An image forming apparatus includes an image forming device, a driving device, an external temperature detector, an internal temperature detector, a work amount detector, and control circuitry. When a temperature detected by the external temperature detector is lower than a temperature threshold, the circuitry shifts to a first restriction state based on a work amount and temporarily stops drive of the image forming device for a period every time the amount reaches a threshold. When the temperature is not lower than the temperature threshold, the circuitry shifts to a second restriction state based on an internal temperature. In the second state, in a case where the internal temperature is higher than a first threshold, the circuitry performs an intermittent operation of repeating a pause state and a printing state, until the internal temperature falls to be equal to or lower than a second threshold being lower than the first threshold.