A signal sending method and apparatus are provided, and relate to the field of communications, so as to prevent a user equipment (UE) from sending a signal at maximum transmit power adjusted through automatic gain control (AGC) after a power amplifier (PA) is started. The method includes: setting, by a UE, transmit power of the UE after an uplink PA of the UE is turned off, where the transmit power of the UE is less than maximum output power of the uplink PA; when the PA is started, sending a signal at the transmit power of the UE. The embodiments of the present invention are used to send a signal.