The invention discloses a method for switching contextual modes of a mobile terminal. The method comprises the steps that the mobile terminal acquires color information around the mobile terminal; the mobile terminal generates the switching signal of the corresponding contextual modes according to the color information; the mobile terminal is switched into the corresponding contextual modes according to the switching signals of the contextual modes. The invention further discloses the mobile terminal used for achieving the method. Through the method, the contextual modes can be switched by distinguishing colors, and therefore cost can be saved, and power consumption can be reduced.