Previously,　pulsed　laser-enhanced　gas　metal　arc　welding　(GMAW)　was　studied　toward　the　goal　of　realizing　current-independent　free-flight　metal　transfer.　However,　controlled　low-spatter　or　even　spatter-free　short-circuiting　transfer　would　be　more　preferred　in　applications　requiring　even　lower　heat　input.　Thereby,　laser-enhanced　metal　transfer　was　expanded　to　short-circuiting　transfer　by　using　a　relatively　short　arc.　A　constant　current　(CC)　power　source　was　employed　to　avoid　the　current　boost　during　the　short-circuiting　period.　The　arc　variables　and　metal　transfer　dynamics　were　synchronously　recorded.　The　short-circuiting　transfer　behavior　under　constant　and　pulsed　laser　irradiation　were　both　observed　and　analyzed　in　this　study.　The　experimental　results　show　the　laser　irradiation　does　enhance　the　short-circuiting　metal　transfer　under　CC　power　mode　in　the　ways　of　controlling　the　transfer　frequency　and　improving　the　process　stability.　The　role　of　the　laser　recoil　force　changes　to　first　actively　initiate　and　then　terminate　the　short-circuiting　process　between　the　droplet　and　molten　pool.　The　start　and　end　of　the　short-circuiting　process　both　become　controllable.　A　sufficiently　high　short-circuiting　current　is　no　longer　needed　to　severely　pinch　the　droplet　and　thus　guarantee　termination　of　the　short　circuit.　On　the　other　hand,　welding　spatter　produced　by　the　current　boost　in　constant　voltage　(CV)　power　mode　is　nearly　eliminated.　What　is　more,　the　transfer　frequency　can　be　precisely　controlled　when　using　pulsed　laser　irradiation.　A　kind　of　one-droplet-per-pulse　(ODPP)　short-circuiting　transfer,　almost　without　spatter,　is　obtained　as　desirable.