Display omitted •Potential-induced surface reconstruction on Au(111).•Zig-zag and straight structures of reconstructed Au(111) surface.•Potential-induced reconstruction kinetics on Au(111).•Ab initio simulations of zig-zag and straight rows of reconstructed surface. We report in this communication, through in situ STM images correlated with time, and ab initio simulations of binding energies, how potential-induced surface reconstruction is formed on Au(111) single crystal in 0.1 M H2SO4. It was found that while the electrode potential after lifting the reconstructed surface is switched back to a more negative value than the potential of zero charge, the formation process of the reconstructed surface goes through two consecutive routes. In the more kinetically favorable step, and within a few minutes, the reconstructed surface follows three different lattice directions with a high proportion of semi zig-zag structures. However, by maintaining the negative applied potential, the surface reconstruction rearranges to a straighter reconstructed pattern in the second step, which is more energetically favorable.