An electric control device for online automatically controlling forging die temperature comprises a PLC, an operation panel, a human-machine interface, a state indicating unit, a pneumatic electric control unit, an interlocking control unit, an analog signal unit, a liquid level detection unit, a position detection unit, an operation unit and an emergency stop switch. The operation panel is mounted on a forging press. The human-machine interface, the state indicating unit, the pneumatic electric control unit, the interlocking control unit, the analog signal unit, the liquid level detection unit, the position detection unit, the operation unit and the emergency stop switch are connected with the PLC separately. The control method of the device comprises setting a forging die temperature useable range according to a forging process requirement, online automatically monitoring a forging die forging temperature change, processing and determining acquired temperature, and adjusting a cooling system for forging the forging die according to a result so as to achieve automatic control of the forging die temperature during a production process, reduce the cracking risk of the forging die, reduce the die change frequency, and improve production efficiency.