Disclosed in the present application are a short message service (SMS) ability updating method, device and apparatus. The method includes a mobility management function receives a triggering condition of an SMS function/a user data management function, and/or, the mobility management function determines that SMS over NAS ability update needs to be triggered; the mobility management function updates the SMS over NAS ability of a UE. By using the present application, when a mobility management function receives a triggering condition of an SMS function/a user data management function, and/or, the mobility management function determines that SMS over NAS ability update needs to be triggered, the mobility management function updates the SMS over NAS ability of the UE. The SMS over NAS ability update can be triggered by means of a network side, thereby preventing the UE from making an erroneous SMS transmission attempt.