The invention relates to a method for operating an ion gate having a first, a second, and a third electrode which are arranged one after the other in an intended drifting direction of ions to be influenced by the ion gate, in such a way that the second electrode is arranged after the first electrode and the third electrode is arranged after the second electrode in the drift direction. The ion gate can be switched between a closed state, in which ions cannot drift through the ion gate in the intended drifting direction, and an open state, in which ions can drift through the ion gate in the intended drifting direction. This is accomplished by applying potentials that alternate over time to one or more of the electrodes. In a switching cycle of the ion gate, which comprises the open state and the closed state of the ion gate, two different closed states of the ion gate are produced. In a first closed state, the ion gate is closed by applying a first potential between the second and third electrodes. In a second closed state, the ion gate is closed by applying a second potential difference between the first and the second electrodes. Aspects of the invention also relate to a device having an ion transport region and a computer program for performing the method.