Device for setting a joining or functional element, comprising: a mount, a punch disposed on the mount, a hold-down device surrounding the punch, a die arranged on the mount and lying coaxially opposite the punch, a drive unit for effecting a relative movement of punch and die, and a control unit, wherein the drive unit moves the die relative to the mount, and a loading device is provided for providing a loading stroke of the hold-down device for loading a joining or functional element with prespecified stroke path of the hold-down device, and a force-exerting member (13a, 13b) is provided in order during the setting of a joining or functional element to press the hold-down device in a pressure phase different from the loading stroke with predefined compressive force against a workpiece, characterised in that a setting head comprises the hold-down device, the punch and a pneumatic device with a pneumatic cylinder (7a, 7b), wherein the pneumatic cylinder (7a, 7b) has a plunger (10a, 10b) which simultaneously forms a guiding column for the hold-down device, wherein the punch is connected securely to the mount, wherein a movement is performed when setting a joining or functional element by the movement of the die, wherein over a length of a pneumatic pressure chamber (11a, 11b) the plunger (10a, 10b) is controlled pneumatically extendably and retractably, whereby the hold-down device extends and retracts on a hold-down mount which is connected to the plunger (10a, 10b), wherein in the retracted state the plunger (10a, 10b) bears against a stop (12a, 12b), wherein the stop (12a, 12b) is spring-loaded by a compression spring (13a, 13b) behind the stop (12a, 12b), wherein the compression spring (13a, 13b) surrounds an extension (14a, 14b) of the plunger (10a, 10b), wherein for the setting process a hold-down function is performed, in which the holding down force can be generated by the compression spring (13a, 13b), when the hold-down device is moved so far back relative to the pneumatic cylinder (7a, 7b) that the plunger (10a, 10b) runs against the stop (12a, 12b) and then the stop (12a, 12b) is forced back against the spring force of the compression spring (13a, 13b). a mount, a punch disposed on the mount, a hold-down device surrounding the punch, a die arranged on the mount and lying coaxially opposite the punch, a drive unit for effecting a relative movement of punch and die, and a control unit, wherein the drive unit moves the die relative to the mount, and a loading device is provided for providing a loading stroke of the hold-down device for loading a joining or functional element with prespecified stroke path of the hold-down device, and a force-exerting member (13a, 13b) is provided in order during the setting of a joining or functional element to press the hold-down device in a pressure phase different from the loading stroke with predefined compressive force against a workpiece, characterised in that a setting head comprises the hold-down device, the punch and a pneumatic device with a pneumatic cylinder (7a, 7b), wherein the pneumatic cylinder (7a, 7b) has a plunger (10a, 10b) which simultaneously forms a guiding column for the hold-down device, wherein the punch is connected securely to the mount, wherein a movement is performed when setting a joining or functional element by the movement of the die, wherein over a length of a pneumatic pressure chamber (11a, 11b) the plunger (10a, 10b) is controlled pneumatically extendably and retractably, whereby the hold-down device extends and retracts on a hold-down mount which is connected to the plunger (10a, 10b), wherein in the retracted state the plunger (10a, 10b) bears against a stop (12a, 12b), wherein the stop (12a, 12b) is spring-loaded by a compression spring (13a, 13b) behind the stop (12a, 12b), wherein the compression spring (13a, 13b) surrounds an extension (14a, 14b) of the plunger (10a, 10b), wherein for the setting process a hold-down function is performed, in which the holding down force can be generated by the compression spring (13a, 13b), when the hold-down device is moved so far back relative to the pneumatic cylinder (7a, 7b) that the plunger (10a, 10b) runs against the stop (12a, 12b) and then the stop (12a, 12b) is forced back against the spring force of the compression spring (13a, 13b).