Method for configuring a modular safety switching device having a plurality of electronic modules (10.1-10.5) arranged in at least one module row, comprising the steps of A) selecting a configuration data set of the modular safety switching device from a plurality of configuration data sets that are stored in a configuration database such that they can be called up, and transmitting the configuration data set to a computing device, the configuration data set being processed by means of a computer program that is executed by the computing device in such a way that a desired configuration of the modular safety switching device and of the electronic modules (10.1-10.5) is produced from the configuration data set, B) displaying the desired configuration of the modular safety switching device and the electronic modules (10.1-10.5) on a display device, C) plugging one of the electronic modules (10.1-10.5) into one of the module slots of the module row, D) setting a rotary switch position of one or more rotary switches (11.1-11.9) of the electronic module (10.1-10.5), E) determining an actual configuration of the electronic module (10.1-10.5) configured according to steps C) and D) using the computer program executed by the computing device, F) comparing the actual configuration with the desired configuration of the electronic module (10.1-10.5) using the computer program executed by the computing device, G) displaying whether or not there is a deviation between the actual configuration and the target configuration of the electronic module (10.1-10.5) and, if so, repeating steps C), E) to G) if the electronic module (10.1-10.5) is plugged into an incorrect module slot of the module row, or repeating steps D) to G) if a rotary switch position is incorrectly set, H) repeating steps C) to G) for each further electronic module (10.1-10.5) of the modular safety switching device. A) selecting a configuration data set of the modular safety switching device from a plurality of configuration data sets that are stored in a configuration database such that they can be called up, and transmitting the configuration data set to a computing device, the configuration data set being processed by means of a computer program that is executed by the computing device in such a way that a desired configuration of the modular safety switching device and of the electronic modules (10.1-10.5) is produced from the configuration data set, B) displaying the desired configuration of the modular safety switching device and the electronic modules (10.1-10.5) on a display device, C) plugging one of the electronic modules (10.1-10.5) into one of the module slots of the module row, D) setting a rotary switch position of one or more rotary switches (11.1-11.9) of the electronic module (10.1-10.5), E) determining an actual configuration of the electronic module (10.1-10.5) configured according to steps C) and D) using the computer program executed by the computing device, F) comparing the actual configuration with the desired configuration of the electronic module (10.1-10.5) using the computer program executed by the computing device, G) displaying whether or not there is a deviation between the actual configuration and the target configuration of the electronic module (10.1-10.5) and, if so, repeating steps C), E) to G) if the electronic module (10.1-10.5) is plugged into an incorrect module slot of the module row, or repeating steps D) to G) if a rotary switch position is incorrectly set, H) repeating steps C) to G) for each further electronic module (10.1-10.5) of the modular safety switching device.