A face recognition-based method includes, when a terminal detects a placement posture on the terminal, obtaining placement posture information of the terminal, where the placement posture information is used to determine a tilt angle of the terminal relative to a first plane; performing facial recognition on a user when determining that a tilt angle meets a preset range without notifying the user and regardless of detecting an action of the terminal other than obtaining the placement posture information; and opening the application when the facial recognition succeeds.