An image heating apparatus includes a heating rotatable member and a belt cooperative with the heating rotatable member to form a nip in which an image on a recording material is heated. The apparatus further comprises control means that rotates the heating rotatable member and the belt when changing means changes the relative position of the heating rotatable member and the belt from a spacing position to a contact position at a lower speed than in a period after the relative position changes from the spacing position to the contacting position and which is before the recording material enters the nip.