An application triggering method and device are provided in the field of terminals. The terminal device sets at least two different triggering passwords for at least two instances of an application corresponding to an application icon on a user interface on the display. The terminal device acquires an input password after a triggering operation over the application icon is detected on the user interface. The terminal device triggers a target instance of the application according to the input password, where the target instance refers to an instance for which one of the at least two different triggering passwords is the same as the input password.