Smart　changing　microparticles　with　controllable　shapes　have　attracted　considerable　attentions　due　to　their　potential　applications　in　microactuators,　micromotors　and　biomedical　devices.　In　this　work,　a　shape　memory　microsphere　based　on　cellulose　acetate　(CA)　was　developed　by　a　simple　emulsion　solvent　evaporation　method　to　perform　on-demand　shape　switch　under　heat　stimulus.　The　morphology　of　CA　microparticles　before　and　after　thermal　programing　were　carefully　investigated　by　both　optical　microscope　and　scanning　electron　microscope,　demonstrating　their　excellent　microscopic　shape　memory　properties　and　shape　reconfiguring　ability　as　needed.　The　temporary　and　permanent　shapes　of　CA　microparticles　both　can　be　changed　arbitrarily　by　regulating　the　stretching　condition　via　a　film　stretching　process　to　meet　various　requests.　Considering　the　more　convenience　of　near　infrared　(NIR)　light　than　direct　heat　for　application,　the　additional　NIR　light-induced　microscopic　shape　memory　performance　was　realized　by　the　introduction　of　multi-walled　carbon　nanotube　into　CA　microspheres,　which　can　further　improve　their　versatile　application　potential　in　various　fields.　©　2020　Elsevier　B.V.