A control channel transmission method includes: sending a first message to a user equipment (UE), where the first message includes a set of control channel configuration information; determining, for the UE according to the set of control channel configuration information, control channel configuration information used to transmit a control channel; and transmitting the control channel according to the control channel configuration information that is determined for the UE and used to transmit the control channel. The control channel configuration information used to transmit the control channel may be determined for the user equipment, and the control channel is transmitted (that is, received or sent) according to the control channel configuration information. Therefore, when transmitting the control channel, the UE can directly transmit a control channel corresponding to the control channel configuration information.