A magnetic disk apparatus includes a plurality of magnetic disks driven to rotate by a spindle motor, arms supporting magnetic heads on the magnetic disks, an actuator for moving the arms on the magnetic disks by a voice coil motor, and a housing which surrounds the magnetic disks, the arms and the actuator. A shroud which arcuately surrounds the magnetic disks along the outer periphery thereof has an opened portion for inserting the arms is formed in a part of the housing. The shroud on an upstream side of the arms relative to airflow generated by the magnetic disks when rotating is provided with an opening having a greater width than that of a gap defined between the shroud and the outer periphery of the magnetic disks. An empty bypass channel is provided which communicates from the opening through a rear side of the voice coil motor to the downstream side of the arms.