In　this　study,　a　discontinuous　cover　plate　connection　(DCPC)　was　proposed　for　a　prefabricated　steel　plate　shear　wall　with　a　beam-only-connected　infill　plate.　This　design　is　suitable　for　prefabricated　high-rise　steel　structures　and　assumes　that　bolt　slippage　does　not　precede　the　yielding　of　the　steel　plate　tension　field.　Three　1/3-scale　specimens　were　designed,　and　the　hysteretic　behaviour,　skeleton　curves,　energy　dissipation　capacity,　ductility,　and　failure　modes　were　investigated　using　quasi-static　tests　and　finite　element　analyses.　Then,　the　hysteretic　behaviour,　ductility,　and　energy　dissipation　capacity　of　the　prefabricated　steel　plate　shear　wall　were　compared　to　those　of　a　traditional　welded　steel　plate　shear　wall　through　finite　element　analyses.　The　results　showed　that　the　prefabricated　steel　plate　shear　wall　with　a　DCPC　had　good　hysteretic　behaviour,　energy　dissipation　capacity,　and　ductility.　Further,　the　bolt　pre-tightening　force　in　the　connection　was　directly　proportional　to　the　thickness　of　the　infill　plate.　The　ultimate　lateral　bearing　capacity　of　the　prefabricated　steel　plate　shear　wall　was　slightly　less　than　that　of　the　welded　steel　plate　shear　wall.　In　addition,　the　prefabricated　steel　plate　shear　wall　can　be　assembled　rapidly　and　simply　on-site,　and　it　provides　a　good　post-earthquake　repairable　function.　(C)　2019　Elsevier　Ltd.　All　rights　reserved.