A nasal applicator for nasally applying medicinal active ingredients, comprising a dispensing pin which is introduced into a nostril, a active ingredient store arranged in an applicator housing, and a dispensing metering device. A transmitting device is designed to be engageable and disengageable between an actuation button and the dispensing metering device such that when the transmitting device is disengaged, the actuation button is moved in the open passage without a transmission to the dispensing metering device. A movement sensor is provided for detecting movements of the operating button, and a coupling switch is provided for engaging the transmitting device depending on a signal of the movement sensor. To generate a consistent spray pattern, the dispensing metering device comprises a pretensioning mechanism which is tensioned or released to actuate a metering conveyor with a defined pretensioning force, wherein the engaged transmitting device can tension or release the pretensioning mechanism.
