A developing apparatus has a developer carrying body provided to face an image bearing body. The developer carrying body carries and conveys a developer having toner and carrier to a developing region. A bias applying device applies a developing bias to the developer carrying body, wherein the bias applying device applies to the developer carrying body the developing bias having periodically a voltage portion having alternately a first voltage to generate an electric field to direct toner from the developer carrying body to the image bearing body and a second voltage to generate an electric field to direct the toner from the image bearing body to the developer carrying body and a pause portion to pause applying the alternate voltage, wherein T1 and T2 have a relationship of T1>T2, where T1 is as an applying time period of the first voltage and T2 is an applying time period of the second voltage.