An image forming system is provided that alleviates throughput reductions and enables reductions in power consumption and lower noise. The image forming system includes an image forming apparatus that forms an image on a recording material and a plurality of sheet-conveying devices that convey the recording material. Furthermore, the image forming apparatus includes a storage unit configured to store connecting orders of the plurality of sheet-conveying devices and a determination unit configured to determine which of the sheet-conveying devices should be given notification by an operation start request or an operation end request according to designation information that designates the sheet-conveying device to which the recording material is conveyed and the connecting orders for the plurality of sheet-conveying devices. Further still, the image forming apparatus includes a transmitting unit configured to transmit an operation start request or an operation end request to each determined sheet-conveying device.