An application control method includes detecting, by a terminal, a user operation that is based on an application icon, where an application represented by the application icon has at least one associated function, and starting, by the terminal in response to the user operation, an associated function corresponding to the user operation, where the associated function corresponding to the user operation belongs to the at least one associated function. The at least one associated function of the application includes at least one of an associated application of the application, a function provided by the application, a system function associated with the application, or a twin application of the application.