A device control method and an apparatus are provided. The device control method, applied to a main control device, includes: receiving a control instruction; sending a first signal to candidate controlled devices according to the control instruction; receiving second signals sent by the candidate controlled devices in response to the first signal, where the second signal carries a transmit power value of the candidate controlled device; determining a candidate controlled device corresponding to a minimum signal attenuation value as a target controlled device according to received power values for receiving the second signals by the main control device and the transmit power values of the candidate controlled devices carried in the second signals; and sending the control instruction to the target controlled device.