According to one embodiment, a magnetic disk device conforming to perpendicular magnetic recording includes a magnetic disk, a recording head, and a controller. The head includes a main magnetic pole, a return magnetic pole, a recording coil, and a conductive member in which end surfaces are connected to opposed surfaces of a write gap which is opposed to a distal portion of the main magnetic pole and a distal portion of the return magnetic pole, and a resistance value varies. The controller applies a current to the recording coil to excite the magnetic flux in the recording operation, and applies a current at a constant voltage to the magnetic circuit via the comductive member.