Background and Aims <p>Wildfires in high-altitude dry shrublands of the Peruvian Andes are increasingly becoming a significant ecological threat, with substantial and potentially persistent impacts on soils. This study investigated how fire affects soil microbial communities and functions beneath two dominant shrub species, <i>Berberis lutea</i> and <i>Parastrephia quadrangularis</i>, which differ in biomass and fuel structure and therefore in the intensity of combustion that their soils are exposed to. We hypothesized that fire would modify microbial community composition, biomass and functional activity, leading to distinct recovery trajectories beneath the two shrub species due to their contrasting fuel characteristics.</p> Methods <p>We conducted a medium-term assessment (3–4&#xa0;years post-fire) of soil microbial structure and activity using phospholipid fatty acids (PLFA), microbial respiration, microbial biomass carbon and enzyme activities.</p> Results <p>Fire effects on soils were species-specific. Soils beneath <i>P. quadrangularis</i> showed greater potential for bacterial and fungal communities recovery, while those under <i>B. lutea</i> soils were more severely affected, likely due to higher aboveground biomass. Despite these differences, both species experienced a&#xa0;strong and persistent reduction in enzymatic activities, indicating long-lasting impacts on soil functionality. In addition, soil properties such as aggregate stability and water repellency were identified as key factors associated with microbial recovery.</p> Conclusions <p>The results reveal the high vulnerability of Andean dryland soils to wildfire and highlight the role of vegetation type in determining post-fire microbial recovery. Incorporating soil biological indicators into post-fire restoration planning and soil vulnerability assessment may help reduce long-term degradation risks in these fragile high-altitude ecosystems.&#xa0;</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>