A method for managing a task on a terminal device and the terminal device are provided. The method for managing a task on a terminal device may include: monitoring whether a first application on the terminal device is running, and monitoring a user's action of operating a desktop of the terminal device; and displaying, on the desktop of the terminal device, a running-state icon corresponding to the first application if it is detected that the first application is running, and disabling the first application if it is detected that the first application is running and the detected user action meets a preset disabling condition corresponding to the first application; or displaying, on the desktop of the terminal device, a disabled-state icon corresponding to the first application if it is detected that the first application is in a disabled state.