An image forming apparatus includes a main-body housing, a cover rotatably attached to the main-body housing, a latent image bearing member provided in the housing, an optical writing head to write a latent image on the latent image bearing member, a head retainer rotatably attached to the cover to hold the optical writing head, a biasing member to bias the head retainer in a rotation direction thereof, and a guide member. The guide member provided to the main-body housing is pressed by the optical writing head biased by the biasing member while guiding the optical writing head in a first direction and a second direction in association with movement of the cover. The first direction is a direction in which the optical writing head approaches the latent image bearing member, and the second direction is a direction in which the optical writing head separates from the latent image bearing member.