A random access method and device relate to the field of mobile communication, and solve the problem of triggering a random access procedure of a small cell. The method comprises a terminal detecting whether a small cell random access condition is satisfied at present; the terminal automatically initiating a random access procedure of a small cell when the small cell random access condition is satisfied. The technical scheme provided in the embodiments of the present document is applicable to the LTE system, and the random access mechanism of a small cell is achieved.