A method and apparatus for improving servo stability in read heads while writing is disclosed. In one embodiment, a magnetic storage device includes a disk surface and a transducer. The disk surface has servo information and user data stored thereon. The transducer includes a read head and a write head. The read head is operable to read servo information and user data from the disk surface. The write head is operable to write user data onto the disk surface. The read head is biased by a first bias current when reading user data and servo information from the disk surface during a read operation. The read head is biased by a second bias current when reading servo information from the disk surface during a write operation. The second bias current, which is different from the first bias current, is selected to increase servo stability in the read head when writing. Further, the write current may also be modified from a standard value in order to increase servo stability in the read head while writing.