The invention relates to a method for operating a drive device (1) of a motor vehicle, having an internal combustion engine (2), an electric machine (3), and a dual-clutch transmission (4). The dual-clutch transmission (4) has two clutches (K1, K2), by means of which the transmission can be connected to the internal combustion engine (2). At least the internal combustion engine (2) is actuated in a driving operation in order to generate a target drive torque, and the clutches (K1, K2) are actuated in opposite directions for a gear shift. During a gear shift, the electric machine (3) which is connected to the dual-clutch transmission (4) without a clutch is actuated such that the electric machine completely or partly generates the target torque at least temporarily.