Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method and an apparatus for selecting a terminal mode, and the method includes: reading configuration information when a screen wakeup instruction is obtained, where the configuration information includes information about a wearable device that is paired with the terminal; querying to determine whether a wearable device is connected to a terminal; and selecting a mode corresponding to the wearable device as the terminal model if the wearable device that is connected to the terminal as determined by the querying is the same as the paired wearable device. In this solution, a corresponding mode can be selected according to a connection status between a terminal and a wearable device, thereby enhancing an automation degree of the terminal and improving a user experience effect.