This application provides example link failure recovery methods and apparatuses. One example method includes sending, by a terminal device, a first media access control-control element (MAC-CE) to a network device, where the first MAC-CE includes information about a cell in which the a first link failure occurs. The terminal device can then start a first timer. The terminal device can then send a first request message when the first timer expires, where the first request message is the first MAC-CE or a second MAC-CE including information about at least one cell in which a link failure occurs.