An operating method in a vehicle having a menu of an operating structure displayed on a display surface arranged in the vehicle. The operating structure includes a main menu and additional menus. Inputs can be detected, by which a change of the displayed menu can be caused and by which switching elements of the menus can be actuated. A special switching element is displayed at the edge of the display surface which can be actuated by a swipe gesture and, if the swipe gesture associated with the special switching element has been detected, the main menu is displayed. Also disclosed is an operating device for performing the operating method.