A mobile terminal provides a guide and feedback for a lock release operation to implement a gesture for a lock release operation at an arbitrary location and in various directions. A method of releasing a user interface lock state in a mobile terminal having a touch sensing display according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may include setting the mobile terminal to a user interface lock state; detecting a contact with the touch sensing display at an arbitrary location on the touch sensing display; displaying a lock release region corresponding to the arbitrary location while maintaining a contact with the touch sensing display; displaying the movement of the contact in the lock release region; and switching the mobile terminal into a user interface lock release state when the movement of the contact in the lock release region satisfies a predetermined condition.