Uniaxial compression tests were carried out on an Al-Cu-Li alloy at a temperature range of 300–500℃ and a strain rate range of 0.001–10 s;. Four representative instability maps based on Gegel, AlexanderMalas(A-M), Kumar-Prasad(K-P) and Murty-Rao(M-R) criteria were constructed. Through formula deduction and microstructural observation, it can be concluded that M-R criterion is more accurate than K-P criterion, and the first two criteria are better than Gegel and A-M criteria. From a power dissipation map and a M-R instability map, the optimized processing parameters are 480–500℃/0.001–0.1 s;and 420–480℃/0.1-1 s;. The corresponding microstructural analysis shows that dynamic recovery and partial dynamic recrystallization are main dynamic softening mechanisms. Transmission electron microscopy observation indicated that a large number of primary coarse T;(Al;Cu Li) particles precipitated in the homogenized specimen. After deformation at 500℃, most of the primary T;particles dissolved back into the matrix, and secondary fine T;particles precipitated at deformation-induced dislocations, high angle grain boundaries and other dispersed particles.