Pure and copper-modified photocatalytic TiO 2 nanopowders were prepared via a green sol−gel route and heated to 450°C. Copper does not enter the TiO 2 lattice but forms as smaller ∼2 nm Cu-based nanocrystals, decorating the surface of ∼10 nm TiO 2 nanoparticles. The surface of the larger TiO 2 nanoparticles (NPs) is partially covered by much smaller Cu NPs, attached to the surface of the larger NPs but not completely covering them due to the small quantity present (1−10 mol % Cu). This retards the anatase-to-rutile phase transition and titania domain growth through a grain-boundary pinning mechanism. These hybrid nanoparticles show tunable photochromic behavior under both UVA and visible light. Under UVA, Cu 2+ nanoparticles reduce to Cu + , and then to Cu 0. Under visible-light, Cu 2+ reduces to Cu + , although to a lesser extent. The induced photochromism can be tuned by varying the light source or exposure time. One mol % Cu causes a reduction of Cu 2+ , and lowers the d−d absorption band, to 50% after only 12 s, and 95% after 10 min, under UVA-light, and has a reduction of 25% in 1 min, 50% in 4 min, and 80% in 1 h under visible-light. This is the first report of inorganic compounds, in this case Cu-TiO 2 hybrid nanoparticles, to exhibit tunable photochromism under both UVA and visible-light exposure. This rapid and sensitive effect can potentially be used to modify, tune, or monitor the progress of photoactivated behavior in a new generation of smart/active multifunctional materials and photoactive devices or sensors.