A magnetooptical recording apparatus records data in a recording region of a magnetooptical recording medium. Information representing the contents of the data recorded in the recording region is recorded in a lead-in region of the magnetooptical recording medium. The magnetooptical recording apparatus includes a recording head unit, a timer and a system controller. The recording head unit records data processed by a specified signal processing procedure on the magnetooptical recording medium. The timer measures elapsed time from the start of a recording operation of the recording head unit. The system controller interrupts the recording operation of the recording head unit. The system controller interrupts the recording operation of the recording head unit temporarily when the recording time measured by the timer coincides with a predetermined time, moves the recording head unit to the lead-in region of the magnetooptical recording medium, and controls the recording head unit to record information representing the contents of the data recorded in the recording region of the magnetooptical recording medium.