Embodiments of the present invention provide an initial access method and apparatus. The method includes: sending, by an access network device, a synchronization signal to user equipment by using at least two downlink beams, where the synchronization signal includes downlink beam indexes of the at least two downlink beams; receiving, by the access network device, a random access preamble sequence sent by the user equipment; and sending, by the access network device, a random access response RAR message to the user equipment by using at least two downlink beams, so that the user equipment completes initial access. In the initial access method provided in the embodiments of the present invention, a disadvantage of channel instability in a high-frequency transmission environment in a new radio system is overcome, to improve initial access performance in the NR system and further improve user experience for the system.