A mobile terminal and controlling method thereof are disclosed, by which a message inputted before or after a message reception can be selectively sent when a message is received from a counterpart while composing a message. The present invention includes the steps of if a counterpart message is externally received in the course of a message input to a message input window and a message is additionally inputted to the message input window, applying a visual effect to either a message inputted before receiving the counterpart message or the additionally inputted message and if a send command is received, sending a message corresponding to the send command to a counterpart, wherein the message corresponding to the send command is selected from a message having the visual effect applied thereto and a message not having the visual effect applied thereto among messages displayed on the message input window.