PURPOSE: To reduce the electric power consumption of the magneto-optical recording and reproducing device and to improve the high-speed access property of a head device by reducing the weight of moving parts.

CONSTITUTION: One end of a second arm 14 mounted with a magnetic head 15 is swivelably connected to one end of a first arm 13 mounted with an optical pickup 12. The connecting side of the second arm is projectingly provided with an engaging piece 14a which faces outward. An swiveling section 21 constituted to include a stationary plate 22, a first driving plate 23 and a second driving plate 26 is fixed outside the arm moving rage of a chassis 41 and the second driving plate is selectively engaged with the engaging piece 14a, by which the magnetic head is brought into contact with a magneto-optical disk 1 or is detached from this magneto-optical disk.