To provide a method and an apparatus for replacing a cutter 2 which is held in a cutter housing part 4 of a cutting device 12 for cutting an intermediate product in the tobacco processing industry and is to be replaced.

A holding part 16 in the cutter housing part 4 of the cutter 2 to be replaced is automatically opened prior to removal of the cutter 2 to be replaced and then moved so as to remove the cutter 2 to be replaced from the cutter housing part 4 and a new cutter 6 is introduced into the cutter housing part 4 so as to mount the new cutter 6 in the cutter housing part 4. The apparatus is equipped with a release device 38 for opening the holding part 16 of the cutter 2 to be replaced in the cutter housing part 4, a demounting unit 50 for demounting the cutter 2 to be replaced from the cutter housing part 4 and a transfer unit 60 for introducing the new cutter 6 into the cutter housing part 4.