A series of experiments and numerical simulations were conducted to investigate the mechanism of change in axial forces of high-strength bolts subjected to induction heating for paint-coating removal. The shorter the time for reaching the target temperature of paint-coating removal (around 200 ℃) was, the larger the difference in temperature between the nut and the bolt became. The mismatch between the nut and the bolt threads caused by the temperature difference induced the reduction of bolt axial forces. The experimental and analytical results indicated the possibility of reducing the bolt axial forces within 4–6 % of the initial axial forces by keeping the heating time 15–30 seconds.