A magneto-optical recording apparatus comprising an optical head shiftable in the diametrical direction of a magneto-optical disk and capable of irradiating a light beam onto the magneto-optical disk, and a magnetic head disposed to be mutually opposite to the optical head with the magneto-optical disk interposed therebetween and capable of applying a magnetic field to the magneto-optical disk while being shifted in the diametrical direction of the magneto-optical disk, wherein the magnetic head is shiftable in the diametrical direction of the magneto-optical disk together with the optical head. The magnetic head consists of an E-shaped core and a coil wound around a center core element thereof, and the E-shaped core is so formed that the sectional length of the center core element in one direction extending toward two side core elements becomes equal to or shorter than the sectional length in another direction orthogonal thereto. The magnetic head is so disposed that the orthogonal direction of its core becomes coincident with the diametrical direction of the magneto-optical disk.