The invention provides a method and device for operating intelligent equipment by crossing the air. The device comprises the intelligent equipment. The method comprises the following steps of 1, setting a time period, an initial displacement value and a preset operation instruction; 2, starting the method for air-crossing operation; 3, performing photographing through a camera; 4, performing face recognition on photographed images in real time; 5, detecting whether the user face displacement is larger than the initial displacement value within a time period, if yes, executing the step 6, and if not, executing the step 4; 6, executing the preset operation instruction through the intelligent equipment. According to the method and device for operating the intelligent equipment by crossing the air, the intelligent equipment can be operated by moving or shaking the head, the two hands are liberated, and the preset operation can be performed on the intelligent equipment conveniently when the user cannot operate the intelligent equipment by the two hands conveniently.