The embodiment of the invention discloses a desktop switchover method and terminal. The method comprises the steps of obtaining a switchover instruction corresponding to a current desktop if preset operation triggering the switchover of an application icon desktop is detected, wherein the current desktop is used for displaying a first application icon set; determining a target desktop according to the switchover instruction; if the switchover instruction is a fast switchover instruction and there is a desktop used for displaying content between the current desktop and the target desktop, skipping the desktop used for displaying the content, and switching the current desktop to the target desktop, wherein the aim desktop is used for displaying a second application icon set. The desktop switchover method and terminal can improve the efficiency of seeking an application icon.