In a magneto-optical recording apparatus, in which light spots are sequentially formed on a magneto-optical disk at the timing of a predetermined reference clock signal while a modulating magnetic field, which is reversed in polarity as a function of record data in synchronism with the reference clock signals, is applied to the disk for magnetically recording the record data thereon; the timing of polarity reversal of the modulating magnetic field with respect to the reference clock signal is delayed as a function of the magnetic and/or temperature characteristics of the magneto-optical disk to permit a magnetized domain to be formed at the correct position with respect to the timing of the reference clock signal. The intensity and/or duration of intermittent energizing of the light beam is controlled as a function of the ambient temperature of the magneto-optical disk and/or the radial sweeping position of the light spot to permit each magnetized domain to be formed at the correct position with respect to the timing of the reference clock signal.