A random access method and apparatus are provided. The method includes sending, by a first terminal side device, a random access preamble to a network side device, receiving, by the first terminal side device, a random access response (RAR) corresponding to the random access preamble, where the RAR includes P temporary cell radio network temporary identifiers (TC-RNTIs), and P is an integer greater than 1, and sending, by the first terminal side device to the network side device based on the RAR, a first message and a demodulation reference signal used to demodulate the first message, where the demodulation reference signal is generated based on a first TC-RNTI, and the first TC-RNTI is one of the P TC-RNTIs.