A method and an electronic device are provided in which, in response to a first user input, a stack of partially overlaid visual elements is displayed in response to the first user input. Each visual element corresponds to an application that is running in the electronic device and includes an index item representing the corresponding application. A second user input for selecting a visual element from the stack of partially overlaid visual elements is received through the touchscreen. An execution screen of an application corresponding to the selected visual element is displayed.