A path switching method, comprising: sending, by a relay terminal, a first message to a first network device, wherein the first message is used to request to switch a remote terminal from an indirect connection path for communicating with the first network device by using the relay terminal to a direct connection path for communicating directly with the first network device or a second network device, or the first message includes a request to release a link between the relay terminal and the remote terminal, and the first network device is different from the second network device, wherein the first message includes a reason for releasing the short-distance link by the relay terminal; and after the relay terminal sends the first message to the first network device, releasing, by the relay terminal, the link between the relay terminal and the remote terminal, wherein the releasing, by the relay terminal, the link between the relay terminal and the remote terminal after the relay terminal sends the first message to the first network device comprises: releasing, by the relay terminal, the link after receiving a third message, wherein the third message is sent by the first network device or the remote terminal after the first network device sends a second message to the remote terminal, and is used to instruct the relay terminal to release the link, wherein the second message comprises at least one of the following: a cell identity, random access configuration information, first instruction information, or a first time value, and is used to configure the remote terminal to switch from the indirect connection path to the direct connection path, wherein the first instruction information is used to instruct the remote terminal whether to perform, before disconnecting from the relay terminal, downlink synchronization with a cell corresponding to the cell identity, and the first time value is a longest time allowed for the remote terminal to access the cell corresponding to the cell identity. sending, by a relay terminal, a first message to a first network device, wherein the first message is used to request to switch a remote terminal from an indirect connection path for communicating with the first network device by using the relay terminal to a direct connection path for communicating directly with the first network device or a second network device, or the first message includes a request to release a link between the relay terminal and the remote terminal, and the first network device is different from the second network device, wherein the first message includes a reason for releasing the short-distance link by the relay terminal; and after the relay terminal sends the first message to the first network device, releasing, by the relay terminal, the link between the relay terminal and the remote terminal, wherein the releasing, by the relay terminal, the link between the relay terminal and the remote terminal after the relay terminal sends the first message to the first network device comprises: releasing, by the relay terminal, the link after receiving a third message, wherein the third message is sent by the first network device or the remote terminal after the first network device sends a second message to the remote terminal, and is used to instruct the relay terminal to release the link, wherein the second message comprises at least one of the following: a cell identity, random access configuration information, first instruction information, or a first time value, and is used to configure the remote terminal to switch from the indirect connection path to the direct connection path, wherein the first instruction information is used to instruct the remote terminal whether to perform, before disconnecting from the relay terminal, downlink synchronization with a cell corresponding to the cell identity, and the first time value is a longest time allowed for the remote terminal to access the cell corresponding to the cell identity. releasing, by the relay terminal, the link after receiving a third message, wherein the third message is sent by the first network device or the remote terminal after the first network device sends a second message to the remote terminal, and is used to instruct the relay terminal to release the link, wherein the second message comprises at least one of the following: a cell identity, random access configuration information, first instruction information, or a first time value, and is used to configure the remote terminal to switch from the indirect connection path to the direct connection path, wherein the first instruction information is used to instruct the remote terminal whether to perform, before disconnecting from the relay terminal, downlink synchronization with a cell corresponding to the cell identity, and the first time value is a longest time allowed for the remote terminal to access the cell corresponding to the cell identity.