A method is provided for operating a spinning machine or winder that includes a plurality of same-kind workstations and a plurality of input terminals situated with the workstations. The method includes at least intermittently configuring at least one of the input terminals as a master terminal. Commands are entered for operation of all or a group of the workstations via the master terminal. Designation of the master terminal is changed to one or more different ones of the input terminals at different points in time. A spinning machine or winder that practices the method is also provided.