Abstract: A method is provided for operating a hand-guided processing device that has 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. The method automatically monitors whether a blocking criterion is fulfilled, wherein the blocking criterion is characteristic of a blocking of the cutting tool, and if the blocking criterion is fulfilled and the control element operated, automatically lowers the torque generated by the electric motor drive system, and temporally thereafter, automatically increases the torque generated by the electric motor drive system.