Embodiments of the present invention relate to telecommunications technologies, so that in a state in which the electronic device is connected to an external audio device, a manner used by the electronic device to process an audio and video application program can be intelligentized. A sensor is disposed on at least one of the electronic device or the external audio device. The method includes: receiving, by the electronic device, a detection result signal sent by the sensor, where the detection result signal is a signal that carries a detection value obtained by means of detection by the sensor; determining, by the electronic device according to a preset correspondence and the detection value, an action performed by a user on the electronic device or the external audio device; and controlling, by the electronic device, an execution status of an audio and video application program according to the action.