A refrigeration cycle apparatus in which refrigerant circulates, the refrigeration cycle apparatus comprising: a compressor; a first heat exchanger; a second heat exchanger; an expansion valve; a flow rate adjuster configured to adjust an amount of refrigerant flowing per unit time through at least one of the first heat exchanger and the expansion valve; and a controller configured to switch an operation mode of the refrigeration cycle apparatus, wherein the operation mode includes an activation mode that is executed when the compressor is activated, and a normal mode that is executed after the activation mode, in the normal mode, the refrigerant circulates in a first circulation direction in which the refrigerant flows sequentially through the compressor, the first heat exchanger, the expansion valve, and the second heat exchanger, and the controller is configured to control the compressor and the flow rate adjuster to reduce the amount of refrigerant in the activation mode to be less than the amount of refrigerant in the normal mode, characterized in that the flow rate adjuster has a first valve connected between a discharge port of the compressor and the first heat exchanger, and a second valve connected between the discharge port and a flow path extending between the expansion valve and the second heat exchanger, and the controller is configured to close the first valve and open the second valve in the activation mode, and open the first valve and close the second valve in the normal mode. a compressor; a first heat exchanger; a second heat exchanger; an expansion valve; a flow rate adjuster configured to adjust an amount of refrigerant flowing per unit time through at least one of the first heat exchanger and the expansion valve; and a controller configured to switch an operation mode of the refrigeration cycle apparatus, wherein the operation mode includes an activation mode that is executed when the compressor is activated, and a normal mode that is executed after the activation mode, an activation mode that is executed when the compressor is activated, and a normal mode that is executed after the activation mode, in the normal mode, the refrigerant circulates in a first circulation direction in which the refrigerant flows sequentially through the compressor, the first heat exchanger, the expansion valve, and the second heat exchanger, and the controller is configured to control the compressor and the flow rate adjuster to reduce the amount of refrigerant in the activation mode to be less than the amount of refrigerant in the normal mode, characterized in that the flow rate adjuster has a first valve connected between a discharge port of the compressor and the first heat exchanger, and a second valve connected between the discharge port and a flow path extending between the expansion valve and the second heat exchanger, and a first valve connected between a discharge port of the compressor and the first heat exchanger, and a second valve connected between the discharge port and a flow path extending between the expansion valve and the second heat exchanger, and the controller is configured to close the first valve and open the second valve in the activation mode, and open the first valve and close the second valve in the normal mode. close the first valve and open the second valve in the activation mode, and open the first valve and close the second valve in the normal mode.