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(1 1 1) 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.