An image processing apparatus includes a storing unit that stores setting information for operating the image processing apparatus; and an updating control unit that sends a request for obtaining predetermined differentiated setting information, which is a part of a set of setting information stored in a data processing apparatus in a differentiated manner in accordance with a predetermined differentiating criterion, to the data processing apparatus via a network, obtains the predetermined differentiated setting information from the data processing apparatus via the network and controls to update the setting information stored in the storing unit by the obtained predetermined differentiated setting information.