The invention relates to a method for controlling a side guide of a metal strip (1), in particular in the inlet or outlet of roll stands or driving apparatuses, wherein the side guide comprises a guide (2, 4) disposed laterally to the metal strip (1) on both sides of the metal strip (1), and the guides (2, 4) can be displaced independently of each other. One of the guides (2) is thereby driven by means of position control, and a second of the guides (4) is driven by means of force control, wherein forces of the metal strip (1) acting on the first guide (2) and the second guide (4) are measured. The target force for the second, force-controlled guide (4) is thereby prescribed as a function of the measured force on the first, position-controlled guide (2), wherein as the force on the first, position-controlled guide (2) increases, the target force for the second, force-controlled guide (4) is reduced. In particular, damage to the guides (2, 4) and to the metal strip (1) can be prevented or at least reduced by means of said type of controlling.