An information processing apparatus that lightens the workload for a serviceman or an administrator who imports setting information into the information processing apparatus. The information processing apparatus includes an operation section via which the user can input data. The apparatus stores setting information containing a plurality of settings required for operation control and discriminating information on each setting for discriminating whether the setting is of a common setting item or of an apparatus-specific setting item, changes the discriminating information on each setting of the setting information, according to a specific instruction given by the user via the user interface, and externally outputs the stored setting information.