An image forming system includes a plurality of processing apparatuses. An image forming apparatus includes an image forming section, storage, an acquiring section, a first specifying section, a receiver, a second specifying section, and a notifying section. The storage stores therein a position of each of the processing apparatuses. The acquiring section acquires state information from each of the processing apparatuses. The state information indicates whether a corresponding one of the processing apparatuses is in a normal function state or a malfunction state. The first specifying section specifies, from among the processing apparatuses, a malfunctioning processing apparatus for which the malfunction state is indicated by the state information. The second specifying section specifies a relative position of the malfunctioning processing apparatus with respect to a mobile terminal device. The notifying section notifies of specific information relating to the relative position specified by the second specifying section.