An apparatus comprises a slider configured to facilitate heat assisted magnetic recording and a submount affixed to the slider. A laser unit is affixed to the submount and comprises a laser operable in a non-lasing state and a lasing state. A heater is embedded in the laser unit or the submount. The heater is configured to generate preheat for heating the laser during the non-lasing state and to generate steering heat for heating the laser during the lasing state.