A method and a device for determining an operating state of an elevator system include determining a current/time profile of a current supplied to the elevator system via a power supply line, identifying at least one current profile segment of the current/time profile, and deriving a current profile pattern of the identified current profile segment. The operating state of the elevator system is determined based on comparing the current profile pattern to at least one reference pattern. The method and the device may also be easily used by personnel without electrical training and may be used in elevator systems that are not known in detail.