In terminal management method, a server sends operation information for performing a management operation on a target terminal to a gateway. The operation information carries a return format of an execution result of an operation command for performing the management operation on the target terminal. After receiving an operation command execution result sent by the target terminal, of the operation command and if there is an indication of a return format for the operation command execution result, the gateway processes the operation command execution result according to the indicated return format of the operation command execution result to obtain an operation command execution result conforming to the return format. The operation command execution result conforming to the return format is sent to the server.