A magnetic disk device of an embodiment includes: a head structure including at least one reproducing head and main magnetic pole gap installation portion behind a flying slider and including at least two thermal actuators; and a control unit that can independently control the thermal actuators and that sets spacing of the reproducing head and the main magnetic pole gap installation portion with respect to a recording medium by setting a rotational speed at the time of contact, which rotational speed is a rotational speed of the recording medium, to be lower than a normal rotational speed when the reproducing head and the main magnetic pole gap installation portion are brought into contact with the recording medium.