A device and a method for operating a multi-axle drive train for a motor vehicle. A first axle and a second axle are operatively connected, at least temporarily, to a drive device. When the second axle is decoupled from the drive device and a request for multi-axle drive with a first value is present, the second axle is coupled to the drive device only when a noise-masking event occurs, or when the second axle is coupled to the drive device and the request for multi-axle drive is absent, the second axle is decoupled from the drive device only when the noise-masking event occurs.