An image forming apparatus, connectable to a user terminal, includes a memory to store terminal identification information for identifying the user terminal, and file identification information for identifying at least one file printable by the image forming apparatus, and circuitry to report file information including information on the file printable by the image forming apparatus to the user terminal, acquire terminal identification information of the user terminal from the user terminal as a response to the reporting of the file information, determine whether the terminal identification information acquired from the user terminal matches the terminal identification information stored in the memory, and report the file identification information of the at least one file to the user terminal based on a determination that the terminal identification information acquired from the user terminal matches the terminal identification information stored in the memory.