An image forming apparatus includes a storage unit, a print accepting unit, an image forming unit, a determination unit, a display control unit and a print control unit. The determination unit determines whether any print data accepted by the print accepting unit include both print data retaining print setting information and print data not retaining any print setting information. The display control unit causes a display message about invalidation of the print setting information retained in the print data, upon a determination that the accepted print data include both print data retaining the print setting information and print data not retaining any print setting information. The print control unit invalidates the print setting information retained in the print data accepted by the print accepting unit and causes the image forming unit to print based on the print data, after the message is displayed by the displayed.