An image pickup apparatus includes a focus detector that utilizes a phase detection method, an image pickup device, an optical path switch configured to switch a path of light from an object between a first optical path used to lead the light to the focus detector and a second optical path used to lead the light to the image pickup device, a face detector configured to detect a face of the object from the image data, and a controller configured to provide such a control that the optical path switch can set the second optical path after the optical path switch sets the first optical path and the focus detector detects the on-focus state using the phase difference method, and allows the face detector to detect the face of the object after the optical path switch can set the second optical path.