A mobile terminal including a touch screen configured to switch between an inactivated state in which illumination is not applied to the touch screen and an activated state in which illumination is applied to the touch screen, and a controller configured to release a locked state of the mobile terminal and switch the touch screen to the activated state, when a plurality of touch inputs is input in the inactivated state and the plurality of touch inputs matches a predefined pattern. Further, the predetermined pattern is initially set using a quadrant image displayed on the touch screen in the activated state, touch inputs for setting the predetermined pattern are applied to at least one of quadrant I, II, III and IV included in the quadrant image displayed on the touch screen in the activated state of the touch screen, a first touch input included in the plurality of touch inputs in the inactivated state is applied to the touch screen, and quadrant areas on the touch screen for receiving the plurality of touch inputs in the inactivated state change based on a first touch position of the first touch input and a second touch position of a second touch input of the plurality of touch inputs in the inactivated state.