A screen icon operating method includes collecting user sliding operation information. The sliding operation information includes a first location, a sliding speed, pressing duration before sliding, or a sliding direction The first location is an initial location of a user sliding operation. When the first location is not located on an icon, when the sliding speed is less than a sliding speed threshold, moving icons on a display page by columns or by rows in the sliding direction, or when the first location is located on the icon, the method determines that the pressing duration is greater than or equal to a first duration threshold and less than or equal to a second duration threshold, and moves column icons or row icons in the sliding direction.