Upon its release, "Don't Know What to Tell Ya" received generally favorable reviews from music critics.

[11] While reviewing "I Care 4 U" Nekesa Mumbi Moody from the Associated Press described "Don't Know What to Tell Ya" as "dramatic" and felt that it was the best song out of the new material featured on the album.

[12] Bianca Gracie from Fuse stated a similar statement as she felt that the song's "Middle Eastern" inspired production made it more "dramatic".

[6] Music Week gave a mixed review the publication felt that the song "sounds a bit like work in progress", but "it is still head and shoulders above most other R&B releases out there".

[13] Arion Berger from Rolling Stone praised Aaliyah's vocals on "Don't Know What to Tell Ya", saying: "Her sweet, strong voice whips around the ambivalence" on the song.

[14] Sal Cinquemani from Slant Magazine called the song a "cool midtempo number" and described it as "Aaliyah-lite".