A QUALCOMM chat (Qchat) mobile terminal update and authentication method and a mobile terminal are disclosed. A historical result of performing data update of a Qchat service is recorded in a preset storage location in a mobile terminal, and determines, according to the result, whether the Qchat service is activated in the current mobile terminal card. If the Qchat service is not activated, a data update process of the Qchat service is skipped, and a start-up procedure except the data update process of the Qchat service is directly executed, thereby effectively reducing an invalid tariff incurred to a non-Qchat mobile terminal card user during start-up; and meanwhile, normal use of a Qchat user is not affected and user experience is improved.