[3] The song was made available to stream exclusively on Rolling Stone a day before to release (on 21 July 2016).

"[4] Idolator's Robbie Daw said "Activated is a slinkly, sassy little R&B number, complete with the commanding line 'when I do the damn thing, just watch me.

'"[1] Estelle Tang of Elle said that "Activated" has a "slinky air of mystery" and went on to say that "it's a pure feeling-yourself anthem".

[6] Nick Barnes of UnrealityTV UK stated "Activated isn’t a song that will work for everybody – people will either love it, or they just won’t care for it.

Having said that, it feels as though she's mashed R&B and pop together, as the chorus is more catchy pop and the verses are R&B-inspired," and went on to claim that although he enjoyed the song, he didn't see "Activated" as lead single material, claiming "when an artist has been away for just over two years like Lloyd has, I listen carefully to the first single they put out from their new album.