Titanium dioxide (TiO2) is a well-studied photocatalyst that is known to break down organic molecules upon ultraviolet irradiation. TiO2 thin films were fabricated on glass substrates using the doctor-blade procedure, the film surface was modified with silver nanoparticles to increase its visible light response. The Ag–TiO2 films were characterized by transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy equipped with energy dispersive spectrometry and X-ray diffraction. The photocatalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB) and inactivation of Gram-negative bacteria Escherichia coli and Gram-positive bacteria Staphylococcus aureus were studied. The modified films presented enhanced photocatalytic efficiency and can decompose MB solution two-times faster than the unmodified TiO2 films, under illumination of sunlight. A nominal degradation (15 %) was observed in control MB under sunlight. The degradation efficiency of Ag–TiO2 films slightly decreased after five consecutive experiments. Ag–TiO2 films revealed very effective bactericidal activity against both E. coli and S. aureus. The photocatalytic inactivation toward E. coli and S. aureus showed a similar trend with much higher effectiveness toward E. coli under the same experimental conditions. The inactivation efficiency was maximized and reached 95 % for S. aureus and 97 % for E. coli, after 180 min incubation. These results demonstrate the potential of application of Ag–TiO2 photocatalysis as a method for treatment of diluted waste waters in textile industries.