A mode switching method and apparatus of a terminal including a camera for acquiring motion information of a user and a plurality of operation modes for power management is provided. The mode switching method includes transitioning, when a motion of a first pattern is detected by the camera, the terminal from an active mode to a standby mode, transitioning, when a motion of a second pattern is detected by the camera, the terminal from the standby mode to an inactive mode, and transitioning, when a first mode switching input is detected in the inactive mode, from the inactive mode to the active mode, wherein the camera acquires the motion information of the user in at least one of the active mode and the standby mode.