An access control method, comprising: receiving, by a terminal device, access control configuration information sent by a network device, wherein the network device is a wireless access device and the access control configuration information comprises a reference signal receiving power, RSRP value, and the RSRP value indicates a first coverage area and a second coverage area, and a first access control mode corresponding to the first coverage area is different from a second access control mode corresponding to the second coverage area, wherein the first access control mode comprises skipping accessing the current cell and the second access control mode comprises entering a preset access control process, wherein the preset access control process comprises an extended access barring, EAB, process; determining, by the terminal device, a coverage area of the terminal device, the determining comprises: measuring, by the terminal device, a strength of a reference signal, and determining, by the terminal device, the coverage area of the terminal device, wherein the strength range of the reference signal corresponds to the coverage area of the terminal device; and determining, by the terminal device, an access control mode of the terminal device based on the access control configuration information and the coverage area of the terminal device; wherein the access control mode of the terminal device corresponds to the coverage area of the terminal device. receiving, by a terminal device, access control configuration information sent by a network device, wherein the network device is a wireless access device and the access control configuration information comprises a reference signal receiving power, RSRP value, and the RSRP value indicates a first coverage area and a second coverage area, and a first access control mode corresponding to the first coverage area is different from a second access control mode corresponding to the second coverage area, wherein the first access control mode comprises skipping accessing the current cell and the second access control mode comprises entering a preset access control process, wherein the preset access control process comprises an extended access barring, EAB, process; determining, by the terminal device, a coverage area of the terminal device, the determining comprises: measuring, by the terminal device, a strength of a reference signal, and determining, by the terminal device, the coverage area of the terminal device, wherein the strength range of the reference signal corresponds to the coverage area of the terminal device; and determining, by the terminal device, an access control mode of the terminal device based on the access control configuration information and the coverage area of the terminal device; wherein the access control mode of the terminal device corresponds to the coverage area of the terminal device. measuring, by the terminal device, a strength of a reference signal, and determining, by the terminal device, the coverage area of the terminal device, wherein the strength range of the reference signal corresponds to the coverage area of the terminal device; and determining, by the terminal device, an access control mode of the terminal device based on the access control configuration information and the coverage area of the terminal device; wherein the access control mode of the terminal device corresponds to the coverage area of the terminal device.