Embodiments of this application provide an always on display method, a terminal device, and a chip. The method includes: In response to a screen-off event, a first processor sends always on display control information to a second processor and then sleeps, where the always on display control information includes an always on display instruction; in response to the always on display instruction, the second processor switches a screen-on interface to a first screen-off interface; and in response to a screen-off interface switching event, the second processor switches the first screen-off interface to a second screen-off interface, where display content of at least one of the first screen-off interface and the second screen-off interface includes a dynamic picture. In embodiments of this application, the first processor is in a sleep mode during an always on display period, and the second processor controls a display screen to play the dynamic picture, so that power consumption of the first processor is significantly reduced, a user requirement can be better met, and a user experience effect is improved.