A magnetic disc recording apparatus comprises a search mechanism for searching for an unrecorded position on the disc to properly continue the recording to the same disc and a head control mechanism for setting a recording head at the searched unrecorded position on the disc. The search mechanism operates when it is detected that the disc has been replaced or exchanged. The head control mechanism sets the head at a predetermined preparatory position for searching, corresponding to an extremity of a predetermined searching range of the search mechanism for searching for the unrecorded position when there is an indication that the disc has been unloaded.