Abstract: The invention relates to a method for uninstalling a filter element from a pipeline, said filter element having a substantially central opening and an outer contour that substantially corresponds to an inner contour of said pipeline, wherein: a tool is inserted into said substantially central filter element opening, which opening runs in the longitudinal axial direction of said filter element, said tool is subsequently enlarged in at least one subsection of its peripheral surface in an extension running substantially perpendicularly to the longitudinal axial direction of the filter element, and is force and/or form-fittingly connected to an inner lateral surface of the substantially central filter element opening, said filter element finally being pushed with the tool in the longitudinal axial direction until the filter element projects out of the pipeline and is removed from the pipeline.