A method for processing a direct current electric arc and an apparatus, includes: obtaining a first current which is a direct current input current of a direct current cable of a photovoltaic cell system; obtaining a second current, where the second current is a direct current common mode current of a direct current cable or an alternating current common mode current of an alternating current cable; calculating a correlation coefficient between a frequency domain component of the first current and a frequency domain component of the second current; and when determining that the first current meets an electric arc occurrence condition and the correlation coefficient is greater than or equal to a preset coefficient threshold, skipping sending a direct current electric arc fault alarm. The correlation coefficient is used to reflect a proportion of common mode noise generated by the second current, and the preset coefficient threshold is set.