The present invention relates to the field of mobile communication technologies, and discloses a method, an apparatus, and a system for optimizing a tracking area, and a method, an apparatus, and a system for updating a tracking area. The method for optimizing a tracking area includes the following steps: an Operation, Administration and Maintenance entity obtains an optimization threshold, and performs a tracking area optimization according to the optimization threshold. With the present invention, the Operation, Administration and Maintenance entity can optimize the tracking area automatically.