A timer-based processing method performed by a terminal device and comprising: obtaining a first timer of a source network device; monitoring a connection between the terminal device and the source network device based on the first timer of the source network device, in response to the terminal device connecting to a target network device; and releasing the connection between the terminal device and the source network device in response to receiving a network indication from the target network device, after the terminal device successfully connects to the target network device, wherein the network indication indicates releasing the connection between the terminal device and the source network device; the method further comprising: during monitoring the source network device based on the first timer of the source network device: starting the first timer of the source network device in response to a starting condition of the first timer being met; stopping the first timer of the source network device in response to a stopping condition of the first timer being met; or the first timer of the source network device expiring in response to elapse of timing time of the first timer, characterized in that: the first timer comprises an adjusted T310, and a stopping condition of the adjusted T310 comprises at least one of: reception of physical-layer synchronous indications successively; or trigger of a connection re-establishment procedure, and the stopping condition of the adjusted T310 does not comprise: reception of a handover, HO, command. obtaining a first timer of a source network device; monitoring a connection between the terminal device and the source network device based on the first timer of the source network device, in response to the terminal device connecting to a target network device; and releasing the connection between the terminal device and the source network device in response to receiving a network indication from the target network device, after the terminal device successfully connects to the target network device, wherein the network indication indicates releasing the connection between the terminal device and the source network device; the method further comprising: during monitoring the source network device based on the first timer of the source network device: starting the first timer of the source network device in response to a starting condition of the first timer being met; stopping the first timer of the source network device in response to a stopping condition of the first timer being met; or the first timer of the source network device expiring in response to elapse of timing time of the first timer, characterized in that: the first timer comprises an adjusted T310, and a stopping condition of the adjusted T310 comprises at least one of: reception of physical-layer synchronous indications successively; or trigger of a connection re-establishment procedure, and the stopping condition of the adjusted T310 does not comprise: reception of a handover, HO, command. during monitoring the source network device based on the first timer of the source network device: starting the first timer of the source network device in response to a starting condition of the first timer being met; stopping the first timer of the source network device in response to a stopping condition of the first timer being met; or the first timer of the source network device expiring in response to elapse of timing time of the first timer, starting the first timer of the source network device in response to a starting condition of the first timer being met; stopping the first timer of the source network device in response to a stopping condition of the first timer being met; or the first timer of the source network device expiring in response to elapse of timing time of the first timer, characterized in that: the first timer comprises an adjusted T310, and a stopping condition of the adjusted T310 comprises at least one of: reception of physical-layer synchronous indications successively; or trigger of a connection re-establishment procedure, and the stopping condition of the adjusted T310 does not comprise: reception of a handover, HO, command. the first timer comprises an adjusted T310, and a stopping condition of the adjusted T310 comprises at least one of: reception of physical-layer synchronous indications successively; or trigger of a connection re-establishment procedure, and reception of physical-layer synchronous indications successively; or trigger of a connection re-establishment procedure, and the stopping condition of the adjusted T310 does not comprise: reception of a handover, HO, command.