An image forming apparatus includes a communication unit, a prohibition unit, an execution unit, and a control unit. The communication unit communicates with an external apparatus. The prohibition unit prohibits the communication unit from communicating with the external apparatus when a command for executing initialization with respect to the image forming apparatus is specified. The execution unit executes a process for accepting set information of the initialization when the prohibition unit prohibits the communication unit from communication with the external apparatus. The control unit executes a process for informing that the initialization should be executed when an elapsed time of a waiting state where input of the set information is not executed exceeds a given period.