In one embodiment, an information processing apparatus is mountable on and demountable from a docking station, and has an input device, an acquisition unit to acquire information indicating an operator for user authentication, and a processor. When the apparatus is mounted on the docking station, the processor permits acceptance of the operation input by the input device, without starting up the acquisition unit. When the apparatus is demounted from the docking station, the processor starts up the acquisition unit, and performs user authentication based on the information indicating the operator which has been acquired by the started up acquisition unit. When the operator is approved as a specific operator of the information processing apparatus, as a result of the user authentication, the processor permits acceptance of the operation input by the input device.