A thin film magnetic head that is ready for positioning of the elevation of the MR layer and most suitable for high density recording to be used for the helical scan type magnetic recording and reproducing apparatus, comprising a lower shield layer formed on a substrate, a lower gap layer formed on the upper shield layer, a magnetoresistive layer formed on the lower shield layer via the lower gap layer, an upper gap layer formed on the magnetoresistive layer, and an upper shield layer formed on the magnetoresistive layer via the upper gap layer, besides providing a convex portion on the principal face of the upper shield layer.