　with　beam-only-connected　infill　plate.　Low　cyclic　loading　tests　were　conducted　on　a　steel　frame　with　prefabricated　beam-only　connected　steel　plate　shear　wall　(FPSPSW)　and　a　steel　frame　with　welded　beam-only　connected　steel　plate　shear　wall　(FWSPSW),　and　the　seismic　performances　of　both　specimens　were　studied.　The　failure　modes,　hysteretic　curves,　skeleton　curves,　and　seismic　performance　indexes　of　both　specimens　were　obtained.　Then,　the　failure　characteristics,　ductility,　energy　dissipation　capacity　and　stiffness　degeneration　were　compared.　The　results　show　that　the　prefabricated　beam-only　connected　steel　plate　shear　wall　with　DCPC　exhibit　favorable　seismic　performance.　The　structure　is　consistent　with　the　design　concept　of　＇strong　frame　with　weak　infill　plate,　strong　column　with　weak　beam＇.　Compared　with　the　welded　connection,　the　DCPC　can　improve　the　energy　dissipation　capacity　of　the　structure　without　losing　the　seismic　performance,　which　provide　a　good　function　of　post-earthquake　rehabilitation.　©　2018,　Engineering　Mechanics　Press.　All　right　reserved.