Provided are a method and device for performing a position update in machine to machine (M2M) communication. An M2M apparatus in an idle mode receives a paging message from a base station. The paging message comprises an action code and a network access type, the action code being an indication for the M2M apparatus to implement position update. When the network access type indicates the allocation of resources for a ranging request, the M2M apparatus transmits the ranging request to the base station by means of an allocated uplink.