The invention relates to a mobile terminal based photo background music setting method and device. The mobile terminal based photo background music setting method comprises a step 101 of judging whether a photo is selected, if so, entering a step 102, otherwise, entering a step 2; the step 102 of judging whether background music setting for the photo is clicked, and if so, entering a step 3; the step 2 of judging whether to take a photo currently, if so, entering the step 3; and the step 3 of setting the background music. According to the mobile terminal based photo background music setting method and device, a mobile phone can set photo background music for the locally stored photo and also can automatically pop out a prompt of setting local and online music or not for the currently taken photo, and the photo is enabled to be more memorial and more retrospective.