An image forming apparatus includes: a storage section (118) that stores apparatus setting information including a plurality of setting values corresponding to a plurality of setting items in the image forming apparatus; a backup setting generation section (115) that generates a BSF including a setting value extracted from the apparatus setting information and first identification information assigned to the image forming apparatus in a network; a backup setting control section (114) that sends the generated BSF to another printer (110) and receives the BSF from the another printer (110); and a backup setting update section (117) that specifies a setting value that is able to be set in the image forming apparatus and updates a setting value included in the apparatus setting information to the specified setting value.