The fabrication of multi-level anti-counterfeiting inks with fast and enhanced reversibility and reasonable photofatigue resistance is a challenging issue nowadays. Smart capsules with nanometric size will facilitate their stimulation with enhanced responsivity and optical features. Herein, thermo- and photo-switchable dual-chromic nanocapsules were prepared through miniemulsion polymerization of methyl methacrylate together with simultaneous encapsulation of the synthesized leuco-dye derivative (STC) and hydroxyl-functionalized spiropyran (SPOH) with bisphenol A and 1-tetradecanol (TDH) or 1-dodecanol (DDH). The obtained capsules containing TDH (TPL@T) and DDH (TPL@D) showed spherical morphology with nanometric size in the range of 90–120 nm. Enthalpy and gravimetry analyses revealed more than 88 % (for the solvent) and 91 % (for total core materials) have been embedded into the nanocapsules, respectively. Simultaneous encapsulation of SPOH beside STC moieties induced a synergistic effect on thermochromic efficiency with 1.8-to-2.3-fold enhancement. Moreover, multiple responsivities were observed by UV–visible illumination with subsequent color change from colorless to purple and purple to yellow according to reflectance peak displacements. This makes them suitable for producing inks with multi-level data safety and anticounterfeiting. The coated TPL@D and TPL@T nanocapsules on cellulose substrate showed thermo-switchable color changes between deep red and colorless, introducing appropriate candidates for portable temperature indicators. Reversible thermo- and photo-responsivity of the printed pattern over 10 heating–cooling and UV–vis cycles exhibited their potentiality in anticounterfeiting multi-level data encryption.