The invention provides an application program searching method and a mobile terminal. The method comprises the steps of entering an application program searching interface to obtain to-be-pasted information in a clipboard; carrying out word extraction processing on the information to obtain a keyword; receiving a click operation that a user searches an input box in the application program searching interface; displaying a prompt box, wherein the keyword is displayed in the prompt box; and when receiving a selected operation on the keyword in the prompt box, jumping to a searching result interface corresponding to the keyword. Through the application program searching method provided by the invention, the mobile terminal can automatically determine the searching keyword via the to-be-pasted information in a pasteboard, and the user does not need to manually input or paste the searching keyword in the input box; and with an only need to perform the selected operation, the user can trigger the searching result interface of the mobile terminal; and therefore, the application program searching method and the mobile terminal are convenient for the user to operate.