Method for operating a hand-guided processing device, wherein the processing device comprises: - a rotating and/or circulating cutting tool, - an electric motor drive system, wherein the electric motor drive system is configured for generating a torque for driving the cutting tool, and - a user-operable control element, wherein the method comprises the steps: a) automatically monitoring whether a blocking criterion is fulfilled, wherein the blocking criterion is characteristic of a blocking of the cutting tool, and b) if the blocking criterion is fulfilled and the control element is operated, automatically lowering the torque generated by the electric motor drive system, and temporally thereafter, automatically increasing the torque generated by the electric motor drive system, - wherein the blocking criterion is that, despite the operated control element and/or despite the generated torque being greater than zero and/or despite a current effecting the torque being greater than zero, a rotational speed (frot) of the electric motor drive system and/or the cutting tool is equal to or less than a blocking rotational speed lower limit value (frot'), - characterized in that the processing device is a saw, in particular a chain saw, a stone cutter or a cutting grinder, - wherein the control element is user-adjustable, - wherein the method comprises the step: c) if the blocking criterion is not fulfilled and the control element is operated, automatically controlling or automatically regulating the torque generated by the electric motor drive system for reaching of a nominal rotational speed (frot") of the electric motor drive system and/or the cutting tool, - wherein in step c) the nominal rotational speed (frot") is dependent on a setting of the control element, - wherein a non-blocking rotational speed lower limit value (frot'") for the nominal rotational speed (frot") is greater, in particular at least twice as great, as the blocking rotational speed lower limit value (frot'). - a rotating and/or circulating cutting tool, - an electric motor drive system, wherein the electric motor drive system is configured for generating a torque for driving the cutting tool, and - a user-operable control element, a) automatically monitoring whether a blocking criterion is fulfilled, wherein the blocking criterion is characteristic of a blocking of the cutting tool, and b) if the blocking criterion is fulfilled and the control element is operated, automatically lowering the torque generated by the electric motor drive system, and temporally thereafter, automatically increasing the torque generated by the electric motor drive system, - wherein the blocking criterion is that, despite the operated control element and/or despite the generated torque being greater than zero and/or despite a current effecting the torque being greater than zero, a rotational speed (frot) of the electric motor drive system and/or the cutting tool is equal to or less than a blocking rotational speed lower limit value (frot'), - characterized in that the processing device is a saw, in particular a chain saw, a stone cutter or a cutting grinder, - wherein the control element is user-adjustable, - wherein the method comprises the step: c) if the blocking criterion is not fulfilled and the control element is operated, automatically controlling or automatically regulating the torque generated by the electric motor drive system for reaching of a nominal rotational speed (frot") of the electric motor drive system and/or the cutting tool, - wherein in step c) the nominal rotational speed (frot") is dependent on a setting of the control element, - wherein a non-blocking rotational speed lower limit value (frot'") for the nominal rotational speed (frot") is greater, in particular at least twice as great, as the blocking rotational speed lower limit value (frot').