A connection management method includes: accessing, by UE, a network using a first base station, where the UE is in an RRC inactive state; accessing, by the UE, a network using a second base station, where the second base station does not support the RRC inactive state; and sending, by the UE, a first request message to a first core network entity using the second base station, so that the first core network entity releases a connection to the first base station based on the first request message.