A method and an apparatus for switching an RRC state includes: sending, by a communications apparatus, indication information to a network device, where the indication information is used to indicate that the communications apparatus requests to enter an RRC inactive state; after completing a registration process of an RRC connected state, receiving, by the communications apparatus, an RRC connection release message that is sent by the network device based on the indication information, where the RRC connection release message is used to indicate the communications apparatus to enter the RRC inactive state; and entering, by the communications apparatus, the RRC inactive state from the RRC connected state based on the RRC connection release message.