A method of controlling a steer-by-wire steering system for motor vehicles is disclosed for the calculation of a resulting self-aligning torque of a feedback actuator in a manner which is dependent on an operating state (hands-on/hands-off). The method includes determining of a base self-aligning torque for a first operating state, in which there is hand contact by a driver on a steering wheel, determining a hands-off self-aligning torque for a second operating state, in which there is no hand contact by the driver on the steering wheel, determining a self-aligning speed of the steering wheel for the first operating state and for the second operating state, and determining the resulting self-aligning torque on the basis of the base self-aligning torque or the hands-off self-aligning torque, as a result of which the steering wheel rotates at the defined self-aligning speed into the defined position.