A plate handling method and apparatus for a printing press that includes printing units, each having a plate cylinder, a main unit motor for driving the plate cylinders, and electromagnetic clutches disposed between the main unit motor and the printing units for transmitting and cutting off a drive force from the main unit motor to the printing units, and is adapted to rotate the plate cylinders upon the drive by the main unit motor and change plates. The electromagnetic clutch of the printing unit is disengaged, when an abnormality in changing of the plate was detected by any of sensors provided in each printing unit for detecting an abnormality in plate changing, to cut off the drive by the main unit motor, but continue plate changing in the other printing units by the drive force from the main unit motor.