In situ atomic force microscope (AFM) and lateral force microscope (LFM) images of Ag(lll) electrode surfaces in fluoride, sulfate, perchlorate, and chloride containing electrolytes have been obtained under potential control. Short range images reveal only the Ag(lll) structure in each of these anions, indicating that the anions are weakly bound to the electrode surface or form a (1 x 1) overlayer. Long range images show that in both the perchlorate and chloride solutions the surface and steps are blurred at positive potentials while at negative potentials the images are clear. This effect is not seen with either sulfate or fluoride. The blurring is associated with step formation and roughening on the Ag(lll) electrode. The blurring in chloride containing solutions is associated with increased mobility of surface Ag atoms while Cl- is adsorbed on the surface. This increased mobility also gives rise to step formation. In the perchlorate solutions, the step formation behavior is presumably a consequence of residual chloride arising from either contamination or perchlorate reduction.