An apparatus and method are provided for controlling an operation of an electronic device by using a fingerprint image in the electronic device. The electronic device includes a display and a processor configured to detect a fingerprint image corresponding to a user input; determine an input direction of the user input based on the fingerprint image; determine a motion direction of the user input based on the input direction of the user input in response to a motion of the user input; and execute a first function corresponding to the motion direction of the user input.