The present application describes techniques for managing primary and secondary databases. One example method includes determining whether a lock held by a primary database expires, wherein the primary database and the secondary databases share the lock; in response to determining that the lock held by the primary database has expired, determining whether a lock renewal request of the primary database has been received; and in response to determining that the lock renewal request of the primary database has not been received, selecting a particular secondary database from the secondary databases as a new primary database, and controlling the primary database to be switched to the particular secondary database.