The effect of peak temperature (T p) at 200, 300, 400, 500 and 550°C on the microstructural evolution and softening behavior of the simulated heat-affected zone (HAZ) was studied in the 2219-T87 alloy by electron-backscatter diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, micro-hardness and micro-tensile tests. The results showed that the grain size in the HAZs at 200-500°C was comparable, but the number density of the strengthening precipitates (GP zones/h 0) decreased with increasing T p. At a T p of 550°C, the grain size significantly decreased and the distribution of the misorientation angles corresponded to the MacKenzie distribution. The GP zones/h 0 phase coarsened and translated into h phases at T p values in the range of 200-400°C. Increasing the T p to 500°C and above, some h 0 phases translated into h phases and others dissolved into the a-Al matrix which led to an increase in the solid solution strengthening. The reduction of the number density of the GP zones/h 0 was responsible for the softening behavior.