This application provides a relay communications method and apparatus. A first terminal device receives, from a second terminal device, indication information used to indicate the second terminal device to stop providing a relay service between the first terminal device and a radio access network device. The first terminal device sends notification information to the radio access network device through a third terminal device, to notify the radio access network device that the first terminal device accesses the radio access network device by using a relay service of the third terminal device. In this way, the radio access network device may communicate with the first terminal device through the third terminal device.