Shape　memory　alloy　(SMA)　fibers　are　used　in　engineered　cementitious　composite　(ECC)　to　achieve　good　self-healing　properties　in　the　newly　developed　smart　cementitious　material　(SMA-ECC).　This　study　focuses　on　the　effect　of　SMA　fiber　content　and　preloading　level　on　the　self-healing　properties　of　SMA-ECC　through　a　two-stage　four-point　bending　test.　The　self-healing　effect　was　evaluated　in　terms　of　recovery　of　cracks,　mechanical　properties,　and　internal　damage　before　and　after　self-healing.　The　results　showed　that　the　efficiency　of　the　healing　of　cracks　reduced　with　the　increase　in　the　width　of　the　initial　cracks.　Cracks　less　than　50　µm　width　can　be　healed　in　SMA-ECC,　while　cracks　larger　than　200　µm　width　were　the　upper　limit　for　the　healing.　The　efficiency　of　the　self-healing　in　terms　of　crack　closure　increased　significantly　with　increasing　SMA　fiber　content　from　0.3%　to　0.7%　but　did　not　change　obviously　when　SMA　fiber　content　increased　from　0.7%　to　1%.　The　recovery　of　flexural　properties　and　damage　decreased　significantly　with　increasing　preloading　level.　A　high　SMA　fiber　content　was　required　for　self-healing　behavior　at　a　high　preloading　level.　At　the　pre-loading　ratio　of　50%　and　70%,　the　recovery　of　flexural　properties　reached　the　maximum　at　the　SMA　fiber　content　of　0.7%.　But　at　the　pre-loading　ratio　of　90%,　the　recovery　of　flexural　properties　increased　with　increasing　fiber　content.　©　2022　Elsevier　Ltd