Rare-earth　ion　(RE3+)　doped　materials　with　upconversion　luminescence　and　photochromic　(PC)　effect　have　received　widespread　attention,　but　thermal　quenching　(TQ)　at　high　temperature　and　energy-demanding　PC　recovery　processes　limit　their　practical　applications.　Herein,　lanthanide　ion　doped　(K0.5Nb0.5)NbO3　(KNN)　based　translucent　ceramics　were　prepared,　in　which　Tm3+/Yb3+　co-doped　one　displays　optical　versatility　for　potential　applications　in　temperature　sensors　and　anti-counterfeiting.　By　utilizing　the　large　energy　mismatch　between　Tm3+　and　Yb3+,　negative　thermal　quenching　(NTQ)　feature　was　achieved　with　the　maximum　relative　sensitivity　of　2.54　%K−1　at　213　K.　Furthermore,　by　constructing　appropriate　intermediate　traps,　the　ceramic　exhibits　a　rapid　PC　self-recovery　process　within　30　min　without　external　stimulation.　The　bifunctional　specialty　can　expand　the　applications　of　KNN-based　ceramics　in　optical　area.　©　2023　Elsevier　B.V.