The invention relates to a method for regulating a cooling device (2) fitted in or to a switchgear cabinet (1), by means of a regulating device (22), wherein the temperature (T1) of the switchgear cabinet interior air (I, I') is detected and an interior fan (23) assigned thereto for generating an interior air flow through an evaporator (21) and providing cooling air is switched on if the detected temperature (T1) of the switchgear cabinet interior air exceeds an upper predetermined temperature (T2), and is switched off if the detected temperature (T1) falls below a lower predetermined temperature (T1), and the invention relates to an apparatus for carrying out the method. A reduced energy consumption and an increased service life with reliable operation are achieved by virtue of the fact that after the interior fan (23) has been switched off owing to the lower predetermined temperature (T1) being undershot, a timekeeping is started and the interior fan (23) is switched on after a predetermined first time duration (t1) for a predetermined second time duration (t2) and is then switched off again if the detected temperature (T1) still falls below the upper predetermined temperature (T2), as long as the second time duration (t2) proceeds, that the intermittent time-controlled mode of operation of the interior fan (23) is cyclically repeated until the upper predetermined temperature (T2) is exceeded, after which the interior fan (23) is operated in continuous operation, and that the timekeeping and the intermittent time-controlled mode of operation of the interior fan (23) are started anew if the lower predetermined temperature (T1) is undershot.