A heartbeat packet timer identification method and a device, where the identification method is performed by a device that sets a timer, and the method includes determining, in a data packet transmitted by the device, each associated data packet corresponding to each timing end moment of the timer and determining, according to each associated data packet and each timing end moment of the timer, whether the timer is a heartbeat packet timer set by the device for transmitting a heartbeat packet. With reference to a data packet transmitted by a device and each associated data packet that corresponds to each timing end moment of a timer, the heartbeat packet timer identification method and the device may determine with relatively high accuracy whether the timer is a heartbeat packet timer.