A method for unlocking a terminal screen and a terminal are disclosed. When it is detects that a user triggers an unlocking instruction for a terminal screen, a terminal generates and displays a random number; acquires a standard unlocking password through calculation according to an unlocking rule and the random number; receives an unlocking password input by a user and acquired through calculation according to the unlocking rule; identifies, according to the standard unlocking password, whether the unlocking password input by the user is correct; and when it is identified that the unlocking password input by the user is correct, unlocks the locked terminal screen. Compared with a manner of unlocking a terminal screen by using a fixed unlocking password in the prior art, embodiments of the present disclosure have a beneficial effect of unlocking a terminal screen by using a dynamic password, which improves security of a terminal.