A method for changing work rolls of a rolling mill in the presence of a metal strip to be rolled between both work rolls, including an upper work roll and a lower work roll, and wherein in a closing position of the roll stand configured to roll the metal strip, said work rolls each have a contact generatrix with the metal strip, the contact generatrices and the axes of the work rolls lying in a plane substantially perpendicular to a running direction of the metal strip, rolling members such as first intermediate rolls being in contact along two contact generatrices between each of the work rolls and the rolling members, the rolling members ensuring transmission of a rolling force to the lower and upper work rolls in contact with the metal strip, method in which extraction of the work rolls from the roll stand is ensured after at least partially opening the roll stand for which the work rolls are spaced apart from each other with respect to the positions of the work rolls in the closing position of the roll stand, the method being characterised in that the extraction of the work rolls is ensured by carrying out the following steps, for said upper and/or lower work roll - an insertion step a) comprising: -- robotically inserting mechanical separation means between said work roll and the metal strip to a separation position in which the metal strip and said work roll are physically separated along the length of the work roll, and up to ensuring removal of the contact between the work roll and the metal strip and/or -- robotically inserting mechanical separation means between the work roll and the rolling members to a separation position in which said work roll and the rolling members are physically separated along the length of the work roll, until ensuring suppression of the contact between the work roll and the rolling members - a removal step b) comprising: -- robotically extracting said work roll, by gripping one end of said work roll and moving said work roll along its axis with respect to the metal strip and the rolling members present in the roll stand, wherein said mechanical separation means are: -- in said separation position in which the work roll and the metal strip are physically separated so as to avoid any friction between the work roll and the metal strip upon moving, or/and -- in said separation position in which the work roll and the rolling members are physically separated and so as to avoid any friction between the work roll and the rolling members upon moving. - an insertion step a) comprising: -- robotically inserting mechanical separation means between said work roll and the metal strip to a separation position in which the metal strip and said work roll are physically separated along the length of the work roll, and up to ensuring removal of the contact between the work roll and the metal strip and/or -- robotically inserting mechanical separation means between the work roll and the rolling members to a separation position in which said work roll and the rolling members are physically separated along the length of the work roll, until ensuring suppression of the contact between the work roll and the rolling members -- robotically inserting mechanical separation means between said work roll and the metal strip to a separation position in which the metal strip and said work roll are physically separated along the length of the work roll, and up to ensuring removal of the contact between the work roll and the metal strip and/or -- robotically inserting mechanical separation means between the work roll and the rolling members to a separation position in which said work roll and the rolling members are physically separated along the length of the work roll, until ensuring suppression of the contact between the work roll and the rolling members - a removal step b) comprising: -- robotically extracting said work roll, by gripping one end of said work roll and moving said work roll along its axis with respect to the metal strip and the rolling members present in the roll stand, wherein said mechanical separation means are: -- in said separation position in which the work roll and the metal strip are physically separated so as to avoid any friction between the work roll and the metal strip upon moving, or/and -- in said separation position in which the work roll and the rolling members are physically separated and so as to avoid any friction between the work roll and the rolling members upon moving. -- robotically extracting said work roll, by gripping one end of said work roll and moving said work roll along its axis with respect to the metal strip and the rolling members present in the roll stand, wherein said mechanical separation means are: -- in said separation position in which the work roll and the metal strip are physically separated so as to avoid any friction between the work roll and the metal strip upon moving, or/and -- in said separation position in which the work roll and the rolling members are physically separated and so as to avoid any friction between the work roll and the rolling members upon moving. -- in said separation position in which the work roll and the metal strip are physically separated so as to avoid any friction between the work roll and the metal strip upon moving, or/and -- in said separation position in which the work roll and the rolling members are physically separated and so as to avoid any friction between the work roll and the rolling members upon moving.