A WiFi electronic client device, comprising a WiFi chip, a processor, and a memory, wherein the WiFi chip is configured to initiate common hotspot scanning to obtain one or more common hotspots as a result of the common hotspot scanning; the memory is configured to store the result of the common hotspot scanning and a name of a hidden hotspot; the processor is configured to: if a condition of initiating hidden hotspot scanning is met, obtain the name of the hidden hotspot stored in the memory, and instruct the WiFi chip to initiate the hidden hotspot scanning; and if a condition of initiating hidden hotspot scanning is not met, skip instructing the WiFi chip to initiate the hidden hotspot scanning; the WiFi chip is further configured to: after receiving an instruction of the processor, initiate the hidden hotspot scanning by using the name of the hidden hotspot; and the memory is further configured to store a result of the hidden hotspot scanning, wherein the processor is further configured to obtain a media access control, MAC, address of a current hidden hotspot, wherein the current hidden hotspot is a hotspot with an empty name in the result of the common hotspot scanning; the memory is further configured to store a MAC address of the hidden hotspot; and the condition of initiating the hidden hotspot scanning is that the MAC address of the current hidden hotspot matches the MAC address of the hidden hotspot stored in the memory; and wherein the memory is further configured to store a second mapping relationship, wherein the second mapping relationship comprises a mapping relationship between the MAC address of the hidden hotspot and the name of the hidden hotspot; and the processor is configured to obtain the name of the hidden hotspot, specifically, obtain the name of the hidden hotspot based on the second mapping relationship and the MAC address of the hidden hotspot stored in the memory. the WiFi chip is configured to initiate common hotspot scanning to obtain one or more common hotspots as a result of the common hotspot scanning; the memory is configured to store the result of the common hotspot scanning and a name of a hidden hotspot; the processor is configured to: if a condition of initiating hidden hotspot scanning is met, obtain the name of the hidden hotspot stored in the memory, and instruct the WiFi chip to initiate the hidden hotspot scanning; and if a condition of initiating hidden hotspot scanning is not met, skip instructing the WiFi chip to initiate the hidden hotspot scanning; the WiFi chip is further configured to: after receiving an instruction of the processor, initiate the hidden hotspot scanning by using the name of the hidden hotspot; and the memory is further configured to store a result of the hidden hotspot scanning, wherein the processor is further configured to obtain a media access control, MAC, address of a current hidden hotspot, wherein the current hidden hotspot is a hotspot with an empty name in the result of the common hotspot scanning; the memory is further configured to store a MAC address of the hidden hotspot; and the condition of initiating the hidden hotspot scanning is that the MAC address of the current hidden hotspot matches the MAC address of the hidden hotspot stored in the memory; and wherein the memory is further configured to store a second mapping relationship, wherein the second mapping relationship comprises a mapping relationship between the MAC address of the hidden hotspot and the name of the hidden hotspot; and the processor is configured to obtain the name of the hidden hotspot, specifically, obtain the name of the hidden hotspot based on the second mapping relationship and the MAC address of the hidden hotspot stored in the memory.