The invention provides an audio playing mode switching method and a mobile terminal which relate to the communication technology field. The method comprises: through the reception of a voice message, monitoring the pressure touch control input from the message window area of the touch screen of the mobile terminal; determining whether the message window area receives the pressure touch control input or not wherein the message window area is the display area with the voice message on the chat interface; when the message window area receives the pressure touch control input, based on the pressure value of the pressure touch control input, determining the playing mode corresponding to the voice message; and playing the voice message. The method and the mobile terminal of the invention solve the problems that the playing mode switching process is tedious and that the user's use experience is poor.