Method for operating an air-conditioning device of a vehicle; wherein the air-conditioning device has at least three display modes, namely a status mode, a transition mode and a setting mode; wherein in the method: a current value of a setting parameter of the air-conditioning device is detected; the fact of whether there is an operating intention of a user is detected; if no operating intention is detected, the status mode is activated; if an operating intention is detected, the transition mode or the setting mode is activated; and depending on the activated display mode, graphical data of a graphical representation of an interior of the vehicle are generated and displayed such that if the status mode is activated, the representation of the interior comprises a display element (21.1; 21.2; 21.3; 21.4; 21.5; 21.6; 21.7; 21.8) which outputs the currently set value of the setting parameter, if the transition mode is activated, the representation of the interior comprises a settability display element (22.1; 22.2; 22.3; 22.4; 22.5; 22.6), and if the setting mode is activated, the representation of the interior comprises an operable setting element (23.1; 23.2; 23.3; 23.4; 23.5; 23.6), wherein if the status mode is activated, the representation of the interior comprises only the display element (21.1; 21.2; 21.3; 21.4; 21.5; 21.6; 21.7; 21.8) and neither the settability display element (22.1; 22.2; 22.3; 22.4; 22.5; 22.6) nor the operable setting element (23.1; 23.2; 23.3; 23.4; 23.5; 23.6), characterized in that the display element (21.1; 21.2; 21.3; 21.4; 21.5; 21.6; 21.7; 21.8), the settability display element (22.1; 22.2; 22.3; 22.4; 22.5; 22.6) and the setting element (23.1; 23.2; 23.3; 23.4; 23.5; 23.6) are embodied differently from one another, wherein the setting element (23.1; 23.2; 23.3; 23.4; 23.5; 23.6) comprises a scale object and a pointer object, wherein a displacement of the pointer object relative to a direction of extent of the scale object is detected for operating the setting element. a current value of a setting parameter of the air-conditioning device is detected; the fact of whether there is an operating intention of a user is detected; if no operating intention is detected, the status mode is activated; if an operating intention is detected, the transition mode or the setting mode is activated; and depending on the activated display mode, graphical data of a graphical representation of an interior of the vehicle are generated and displayed such that if the status mode is activated, the representation of the interior comprises a display element (21.1; 21.2; 21.3; 21.4; 21.5; 21.6; 21.7; 21.8) which outputs the currently set value of the setting parameter, if the transition mode is activated, the representation of the interior comprises a settability display element (22.1; 22.2; 22.3; 22.4; 22.5; 22.6), and if the setting mode is activated, the representation of the interior comprises an operable setting element (23.1; 23.2; 23.3; 23.4; 23.5; 23.6), wherein if the status mode is activated, the representation of the interior comprises only the display element (21.1; 21.2; 21.3; 21.4; 21.5; 21.6; 21.7; 21.8) and neither the settability display element (22.1; 22.2; 22.3; 22.4; 22.5; 22.6) nor the operable setting element (23.1; 23.2; 23.3; 23.4; 23.5; 23.6), characterized in that the display element (21.1; 21.2; 21.3; 21.4; 21.5; 21.6; 21.7; 21.8), the settability display element (22.1; 22.2; 22.3; 22.4; 22.5; 22.6) and the setting element (23.1; 23.2; 23.3; 23.4; 23.5; 23.6) are embodied differently from one another, wherein the setting element (23.1; 23.2; 23.3; 23.4; 23.5; 23.6) comprises a scale object and a pointer object, wherein a displacement of the pointer object relative to a direction of extent of the scale object is detected for operating the setting element.