A random access method and an apparatus. In one example: A terminal device receives a first wake-up signal, and then determines N random access channel occasions based on a correspondence between the first wake-up signal and the N random access channel occasions. The terminal device determines a first random access channel occasion in the N random access channel occasions, and sends a random access preamble on the first random access channel occasion. A network device uses, as a reception beam, a beam used to send the first wake-up signal, to receive the random access preamble sent by the terminal device.