The bi-stable permanent magnet actuator employs a shared magnetic circuit for both its opening and closing coils, resulting in coupled air-gap magnetic fluxes between the two coils. This coupling effect makes it challenging to achieve flexible control of the actuator’s switching characteristics, ultimately limiting its operational performance. To address this limitation, this study introduces a finite control set model predictive control (FCS-MPC) approach and develops a novel electromagnetic force control method specifically for bi-stable permanent magnet actuators.The proposed methodology follows a systematic implementation process: First, based on theoretical electromagnetic analysis, parameter observers are constructed to enable real-time observation and prediction of both the electromagnetic force and flux linkages. Subsequently, the air-gap flux linkages and coil drive circuit are treated as an integrated system, for which a comprehensive switching state set and cost function are formulated. Finally, through recursive receding-horizon optimization across multiple control cycles, coordinated control of both opening and closing coils is achieved, driving the electromagnetic force to rapidly converge to its reference value. Experimental validation demonstrates that this method can effectively regulate the electromagnetic force with high precision, thereby significantly improving the actuator’s control flexibility.