A printing apparatus having a standby mode and an energy saving mode, the standby mode being capable of receiving data to be printed and of starting printing processing for the received data without requiring warming-up and the energy saving mode being capable of receiving the data and of starting the printing processing after warming-up, the printing apparatus including: a print data receiving section for receiving print data from outside as the data to be printed, the print data being provided with a degree of urgency; a printing control section for changing modes between the standby mode and the energy saving mode for receiving the data and for performing control of the printing processing for the received data; and a printing section; wherein, upon the reception of the print data in the energy saving mode, the printing control section changes the mode to the standby mode for starting the printing processing or keeps the energy saving mode for suspending the printing processing based on the degree of urgency provided with the received print data.