An apparatus and method for controlling a linear compressor are provided. The apparatus and method may identify a kind of motor of a linear compressor, based on an output which may be measured by applying a test signal to the linear compressor, and may control the linear compressor depending on the identified kind of motor. The apparatus and method may diagnose whether the linear compressor has broken down, and thus, the kind of motor may be autonomously identified without a separate device or a measurement operation, control suitable for a characteristic or characteristics of the motor may be accurately and efficiently controlled, and maintenance, repair, and inspection of the linear compressor may be simply and easily performed.