Traditional active packaging materials are easily affected by the environment, resulting in their inability to release active substances in specified quantities at specified times and locations. In this study, MCM-41 was used as a thymol (THY) carrier and added to the potato starch (PS) matrix to design an intelligent release active packaging film based on storage microenvironment. MCM-41 encapsulation improved thermal stability of THY. THY-MCM-41 addition significantly improved the tensile strength (TS, 7.18 MPa) of the film (P < 0.05) and endowed the film excellent gas and water barrier protection. THY release was responsive to temperature and relative humidity (RH), and the First-order model better explained the THY release pattern (R2 > 0.980). The THY-MCM-41/PS film exhibited long-term antibacterial effect during 10-day storage due to the sustained release of THY. Additionally, strawberries packaged in the THY-MCM-41/PS film exhibited the best sensory characteristics during 5-day storage (25 °C and 50 % RH). Overall, the present THY-MCM-41/PS film provides a novel alternative for the sustained release of active substances in order to achieve the excellent preservation of goods such as fruits and vegetables.