A directory maintenance method and apparatus are provided. The method includes sending, by a main memory according to a correspondence between a cache line in a directory and a cache, listening information to each cache corresponding to a cache line at a preset frequency; receiving, by each cache corresponding to the cache line, the listening information, and sending a listening response according to the listening information; and receiving, by the main memory, the listening response, and updating the directory according to the listening response, where the listening response includes a state of the cache line in the cache sending the listening response. The directory maintenance method and apparatus that are disclosed in the present invention can lower an impact of listening caused due to replacement on normal processing of a processor, and reduce degradation of system performance.