A method for shifting an automatic transmission, including a drive region, a hydrodynamic converter, an output region, and exactly one planetary gear that acts in a first operating state and a second operating state. In order to shift to different gears of the automatic transmission, different transmission ratios are set in the strictly mechanical power branch by disengaging and engaging clutches and/or brakes in the drive region. The planetary gear set in the output region in the case of at least two different transmission ratios in the strictly mechanical power branch, the rotational movement transmitted by the strictly mechanical power branch is stepped up, in order to always set additional gears.