The invention provides a method and a device for clearing progresses of a mobile terminal. The method comprises the steps of establishing a white
list for the process of the mobile terminal; carrying out screen locking and monitoring service at backstage; judging whether a screen locking message is received or not, wherein if the screen locking message is received, the next step is carried out, if the screen locking message is not received, the screen locking and monitoring service is carried out continuously; reading the progress which is in running; comparing the progress with the white
list and judging whether the progress belongs to the white
list or whether the progress is a key progress, wherein if the progress belongs to the white list or the progress is the key progress, no
processing is carried out, if the progress does not belongs to the white list or the progress is not the key progress, the progress is cleared; judging whether all progresses which is still in running are read, if all the progresses are still in running are read, the method is ended, if the all the progresses still running are not read, the name of the next progress is obtained, and the step for reading the progresses still in running is carried out again. And then automatic clearing of progresses left at the backstage of the mobile terminal is achieved, and storage space of the mobile terminal is released, and running speed of the mobile terminal is improved. In addition, the invention further provides a device for clearing the progresses of the mobile terminal.