A task management method and device where the method includes determining, according to a foreground task, a first scenario corresponding to the foreground task, searching for at least one background task corresponding to the first scenario when the first scenario corresponding to the foreground task is in a first list, where the first list includes a scenario in which task limitation is allowed, and performing limitation processing on the at least one background task corresponding to the first scenario, where the limitation processing refers to processing for reducing system resource usage.