A method is specified for operating an organic optoelectronic component, which has at least one organic light-emitting element having an organic functional layer stack with at least one organic light-emitting layer between two electrodes and at least one organic light-emitting element having an organic light-detecting layer. These elements are arranged on a common substrate in laterally adjacent area regions. The at least one organic light-detecting element detects ambient light, which is incident onto the organic optoelectronic component. The intensity of the light emitted by the at least one organic light-emitting element is regulated depending on a signal of the at least one organic light-detecting element with a characteristic signal form.