The chromium coatings were electroplated onto a laser pre-quenched steel substrate to improve the interfacial adhesion properties of chromium coating/steel substrate system. The influence of laser pretreatment on the substrate, coating as well as interface was investigated by using microstructure characterization, hardness testing, tensile testing and finite element analysis. An apparent boundary line instead of an interlayer was identified between chromium coating/pre-quenched steel substrate. The Vickers hardness and yield strength of steel substrate were significantly improved after laser pre-quenching. The fracture toughness of chromium coating was increased by about 28.6% compared to the un-treated counterpart. The energy release rate for an interfacial crack in the chromium coating/laserquenched substrate was smaller than that in the untreated specimen. These results may help understand the life prolongation mechanism for the laser pre-quenched chromium/coated steel parts. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.