Method for operating an elevator system, which is embodied as shaft-changing multi-car system, in the case of which a number of cars is assigned to at least three elevator shafts (110, 120, 130, 140, 150), wherein the cars can be moved in upwards direction and downwards direction inside the individual elevator shafts (110, 120, 130, 140, 150), as well as between the individual elevator shafts, comprising the following steps: a) in a first operating state, assigning a travel direction UP or DOWN to each individual one of the elevator shafts (110, 120, 130, 140, 150) such that all cars, which are located in a respective elevator shaft (110, 120, 130, 140, 150), can move only in the respective assigned travel direction, b) for an elevator shaft or a partial quantity of the at least three elevator shafts (110, 120, 130, 140, 150), canceling the assignment of the travel direction such that all cars, which are located in this one elevator shaft or this partial quantity of the at least three elevator shafts, is or are stopped, respectively, c) reversing the assignment of the travel direction in this one shaft or this partial quantity of the at least three elevator shafts (110, 120, 130, 140, 150) such that all cars, which are located in this one elevator shaft or the partial quantity of the at least three elevator shafts, can move only in the respective newly-assigned travel direction, characterized in that d) repeating steps b) and c) for further elevator shafts, until a desired number of elevator shafts or all elevator shafts (110, 120, 130, 140, 150) have an assignment of a travel direction UP or DOWN, which is opposite to the assignment during the first operating state, for providing a second operating state, wherein the reversal of the travel directions assigned to the individual elevator shafts is carried out successively, in order to get from the first operating state to the second operating state. a) in a first operating state, assigning a travel direction UP or DOWN to each individual one of the elevator shafts (110, 120, 130, 140, 150) such that all cars, which are located in a respective elevator shaft (110, 120, 130, 140, 150), can move only in the respective assigned travel direction, b) for an elevator shaft or a partial quantity of the at least three elevator shafts (110, 120, 130, 140, 150), canceling the assignment of the travel direction such that all cars, which are located in this one elevator shaft or this partial quantity of the at least three elevator shafts, is or are stopped, respectively, c) reversing the assignment of the travel direction in this one shaft or this partial quantity of the at least three elevator shafts (110, 120, 130, 140, 150) such that all cars, which are located in this one elevator shaft or the partial quantity of the at least three elevator shafts, can move only in the respective newly-assigned travel direction, characterized in that d) repeating steps b) and c) for further elevator shafts, until a desired number of elevator shafts or all elevator shafts (110, 120, 130, 140, 150) have an assignment of a travel direction UP or DOWN, which is opposite to the assignment during the first operating state, for providing a second operating state, wherein the reversal of the travel directions assigned to the individual elevator shafts is carried out successively, in order to get from the first operating state to the second operating state.