A method for controlling an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) includes obtaining a signal strength of a remote control signal received by the UAV, obtaining a movement path of the UAV in response to the signal strength being less than a preset strength threshold, controlling the UAV to enter a backtrack return mode to return along the movement path, and controlling the UAV to exit the backtrack return mode in response to the signal strength being greater than the preset strength threshold. The movement path of the UAV includes position information of a plurality of discrete points, and the position information of the plurality of discrete points is calculated based on at least one of sensing information obtained by a satellite positioning system disposed in the UAV or sensing information obtained by a vision positioning sensor disposed in the UAV.