A method for operating an industrial robot by means of an operating device, including a step of touching a virtual operating element on a touch-sensitive display of a graphical user interface, said display being surrounded by a frame, wherein a function associated with the operating element is triggered when the virtual operating element is touched. In order to increase the safety of the operation of the industrial robot and to be able to adjust the position of the industrial robot in the desired range, the speed or distance of a deflection of a finger of an operating person during the touching of the virtual operating element of the touch display is detected.