Embodiments of the present invention disclose a method, an apparatus and a system for controlling access points. The method includes: receiving load information on working APs in a coverage area; judging a current overall capacity of the coverage area according to the load information; and controlling APs in the coverage area according to a judgment result. A network management server includes a first receiving module, a first judgment module, and a first control module. The system includes the network management server, working APs, and non-working APs. The embodiments of the present invention also provide another method for controlling APs, a primary working AP, and a system for controlling APs. In the embodiments of the present invention, APs in the same coverage area are automatically controlled to turn on or off according to the service traffic; resources are utilized rationally; labor costs are saved; and the work efficiency is improved.