Ag–AgX(X = Cl, Br)@TiO_2 nanoparticle-aggregated spheres with different mass ratio of R = TiO2/Ag(X) from 35:1 to 5:1 were synthesized by a facile sol–gel technique with post-photoreduction. The photocatalytic activities of both Ag–Ag Cl@TiO_2 and Ag–Ag Br@TiO_2 under visible light are effectively improved by ~3 times relative to TiO_2 NPAS under the simulated sunlight for the decomposition of methyl orange(MO). Ag–AgBr@TiO_2 showed 30% improvement and less stable in photocatalytic activity than that of AgCl@TiO_2. The role of Ag and Ag X nanoparticles on the surface of Ag–Ag X(X = Cl,Br)@TiO_2 was discussed. Ag on these samples not onlycan efficiently harvest visible light especially for Ag Cl, but also efficiently separate excited electrons and holes via the fast electron transfer from Ag X(X = Cl, Br) to metal Ag nanoparticles and then to TiO_2-aggregated spheres on the surface of heterostructure. On the basis of their efficient and stable photocatalytic activities under visible-light irradiation, these photocatalysts could be widely used for degradation of organic pollutants in aqueous solution. Ag-AgX (X = Cl, Br) @ TiO 2 nanoparticle-aggregated spheres with different mass ratio of R = TiO 2 / Ag (X) from 35: 1 to 5: 1 were synthesized by a facile sol-gel technique with post-photoreduction . The photocatalytic activities of both Ag-Ag Cl @ TiO_2 and Ag-Ag Br @ TiO_2 under visible light are effectively improved by ~ 3 times relative to TiO_2 NPAS under the simulated sunlight for the decomposition of methyl orange (MO). Ag-AgBr @ TiO 2 showed 30% improvement and less stable in photocatalytic activity than that of AgCl @ TiO_2. The role of Ag and Ag X nanoparticles on the surface of Ag-Ag X (X = Cl, Br) @ TiO_2 was discussed. Ag on these samples not only can efficiently harvest visible light especially for Ag Cl, but also efficiently separate excited electrons and holes via the fast electron transfer from Ag X (X = Cl, Br) to metal Ag nanoparticles and then to TiO 2-aggregated spheres on the surface of heterostructure. On the basis of their efficient and stable photocatalytic activities under visible-light irradiation, these photocatalysts could be widely used for degradation of organic pollutants in aqueous solution.