In response to a request from an image forming apparatus, a separate apparatus identifies information on applicable firmware, determines whether warning is permitted based on an output ability of the image forming apparatus and a result of referring to a warning permission policy table, and transmits a response including the information on applicable firmware and warning permission information. When making the request and applying the firmware after receiving the response, in a case where the warning permission information indicates displaying of warning is permitted, the image forming apparatus determines a message to be output and displays the message based on the result of referring to the warning display pattern table.