A method for processing data after an unlicensed spectrum is released, and user equipment are disclosed. The method includes: when user equipment determines that a base station has released an unlicensed spectrum, monitoring, by the user equipment, release time for which the unlicensed spectrum is released a release time for which the unlicensed spectrum is released; when the release time does not exceed a time threshold, pausing, by the user equipment, a data processing process attached to the unlicensed spectrum, and resuming the data processing process after the base station re-acquires the unlicensed spectrum; and when the release time exceeds the time threshold, terminating, by the user equipment, the data processing process attached to the unlicensed spectrum, and selecting a licensed spectrum to start a new data processing process, or after the base station re-acquires the unlicensed spectrum, starting a new data processing process.