:The experimental device and numerical analysis model for the labyrinth seal are established. The effects of inlet pressure, rotational speed and teeth number on the system stability are studied. The flow-induced force acting on the rotor is decomposed with the sealing chamber as the unit, the contribution of each seal cavity to the overall tangential flow-induced force is analysed, and the concepts of the crossover teeth number and critical stability are put forward. The results show that the signs of tangential flow-induced force in each seal cavity change gradually along the leakage direction, and there is a crossover teeth number that makes a zero tangential flow-induced force. When the number of seal teeth is less than crossover teeth number, the static cross-coupled stiffness coefficient is negative and the stability increases with the increasing rotational speed and inlet pressure. When the number of seal teeth is larger than the number of crossover teeth number, the static cross-coupled stiffness coefficient is positive and the stability decreases with the increasing rotational speed and inlet pressure. When the number of seal teeth is equal to crossover teeth number, the system is in a critical stable state and the tangential flow-induced force is close to zero. The increase of whirling frequency will increase the crossover teeth number.