An image forming apparatus includes an arrangement information memory to store icon arrangement information in which entries respectively corresponding to standard applications and extension applications are provided, and in which application identification information identifying an application in each entry is associated with information about icon coordinates and information about an icon image, a list-screen generating unit to generate, based on the icon arrangement information, an application list screen in which icons corresponding to the standard applications and the extension applications are displayed, a display unit to display the generated application list screen, an input unit to detect pressing of an icon in the displayed application list screen, and a screen control unit to identify a standard or an extension application corresponding to the pressed icon based on the icon arrangement information and to request the identified application to generate an operation screen, wherein the display unit displays the operation screen.