The disclosure provides communication methods and apparatuses. One example method including a first access network device sends a first message to a terminal device and a second message to a core network device. The first message is used to indicate the terminal device to enter an inactive state. The second message carries context information and a first security verification parameter of the terminal device, and the first security verification parameter is used to perform security verification on the terminal device. The first access network device receives a third message from a second access network device, where the third message is used to request the context information of the terminal device. The first access network device sends a fourth message to the second access network device, where the fourth message is used to indicate the first access network device not to provide the second access network device with the context information.