A mobile terminal includes: a body including a front surface, and side surfaces connected to the front surface; a touch screen disposed at the front surface, and configured to display a user interface in a first display state; a grip sensor configured to sense an external force applied to side surfaces of the body; and a controller configured to display the user interface in an intermediate state between the first display state and a second display state, if an external force applied to side surfaces of the body is sensed through the grip sensor, while the user interface is displayed in the first display state.