The invention discloses a video playing method and a video playing device, which belong to the technical field of computers. The video playing method comprises the steps of receiving a video playing request corresponding to first video in a target application program, detecting whether a preset playing program operates in a process occupied by the playing program alone, if so, playing the first video through the playing program, otherwise, establishing a new progress, starting the playing program in the newly established progress, and playing the first video through the playing program. By adopting the video playing method and the video playing device, the occupation of system resources can be reduced.