Method for providing an operating device in a vehicle for controlling vehicle functions, which operating device comprises a mobile device that is located in the passenger compartment of the vehicle, wherein the mobile device includes a display surface on which a touch-sensitive surface is formed, in which - graphic data are generated that are displayed on the display surface of the mobile device, - an approach of an actuating object toward the touch-sensitive surface is detected, - the presentation on the display surface switches from a display mode to an operating mode if it has been detected that an actuating object has approached the touch-sensitive surface and, if a displayed switching element is touched, a control signal associated with this switching element is generated, and - in the event that it has not been detected, as a result of a malfunction, that the actuating object has approached the touch-sensitive surface, even though the actuating object did approach the touch-sensitive surface, the presentation on the display surface initially still takes place in the display mode during the approach, but then switches from the display mode to the operating mode if it has been detected that the actuating object touched the touch-sensitive surface, wherein in the operating mode an indication of the function of the control signal is displayed at the partial area of the switching element, and upon touching a partial area of the touch-sensitive surface in which a switching element is located in the operating mode, a control signal associated with this switching element is generated, and upon touching a partial area of the touch-sensitive surface in which no switching element is located in the operating mode, initially no control signal associated with a switching element in the operating mode is generated, and a control signal associated with this switching element is generated only if the touch-sensitive surface is touched again in the region of a switching element. - graphic data are generated that are displayed on the display surface of the mobile device, - an approach of an actuating object toward the touch-sensitive surface is detected, - the presentation on the display surface switches from a display mode to an operating mode if it has been detected that an actuating object has approached the touch-sensitive surface and, if a displayed switching element is touched, a control signal associated with this switching element is generated, and - in the event that it has not been detected, as a result of a malfunction, that the actuating object has approached the touch-sensitive surface, even though the actuating object did approach the touch-sensitive surface, the presentation on the display surface initially still takes place in the display mode during the approach, but then switches from the display mode to the operating mode if it has been detected that the actuating object touched the touch-sensitive surface, wherein in the operating mode an indication of the function of the control signal is displayed at the partial area of the switching element, and upon touching a partial area of the touch-sensitive surface in which a switching element is located in the operating mode, a control signal associated with this switching element is generated, and upon touching a partial area of the touch-sensitive surface in which no switching element is located in the operating mode, initially no control signal associated with a switching element in the operating mode is generated, and a control signal associated with this switching element is generated only if the touch-sensitive surface is touched again in the region of a switching element. upon touching a partial area of the touch-sensitive surface in which a switching element is located in the operating mode, a control signal associated with this switching element is generated, and upon touching a partial area of the touch-sensitive surface in which no switching element is located in the operating mode, initially no control signal associated with a switching element in the operating mode is generated, and a control signal associated with this switching element is generated only if the touch-sensitive surface is touched again in the region of a switching element.