An image forming apparatus includes a development portion holder that is mounted with a plurality of development portions having a memory storing information on the corresponding development portion and that selectively positions the development portions at development positions by holding and moving the mounted development portions; a controller that controls the development portion holder and that performs an image forming process of forming an image using the development portion positions at the development position; and an access unit that access the memory of the development portion positioned at an access position, which is a position at which one of the other development portions mounted on the development portion holder is located, to read and record the information when one of the development portions mounted on the development portion holder is positioned at the development position.