An actuating device (50) is provided for a vehicle seat, in particular for a motor vehicle seat. The actuating device includes a holder (51), a manually drivable actuating handle (52), a shaft (53) mounted rotatably in the holder (51), which is connected to the actuating handle (52) and may be driven thereby, and an output (55) connected fixedly in terms of rotation to the shaft (53). The shaft (53) may also be driven by a motor (59). The motor (59) and the shaft (53) are able to be coupled to one another and decoupled from one another by means of a wrap spring (57).