Embodiments of this application provide a method for selecting an audio track from an audio and video file. The method includes: selecting, by a terminal, one or more audio tracks that support decoding from one or more audio tracks of the audio and video file; selecting, by the terminal, an audio track matching a language from the one or more audio tracks that support decoding; selecting, by the terminal, an audio track whose supported audio format is an audio format with a first specification from a plurality of audio tracks matching the language; selecting, by the terminal, an audio track having a first bit rate from the audio track whose supported audio format is the audio format with the first specification; and playing, by the terminal, the audio and video file based on the selected audio track. The first specification of the supported audio format is higher than a second specification of the supported audio format. The first bit rate of the audio track having the first bit rate is higher than a second bit rate of an audio track having the second bit rate.