A method for synchronizing the switching states of cross units in a network element is provided in the invention. The method comprises the following steps: a main cross unit implementing a switching protocol to obtain and update a switching state and time slot configuration data, and sending the switching state and the time slot configuration data to secondary cross units; the secondary cross units conducting a real-time detection for the switching state and the time slot configuration data sent by the main cross unit, and then updating the switching state and the time slot configuration data to a local board switching state and time slot configuration data. In the method for synchronizing the switching state of cross units in network element according to the invention, the main cross unit sends the switching state and the time slot configuration data to the secondary cross units, and the secondary cross units update the switching state and the time slot configuration data to a local board switching state and time slot configuration data, thereby effectively ensuring that the switching states and time slot configuration data of all cross units in a union are consistent, thus improving the stability of the system multiplexing section and channel switching and avoiding the influences on the services.