The invention relates to an X-ray system and an according method for operating an X-ray system comprising: a first structure (11, 17), on which an X-ray source and/or an X-ray detector is provided a second structure (14) at least one stepper motor (40), which is configured to move the first structure (11, 17) relative to the second structure (14, 15), the stepper motor (40) comprising a rotor shaft (41) which is coupled with the first structure (11, 17) such that when a user exerts an external force (F) on the first structure (11, 17) an angular position of the rotor shaft (41) is changed in accordance with the exerted external force (F) at least one incremental rotary encoder (50), which is coupled with the rotor shaft (41) of the stepper motor (40) and configured to generate an encoder signal in accordance with the change of the angular position of the rotor shaft (41) and a control unit (60), which is configured to determine, based on the encoder signal, a position deviation signal characterizing a deviation of the angular position of the rotor shaft (41) from a reference angular position of the rotor shaft (41) and to control the stepper motor (40) to rotate the rotor shaft (41) dependent on the position deviation signal such that the stepper motor (40) supports a movement of the first structure (11, 17) relative to the second structure (14) in accordance with the exerted external force (F).
