A multimedia file playback method and apparatus where the multimedia file playback method includes: recognizing a face of a viewer to determine an age type of the viewer, where the age type includes an adult type and a juvenile type; obtaining information about a position and length of a sensitive clip in the multimedia file if the determined age type includes a juvenile type; and playing the multimedia file in which the sensitive clip is hidden to the viewer according to the information about the position and length of the sensitive clip in the multimedia file. The multimedia file playback method and apparatus can prevent inappropriate videos, images, and other information from adversely affecting juveniles.