Fine grained AZ31 and AZ61 magnesium alloys produced by equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) were tested for investigating tensile and fatigue properties, including microstructure, monotonic tensile flow, fatigue life and crack growth rate. For the two alloys, the yield stress of the ECAPed sample was lower than that of the unECAPed (=as received) sample, because of the fact that the softening effect due to texture anisotropy overwhelmed the strengthening effect due to grain refinement. Grain refinement of the AZ31 and AZ61 alloys through ECAP was found not to be significantly effective in increasing fatigue strength.