Exemplary embodiments relate to a method for unlocking a mobile device using authentication based on ear recognition including obtaining an image of a target showing at least part of the target's body in a lock state, extracting a set of ear features of the target from the image of the target, when the image of the target includes at least part of the target's ear, and determining if the extracted set of ear features of the target satisfies a preset condition, and a mobile device performing the same.