A smart management device identification method includes: sending, by a smart management device, an activation request to a smart lock device, wherein the activation request is used to verify validity of the smart management device; in response to information indicating that the smart management device is valid, receiving, by the smart management device, an access control key from the smart lock device, wherein the access control key is generated according to a master key of the smart lock device and an identifier of the smart management device; and requesting, by the smart management device, the smart lock device to perform a state switching operation using the access control key.