Embodiments of the invention disclose a standby method and apparatus for a mobile terminal and the mobile terminal. The method comprises: when the mobile terminal is in a working state, detecting a user fingerprint through a fingerprint sensor on the mobile terminal; when the mobile terminal starts a fingerprint standby function and obtains at least two successive fingerprint touch operations, calculating a time interval of two adjacent fingerprint touch operations; and judging whether the time interval is within a preset duration range or not, and according to a judgment result, determining whether a standby command is executed to ensure that the mobile terminal enters a standby state or not. Therefore, the problem of inconvenient standby operation of an existing mobile terminal due to an excessively large screen is solved, and the user experience is improved.