An apparatus for detecting the position of window handles or door handles, the apparatus including a magnetic-field sensor and a microcontroller unit, the microcontroller unit being designed to read out data from the magnetic-field sensor, to record a magnetic fingerprint for at least one window-handle/door-handle position, and to detect the at least one window-handle/door-handle position by comparing data of the magnetic-field sensor with the recorded magnetic fingerprint. An operating method for such a window handle or door handle is also described.