In a method and apparatus for controlling the temperature of a fixing device of the film heating type and the pressure rotary member driving type and an image forming apparatus provided with this fixing device, at the start of printing, the output of a thermistor near a heater is detected, and when the temperature difference &Dgr;T=T2−T1 between the detected temperature T1 and the fixing temperature T2 is smaller than a desired temperature T0, the raising timing of the heater is delayed. Thereby, a pressure roller is not-excessively warmed at hot start and slip can be prevented. Also, in the image forming apparatus having the film heating type fixing device, in the next printing after the lapse of a predetermined time after the termination of a printing operation, the target temperature and heater electrical energization starting timing of the fixing device are changed in conformity with the temperature of the fixing device. The apparatus has an atmospheric temperature sensor, and in the next printing after the lapse of a predetermined time after the termination of a printing operation, the target temperature and heater electrical energization timing of the fixing device during the initial rotation operation in the printing, operation are changed in conformity with the atmospheric temperature detected by the atmospheric temperature sensor and the temperature of the fixing device.