An icon control method, applied to a terminal that displays a first icon and a second icon, wherein the method comprises: a) detecting (101; 205) first input of a user; b) moving (102; 202) the first icon towards the second icon in response to the detected first input; c) instructing to perform a first operation on the first icon and the second icon when it is detected (204, 206) that the first icon has entered a distance range in which a distance between the first icon and the second icon falls within a first distance range, and when it is detected (205, 206) that a duration in which the first icon is detected to be in a staying state is greater than a first preset time length when the distance between the first icon and the second icon is detected to fall within the first distance range, the staying state indicating that a movement speed of an icon is less than a preset speed threshold; and d) instructing to perform a second operation on the first icon and the second icon when due to the first icon being moved further to enter a distance range in which the distance between the first icon and the second icon falls within a second distance range, and the first icon is detected to be in the staying state in the second distance range; wherein e) the second operation is an operation different from the first operation; f) the second icon is determined based on a direction in which and a speed at which the user moves the first icon; g) instructing to perform the first operation comprises displaying an animated effect of performing the first operation and, after receiving a confirmation operation of the user, performing the first operation; h) instructing to perform the second operation comprises displaying an animated effect of performing the second operation and, after receiving a confirmation operation of the user, performing the second operation. a) detecting (101; 205) first input of a user; b) moving (102; 202) the first icon towards the second icon in response to the detected first input; c) instructing to perform a first operation on the first icon and the second icon when it is detected (204, 206) that the first icon has entered a distance range in which a distance between the first icon and the second icon falls within a first distance range, and when it is detected (205, 206) that a duration in which the first icon is detected to be in a staying state is greater than a first preset time length when the distance between the first icon and the second icon is detected to fall within the first distance range, the staying state indicating that a movement speed of an icon is less than a preset speed threshold; and d) instructing to perform a second operation on the first icon and the second icon when due to the first icon being moved further to enter a distance range in which the distance between the first icon and the second icon falls within a second distance range, and the first icon is detected to be in the staying state in the second distance range; wherein e) the second operation is an operation different from the first operation; f) the second icon is determined based on a direction in which and a speed at which the user moves the first icon; g) instructing to perform the first operation comprises displaying an animated effect of performing the first operation and, after receiving a confirmation operation of the user, performing the first operation; h) instructing to perform the second operation comprises displaying an animated effect of performing the second operation and, after receiving a confirmation operation of the user, performing the second operation.