Aberration-corrected high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF STEM) and electron nanodiffraction investigations have been carried out to follow changes in the local atomic structure of three Li-rich layered oxides recovered after a single charge–discharge cycle, performed in different conditions. The structure of the pristine material Li1.20Mn0.54Co0.13Ni0.13O2 was fully characterized. It was then compared to those of the materials recovered after one electrochemical cycle in a lithium battery, with the upper voltage limit being either just below the voltage of the irreversible “plateau” typical of Li-rich layered oxides or just above. An in-depth study of the material obtained chemically, after oxidation to deintercalate Li and then reduction to reintercalate Li, was also performed for comparison. The main message of this paper is that the “plateau” is not associated with an extended structural reorganization of the material. The irreversible processes associated wit...