This application discloses a DMRS indicating method, a DMRS receiving method, and an apparatus. The method includes: determining, by a transmit end from a plurality of groups of demodulation reference signal DMRS configuration information, DMRS configuration information corresponding to a current DMRS transmission scheme, and obtaining DMRS indication information based on the DMRS configuration information, where each group of DMRS configuration information includes a plurality of pieces of DMRS configuration information; and sending, by the transmit end, the DMRS indication information. The method and the apparatus provided in this application are implemented to match a plurality of scenarios in NR. This can satisfy a requirement for transmitting more layers of data, and can further reduce indication overheads.