Tripod　suction　bucket　foundation　is　increasingly　used　to　support　offshore　wind　turbines　(OWTs)　due　to　its　convenient　and　low-cost　installation　and　high　overturning　resistance.　However,　the　seismic　response　characteristics　of　OWTs　of　tripod　bucket　foundations　in　sands　is　not　well　covered　in　the　literature.　Therefore,　this　study　investigates　the　response　of　tripod　bucket　foundations　installed　in　sands　and　subjected　to　seismic　loads　employing　advanced　three-dimensional　finite　difference　analysis.　The　variation　of　pore　pressure　around　suction　bucket　is　evaluated,　and　the　failure　mechanism　of　the　tripod　bucket　foundation　in　sands　is　revealed.　In　addition,　the　displacement　response　of　the　tower,　and　the　acceleration　amplification　effect　of　the　OWT　system　are　elucidated.　It　is　found　that　the　earthquake　magnitude,　and　sand　relative　density　and　liquefaction　greatly　affect　the　foundation　seismic　behavior.　The　results　revealed　that　the　overall　rotation　of　the　tripod　bucket　foundation　is　primarily　due　to　progressively　increasing　differential　vertical　settlement　between　the　foundation　sides　of　‘single　bucket’　and　‘double　bucket’　associated　with　loading　direction.　It　was　also　found　that　the　sand　liquefaction　under　strong　shaking　may　lead　to　excessive　rotation　of　the　foundation　that　exceeds　the　service　limit　state.　The　findings　from　this　study　can　provide　guidance　for　the　design　of　OWT　tripod　bucket　foundations　in　sands.　©　2023　Elsevier　Ltd