Due　to　the　relatively　low　damping　and　sharp　stiffness　change,　friction-based　self-centering　dampers　are　less　effective　in　controlling　peak　interstory　drift　(PID)　and　peak　floor　acceleration　(PFA).　To　address　these　concerns,　at　least　partially,　this　paper　leverages　the　two　activation　plateaus　and　proposes　two　types　of　double-stage　friction-based　self-centering　dampers.　The　double-stage　behavior　provides　enhanced　stiffness　and　energy　dissipation　in　the　second　stage.　As　the　kernel　elements,　the　grooved　friction　plates　or　disc　spring　stacks　are　elaborately　designed　to　realize　two　activation　points.　The　configurations　and　working　mechanisms　of　the　dampers　are　described　first,　followed　by　the　derivations　of　their　analytical　equations　governing　the　force-displacement　relationships.　Proof-of-concept　tests　are　conducted　on　two　reduced-scale　specimens　to　experimentally　examine　their　hysteretic　behaviors.　The　experimental　observations　and　data　meet　expectations　and　validate　the　analytical　equations.　At　the　system　level,　a　steel-braced　frame　is　selected　as　the　example　structure　for　demonstrating　the　seismic　control　characteristics　of　the　double-stage　friction-based　self-centering　dampers,　through　comprehensive　comparisons　against　the　companion　single-stage　self-centering　dampers,　under　earthquakes　associated　with　three　seismic　hazard　levels.　The　comparison　results　indicate　that　the　double-stage　friction-based　self-centering　dampers　have　superior　PFA　control　effect　under　all　hazard　levels　and　better　PID　control　effect　under　the　maximum　considered　earthquake　hazard　level.