This application provides a communication method and apparatus, to resolve a problem that a PDU session of a terminal in an inactive mode fails to be activated. The method performed by a first core network device includes: sending first downlink information to a first RAN node, where the first downlink information is used by the first RAN node to activate a PDU session of a terminal, and the PDU session is in an inactive state; receiving indication information from the first RAN node, where the indication information indicates that the PDU session fails to be activated; and sending second downlink information to a second RAN node based on the indication information, where the second downlink information is used by the second RAN node to activate the PDU session of the terminal. This application relates to the field of communications technologies.