An embodiment of the present application provides a method for determining a DRX state. The method includes: receiving, by a terminal device, first indicating information transmitted from a network device, where the first indicating information is used for indicating the terminal device to switch a DRX state, or used for indicating a duration for which the terminal device stays in a DRX state; and switching, by the terminal device, a DRX state in which the terminal device currently stays according to the first indicating information, or determining the duration for which the terminal device stays in the DRX state according to the first indicating information, the DRX state in which the terminal device currently stays is a first DRX state or a second DRX state, where a receiver of the terminal device is turned on when in the first DRX state, and turned off when in the second DRX state.