A photovoltaic cell detection method includes determining a first output power working at a first voltage and a second output power working at a second voltage, where a difference between the first output power and the second output power is less than a power difference threshold, and where both the first output power and the second output power are greater than 0; controlling the photovoltaic cell to work at the first voltage, and obtaining first infrared image information of the photovoltaic cell; and controlling the photovoltaic cell to work at the second voltage, and obtaining second infrared image information of the photovoltaic cell, where both the first infrared image information and the second infrared image information are used to jointly detect whether the photovoltaic cell is faulty.