A method includes: determining, by a terminal device within a discontinuous reception period, an occasion set for paging of the terminal device based on a terminal device identifier, where the occasion set for paging includes at least two occasions for paging; and receiving, in a time range corresponding to the occasions for paging included in the occasion set for paging, a paging message. One discontinuous reception period is partitioned into a plurality of occasion sets for paging, and one occasion set for paging includes at least two occasions for paging. After determining, within a discontinuous reception period, a corresponding occasion set for paging, the terminal device may receive a paging message on an occasion for paging included in the occasion set for paging.