This application provides a method for managing an antenna panel, a network device, and a terminal device. The method includes: a network device receives capability information that is of an antenna panel and that is from a terminal device, and sends an activation command and/or a deactivation command to the terminal device, so that the terminal device performs a corresponding operation. In embodiments of this application, the network device assists the terminal device in managing an antenna panel, so that the terminal device can better manage the antenna panel, thereby reducing overheads of the terminal device.