• Cross-rolled aged (CRA) Mg-Gd-Y-Zr-Ag alloy sheets exhibit higher yield and tensile strength than unidirectional-rolled aged (URA) sheets.
• CRA sheets display a stronger aging response due to enhanced β′ precipitation, despite having larger grain size.
• URA sheets develop basal and RD-favored textures, whereas CRA sheets feature multiple-peak texture with reduced yield strength anisotropy.
• Grain boundary strengthening is greater in URA sheets, but aging-precipitate strengthening dominates in CRA sheets, yielding superior mechanical performance.