A method changes a sliding bearing element of a rotor bearing of a wind turbine. The rotor bearing includes inner and outer ring elements, between which the sliding bearing element is arranged. The inner ring element and the outer ring element are rotatable relative to each other. A rotor hub is fastened to the inner ring element or to the outer ring element. The sliding bearing element includes multiple individual sliding bearing pads, each of which are releasably fastened to the inner ring element or outer ring element of the rotor bearing by at least one fastener. When changing the sliding bearing element, the individual sliding bearing pads are removed one after the other and replaced by new sliding bearing pads, wherein during the changing of the individual sliding bearing pads of the sliding bearing element, the inner ring element and the outer ring element are not disassembled.