Aqueous metal batteries present new possibilities towards low cost and more sustainable energy storage. However, one of the main stumbling blocks to this battery technology is the growth of metal dendrites, which tend to cause battery premature failure and safety issues. Here, we employ liquid cell transmission electron microscopy (TEM) to directly visualized the electroplating and stripping of metals on micro electrodes at the nanoscale. Using operando liquid cell TEM, a new approach to liquid thickness manipulation and 4D STEM electron diffraction analysis, will reveal how the growth of Zn dendrites in Zn-ion batteries can be effectively controlled on electrochemical cycling.