A method for operating a vehicle drive train (1) includes, during a downshift, disengaging at least one shift element (A through F) from a power flow of the transmission (5), guiding a power transmission capacity of a torque converter lockup clutch (4) to a level at which the torque converter lockup clutch (4) is in a non-slip operating condition during a positive engine override when a rotational speed of a prime mover (2) is guided towards a synchronous speed of a demanded desired ratio, and guiding the power transmission capacity of the torque converter lockup clutch (4)—no later than a point in time of the downshift at which the rotational speed of the prime mover (2) is equal to the synchronous speed of the desired ratio—to a level at which the torque converter lockup clutch (4) is transferred into a continuous slip operation due to torque.