The present invention which belongs to the matrix converter control technology is a control method for a matrix converter. An input phase voltage is divided into a main range and a transition range in which new P, M, N conditions and PM, NP, MN transition conditions are defined, some null vector is selected and the condition combination sequence of bidirectional power switches are adjusted in each modulation period to realize the safe, reliable and rapid commutation and the stable operation of the matrix converter. The present invention also provides a device to realize the present method, including a trigger driving circuit, an over-current protecting circuit, a synchronous signal detecting circuit, a voltage range dividing unit, a switch state control unit and a commutation control unit. Based on the two-step commutation strategy of the voltage of the transition range and without an extra measuring device to precisely detect the relative size relation of the input phase voltage, the present invention solves the problem of a short circuit caused by an inaccurate measurement of the input phase voltage during range alteration, and the waveforms of the output voltage and the input current are not affected.