A channel automatic selection and switching method, wherein the method comprises: a) after an access point, AP, establishes a connection to a station, STA, by using an operating Virtual Access Point, VAP, performing, by the AP, quality detection on an operating channel to obtain a first quality detection result, wherein the operating VAP is a VAP through which the AP provides a service for the STA, and the operating channel is a channel in which the operating VAP is located; b) determining, by the AP based on the first quality detection result, whether the operating channel needs to be switched; c) if the operating channel needs to be switched, performing, by the AP, quality detection on a plurality of backup channels to obtain a plurality of second quality detection results, wherein the plurality of backup channels are some or all channels other than the operating channel, and the plurality of backup channels and the operating channel use same network connection information; and if the working channel does not need to be switched, keep performing, by the AP, quality detection on the operating channel; d) determining, by the AP, a target channel based on the plurality of second quality detection results; e) sending, by the AP, a notification message to instruct the STA to perform operating channel switching, wherein the notification message carries the target channel so that the STA switches the operating channel to the target channel; and f) switching, by the AP, the operating channel to the target channel; and g) after the determining, by the AP, a target channel based on the plurality of second quality detection result and before the sending, by the AP, a notification message to instruct the STA to perform operating channel switching, suspending, by the AP, sending of data to the STA. a) after an access point, AP, establishes a connection to a station, STA, by using an operating Virtual Access Point, VAP, performing, by the AP, quality detection on an operating channel to obtain a first quality detection result, wherein the operating VAP is a VAP through which the AP provides a service for the STA, and the operating channel is a channel in which the operating VAP is located; b) determining, by the AP based on the first quality detection result, whether the operating channel needs to be switched; c) if the operating channel needs to be switched, performing, by the AP, quality detection on a plurality of backup channels to obtain a plurality of second quality detection results, wherein the plurality of backup channels are some or all channels other than the operating channel, and the plurality of backup channels and the operating channel use same network connection information; and if the working channel does not need to be switched, keep performing, by the AP, quality detection on the operating channel; d) determining, by the AP, a target channel based on the plurality of second quality detection results; e) sending, by the AP, a notification message to instruct the STA to perform operating channel switching, wherein the notification message carries the target channel so that the STA switches the operating channel to the target channel; and f) switching, by the AP, the operating channel to the target channel; and g) after the determining, by the AP, a target channel based on the plurality of second quality detection result and before the sending, by the AP, a notification message to instruct the STA to perform operating channel switching, suspending, by the AP, sending of data to the STA.