A method for operating a superconducting device (1; 1a, 1b), having a coated conductor (2) with a substrate (3) and a quenchable superconducting film (4), wherein the coated conductor (2) has a width W and a length L, is characterized in that 0.5≦L/W≦10, in particular 0.5≦L/W≦8, and that the coated conductor (2) has an engineering resistivity ρeng shunting the superconducting film (4) in a quenched state, with ρeng>2.5 Ω, wherein RIntShunt=ρeng*L/W, with RIntShunt: internal shunt resistance of the coated conductor (2). The risk of a burnout of a superconducting device in case of a quench in its superconducting film is thereby further reduced to such an extent that the device can be operated without use of an additional external shunt.