This application provides a communication method and apparatus. The method includes: A first access network device receives a first message from a second access network device, where the first message indicates that at least two I-RNTI rules of the second access network device remain valid. The first access network device determines, according to at least one valid I-RNTI rule of the second access network device, an access network device corresponding to an I-RNTI of a terminal device, and obtains context information of the terminal device from at least one of the determined access network devices.