The invention provides a media file recording and playing method and terminal, wherein the media file recording and playing method comprises the following steps of: when video clear data and audio clear data are encapsulated and stored as a multi-media file, storing the video clear data as a video clear file and/or storing the audio clear data as an audio clear file; if an abnormal instruction is received, selecting the video clear file and/or the audio clear file as a target file; and, if a recording stopping instruction is received, generating media attribute information according to the video clear data and the audio clear data encapsulated and stored in the multi-media file, and taking the multi-media file including the media attribute information as the target file. By means of the method, when an unexpected condition occurs, the media attribute information is not stored in the multi-media file, and the multi-media file cannot be played according to the media attribute information, a scene can be rapidly restored by playing the backup stored video clear file and/or the audio clear file.