The invention discloses an air conditioner and a control method for the air conditioner and belongs to the technical field of heat exchange equipment. The air conditioner comprises a shell with an air outflow air duct and an air outlet, and further comprises a movable air guiding plate arranged below the air outlet; the air guiding plate is attached to the wall of the air outflow air duct; the air conditioner further comprises a first driving mechanism arranged on the shell and connected with the air guiding plate; and the air guiding plate is driven by the first driving mechanism to move along the wall of the air outflow air duct and stretch out of the wall of the air outflow air duct in the air outflow direction. According to the technical scheme, in the running process of the air conditioner, the first driving mechanism drives the air guiding plate to move along the wall of the air outflow air duct and stretch out of the wall of the air outflow air duct in the air outflow direction, air of the air outlet is guided out along the air guiding plate stretching out, the direction of the air of the air outlet can be changed, the first driving mechanism can also be controlled to drive the air guiding plate to move to the ideal position according to the required air outflow direction, the flexibility of control over the air outflow direction of the air conditioner is improved, and the comfort degree of the air conditioner can be improved.