A magnetic tape apparatus for controlling a running of magnetic tape, and being able to control a cleaning medium to clean a magnetic head. The apparatus including a feed reel shaft and a take-up reel shaft respectively adapted to hold a feed reel and a take-up reel of the cleaning medium; a magnetic head; a control part controlling the feed reel shaft and the take-up reel shaft so as to reel the cleaning medium; and a cleaning section determining part determining a cleaning section on the cleaning medium that is used for a single cleaning step of the magnetic head. The control part controls the feed reel shaft and the take-up reel shaft to clean the magnetic head for the cleaning section by the cleaning medium. Additionally, the control part reduces a tension of the cleaning medium more than that applying in a normal running by independently controlling the feed reel and the take-up reel when the control part runs the cleaning medium to the cleaning section determined by the cleaning section determining part.
