A control device for an automatic transmission is provided. The automatic transmission is configured to realize a plurality of gear shift stages by combination of a plurality of engaging devices engaged or released among the plurality of engaging devices. The control device includes an electronic control unit. The electronic control unit is configured to select, as the setting pattern realizing an intermediate gear shift stage, the setting pattern with a smaller number of switching of the engagement or release of the engaging device than the number of switching of the setting pattern with the largest number of switching among the plurality of setting patterns when a shift is performed from a first gear shift stage to a second gear shift stage through the intermediate gear shift stage in a case where the electronic control unit determines that the shift is to be performed through the intermediate gear shift stage.