An image forming apparatus capable of communicating with an external device which manages print data includes an operating unit and a controller. The operating unit receives a user operation of an operating user. The controller includes circuitry or a processor to execute instructions stored in a memory to acquire unacquired print data from the external device based on a receiving process performed first after start-up of the image forming apparatus among a plurality of receiving processes including a first receiving process for receiving a notification which encourages acquisition of print data and a second receiving process for receiving the user operation by the operating unit.