An apparatus for steering a belt includes a steering roller supporting the belt, a rotatable element and a transmission. The steering roller is rotatable about a first axis and pivotable about a second axis, the second axis being substantial perpendicular to the first axis. The rotatable element is rotatable about a third axis, the third axis being parallel to the first axis. The transmission is arranged for converting a rotational motion of the rotatable element about the third axis into a pivoting motion of the steering roller about the second axis. The rotatable element is rotatable by a frictional force between a side portion of the belt and the rotatable element. A method for steering a belt in a steering mechanism includes such an apparatus.