A setting head for a joining device, in particular a press or a setting device, having the following features: a. a punch movable in longitudinal direction, so that a joining element is joinable into a component by a punch surface arranged at a working end of the punch, b. a receiving sleeve with a passage channel, the sleeve being concentrically and axially movable with the punch in the passage channel adjacent to the working end of the punch on the same, and c. two holding arms being arranged opposite to each other and outside of the passage channel at the receiving sleeve each provide at least one laterally inwardly protruding holding end, so that with the at least two holding ends, the joining element is positionable adjacent to an exit opening, facing away from the punch, of the passage channel and is releasable by the axially movable working end of the punch, wherein d. in which the receiving sleeve is spring-pretensioned relative to the punch and movable limitedly in the longitudinal direction of the punch, so that in a rest position of the punch, the working end is arranged within the passage channel and removed from the exit opening and in an operating position of the punch adjacent to the exit opening, and e. in which the receiving sleeve and the punch are guided in a form-fit manner next to each other, so that the receiving sleeve is axially displaceable in a rotation-free manner relative to the punch, characterized in that f. the holding arms are provided L-shaped and a shorter L-leg projects laterally inwardly with a holding-releasing contour for the joining element into the passage channel of the receiving sleeve wherein the holding-releasing contour includes at least a form-fit hold for the joining element as well as an inclined releasing surface arranged at a acute angle with respect to the joining direction R for the punch-sided releasing of the joining element from the holding releasing contour. a. a punch movable in longitudinal direction, so that a joining element is joinable into a component by a punch surface arranged at a working end of the punch, b. a receiving sleeve with a passage channel, the sleeve being concentrically and axially movable with the punch in the passage channel adjacent to the working end of the punch on the same, and c. two holding arms being arranged opposite to each other and outside of the passage channel at the receiving sleeve each provide at least one laterally inwardly protruding holding end, so that with the at least two holding ends, the joining element is positionable adjacent to an exit opening, facing away from the punch, of the passage channel and is releasable by the axially movable working end of the punch, wherein d. in which the receiving sleeve is spring-pretensioned relative to the punch and movable limitedly in the longitudinal direction of the punch, so that in a rest position of the punch, the working end is arranged within the passage channel and removed from the exit opening and in an operating position of the punch adjacent to the exit opening, and e. in which the receiving sleeve and the punch are guided in a form-fit manner next to each other, so that the receiving sleeve is axially displaceable in a rotation-free manner relative to the punch, characterized in that f. the holding arms are provided L-shaped and a shorter L-leg projects laterally inwardly with a holding-releasing contour for the joining element into the passage channel of the receiving sleeve wherein the holding-releasing contour includes at least a form-fit hold for the joining element as well as an inclined releasing surface arranged at a acute angle with respect to the joining direction R for the punch-sided releasing of the joining element from the holding releasing contour.