This　paper　investigated　the　structural　feasibility　of　braced-damper　system　with　adaptive　negative　stiffness　devices　(i.e.,　negative　stiffness　amplifying　damper,　NSAD)　in　yielding　multi-storey　steel　frames　(MSFs).　The　nonlinear　analytical　model　of　yielding　MSFs　with　NSADs　was　established.　Seismic　responses　of　a　3-storey　typical　structure　with　and　without　NSAD　were　evaluated　to　illustrate　the　working　mechanism　of　NSAD　applied　at　yielding　MSFs.　Parametric　study　concerning　the　maximum　inter-storey　drift,　residual　deformation,　and　structural　acceleration　was　conducted　thoroughly　to　quantify　the　effect　of　NSAD.　The　rational　distribution　of　NSADs　was　also　discussed　respectively　for　both　regular　and　irregular　yielding　MSFs.　Numerical　results　showed　that　the　adaptive　NSAD　is　effective　in　mitigating　inter-storey　drift,　residual　deformation,　and　structural　acceleration　of　yielding　MSFs　when　subjected　to　multiple　intensities　of　earthquakes.　It　is　recommended　that　the　adaptive　NSAD　shall　be　applied　at　storeys　with　small　drift　response,　i.e.,　whose　stiffness　(previous　conclusion　on　elastic　MSFs)　and　strength　(new　contribution　of　this　paper　on　yielding　MSFs)　are　high.　In　other　word,　the　feature　of　NSAD　that　helps　reducing　non-arranged　storey　drift　is　also　valid　for　the　plastic　scenarios.　©　2022　Elsevier　Ltd