An information processing apparatus, a method, and a non-transitory recording medium. The information processing apparatus, in a case the controller completes an activation after the operation panel completes an activation, detects a connection error between the operation panel and the controller by performing a first determination process of determining whether activation of the controller is completed within a first predetermined period of time after activation of the operation panel is completed and by performing a second determination process of determining whether communication between the operation panel and the controller is established within a second predetermined period of time after completion of the activation of the controller, and in a case the controller completes the activation before the operation panel completes the activation, detects the connection error between the operation panel and the controller by performing the second determination process.