A magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus, including a probe made of a ferromagnetic film movable relative to a magnetic recording medium while having a distal end facing the magnetic recording medium; a head section having a recording element for recording a signal on the magnetic recording medium and a reproducing element including at least a probe for reproducing a signal recording on the magnetic recording medium; and a head slider for mounting the head section. The head slider includes a slider section having a slider surface facing the magnetic recording medium and configured to receive a hydrodynamic force generated by a dynamic effect of a gaseous flow caused by rotation of the magnetic recording medium, and a head support, coupled to the slider section, for supporting the head section such that the reproducing element contacts the magnetic recording medium, the head support having a mass smaller than that of the slider section, an area of a surface of the head support facing the magnetic recording medium being smaller than an area of the slider surface. The apparatus also includes a DC voltage application device for applying a DC voltage between the probe and a recording layer; and a device for detecting a tunnel current flowing between the distal end of the probe and the recording layer through a non-magnetic layer by application of the DC voltage, thereby reproducing a signal recorded on the magnetic recording medium.