Significance This work represents a first attempt to study the crystallographic texture of Li metal in batteries. X-ray diffraction pole-figure analysis demonstrates that the texture of Li deposition is primarily dependent on the type of additive or cross-over molecule from the cathode side. We find that reversibility of Li, which is phenomenologically influenced by morphology, is fundamentally driven by the texture (crystallographic orientation). Additives in electrolytes and the cross-over molecules from the cathode play crucial roles on the crystallographic texture because they hinder the cathodic process and selectively adsorb/react on different crystal planes. Additives with favorable adsorption and reusability will generate controllable texture, resulting in more uniform morphology and better cycling reversibility.