Method for operating a starting device for internal combustion engines, the starting device having a drive pinion for engaging into a toothed ring of the internal combustion engine, having an electric rotary drive and an electric thrust drive , wherein the rotary drive serves to turn the drive pinion and the thrust drive serves to push a pinion and - the electric thrust drive has a solenoid , - wherein the one thrust drive has a coil assembly having a first pull-in winding , having a second pull-in winding and having a holding winding , - wherein the thrust drive has a thrust armature , which is moved along a thrust armature axis within the pull-in winding by the pull-in winding , and - the thrust armature is kept in the retracted position by the holding winding , - wherein the one thrust drive also serves to actuate a switching device , - by means of which the electric rotary drive can be switched to a second drive stage, - wherein, in addition to the one, the first, pull-in winding , the second pull-in winding is present, which is connected in parallel to the first pull-in winding , - wherein the first pull-in winding , the second pull-in winding and the holding winding are energized for a first period of time, - wherein the first pull-in winding is switched off by a normally closed switch , whereas a current path through a second pull-in winding is closed, - by way of the normally closed switch being opened at the end of the first period of time, - the switching device is closed and the normally closed switch of the switching device is open during a subsequent second period of time in a switch-on position of the electric thrust drive , and - the second period of time is followed by a third period of time which starts at the moment at which the electrical contact is closed by means of the contact plate . - the electric thrust drive has a solenoid , - wherein the one thrust drive has a coil assembly having a first pull-in winding , having a second pull-in winding and having a holding winding , - wherein the thrust drive has a thrust armature , which is moved along a thrust armature axis within the pull-in winding by the pull-in winding , and - the thrust armature is kept in the retracted position by the holding winding , - wherein the one thrust drive also serves to actuate a switching device , - by means of which the electric rotary drive can be switched to a second drive stage, - wherein, in addition to the one, the first, pull-in winding , the second pull-in winding is present, which is connected in parallel to the first pull-in winding , - wherein the first pull-in winding , the second pull-in winding and the holding winding are energized for a first period of time, - wherein the first pull-in winding is switched off by a normally closed switch , whereas a current path through a second pull-in winding is closed, - by way of the normally closed switch being opened at the end of the first period of time, - the switching device is closed and the normally closed switch of the switching device is open during a subsequent second period of time in a switch-on position of the electric thrust drive , and - the second period of time is followed by a third period of time which starts at the moment at which the electrical contact is closed by means of the contact plate . <EOS>