Inorganic photochromic materials have attracted significant attention due to their potential applications in various photoactive devices such as smart windows, optical memories, and photochromic decorations. Over the past decades, research has focused on developing high-performance photochromic materials, understanding their underlying mechanisms, and exploring new applications. However, challenges remain in achieving large photochromic contrast, color-tunable response, and confirming detailed photochromic processes. This review summarizes the latest progress in inorganic photochromic materials, covering new materials, photochromism mechanisms, evaluation techniques, and regulation methods. Emerging applications in optical information storage, photocatalysis, optical anti-counterfeiting, and radiation dosimetry are discussed. The review also presents perspectives and challenges for practical applications. Photochromism refers to the reversible transformation of a chemical species between two states, A and B, with different optical absorption properties, induced by electromagnetic radiation. It can be classified into T-type (thermal) and P-type (photonic) photochromism, as well as positive and negative photochromism. Inorganic photochromic materials typically exhibit high thermal stability, long cycling life, and excellent chemical resistance, making them promising for optical devices. The photochromic mechanism in inorganic materials is primarily related to the behavior of photo-induced charge carriers. For robust oxides, photochromism is attributed to the reversible formation of F-centers, which are anionic vacancies occupied by unpaired electrons. In RE-doped compounds, photochromism is due to the photoinduced electron transfer between RE ions and defects. In transition metal oxides, photochromism is related to the redox of transition metal ions and subsequent electron transfer. In metal halides, photochromism involves the photoreduction of metal ions to metal atoms, leading to color changes. Various techniques, including optical spectroscopy, EPR, XPS, and micromorphological characterization, are used to evaluate photochromic behavior. These techniques provide insights into the absorption properties, coloration contrast, and stability of photochromic materials. TL measurements are also used to study the trapping and release of charge carriers in photochromic materials. Inorganic photochromic materials with photochromism-induced luminescence modulation have potential applications in optoelectronic devices, optical memory, and anti-counterfeiting. UC luminescence modulation and photoluminescence modulation are two types of luminescence modulation induced by photochromism. These materials offer advantages such as easy accessibility and precise control of light, making them promising for various applications.Inorganic photochromic materials have attracted significant attention due to their potential applications in various photoactive devices such as smart windows, optical memories, and photochromic decorations. Over the past decades, research has focused on developing high-performance photochromic materials, understanding their underlying mechanisms, and exploring new applications. However, challenges remain in achieving large photochromic contrast, color-tunable response, and confirming detailed photochromic processes. This review summarizes the latest progress in inorganic photochromic materials, covering new materials, photochromism mechanisms, evaluation techniques, and regulation methods. Emerging applications in optical information storage, photocatalysis, optical anti-counterfeiting, and radiation dosimetry are discussed. The review also presents perspectives and challenges for practical applications. Photochromism refers to the reversible transformation of a chemical species between two states, A and B, with different optical absorption properties, induced by electromagnetic radiation. It can be classified into T-type (thermal) and P-type (photonic) photochromism, as well as positive and negative photochromism. Inorganic photochromic materials typically exhibit high thermal stability, long cycling life, and excellent chemical resistance, making them promising for optical devices. The photochromic mechanism in inorganic materials is primarily related to the behavior of photo-induced charge carriers. For robust oxides, photochromism is attributed to the reversible formation of F-centers, which are anionic vacancies occupied by unpaired electrons. In RE-doped compounds, photochromism is due to the photoinduced electron transfer between RE ions and defects. In transition metal oxides, photochromism is related to the redox of transition metal ions and subsequent electron transfer. In metal halides, photochromism involves the photoreduction of metal ions to metal atoms, leading to color changes. Various techniques, including optical spectroscopy, EPR, XPS, and micromorphological characterization, are used to evaluate photochromic behavior. These techniques provide insights into the absorption properties, coloration contrast, and stability of photochromic materials. TL measurements are also used to study the trapping and release of charge carriers in photochromic materials. Inorganic photochromic materials with photochromism-induced luminescence modulation have potential applications in optoelectronic devices, optical memory, and anti-counterfeiting. UC luminescence modulation and photoluminescence modulation are two types of luminescence modulation induced by photochromism. These materials offer advantages such as easy accessibility and precise control of light, making them promising for various applications.