An image forming apparatus includes: an image forming unit configured to transfer a developer image; a processor; and memory storing computer readable instructions that, when executed by the processor, causing the image forming apparatus to: perform an image forming operation of forming an image; perform a cleaning operation of cleaning unnecessary developer of the image forming unit; in a case where existence of data of an image which is to be formed is recognized after activation of the image forming apparatus before a first image forming operation, determine whether to perform the cleaning operation; and in a case where existence of data of the image which is to be formed is not recognized after the activation of the image forming apparatus before the first image forming operation, not to perform the cleaning operation.