The field-flash annealing combines the action of an electrical current pulse along the sample and the simultaneous application of a longitudinal magnetic field. It is concluded that such a technique gives rise to an improvement of soft magnetic properties such as coercive field and magnetic susceptibility. This softness is a consequence of relaxation of Internal stresses and the induction of axial magnetic anisotropy. Modification of the magnetostriction constant after these treatments is also reported. © 1990 IEEE