It was released for digital download and streaming as the lead single for the album and the first in Bieber's Music Mondays series on October 7, 2013, through Island Records.

[1] Bieber's manager Scooter Braun believed that the song would end "the witch hunt" from his critics by silencing them, adding this would be done through him speaking for himself in a genuine and unique way.

He also posted the cover art, showing a crumbling purple heart in the middle with his name and the title "Heartbreaker" written around it, set to a white background.

[3][7][8] Multiple publications considered it similar to the artwork for American rapper Kanye West's 2008 album 808s & Heartbreak, which features a red heart-shaped balloon set against a blue background.

[7][8][9][10] On July 19, 2013, Bieber shared a 15-second video advertising his fragrance The Key via Instagram that featured him singing the song's first lines, which was posted to YouTube by his fans.

[11][12] "Heartbreaker" was eventually released on October 7, 2013, as part of Bieber's Music Mondays promotional series that ran for 10 weeks in the lead-up to Journals.

This coincided with Valentine's Day and as he performed, a five-piece band and a team of dancers accompanied Bieber, with backing from a light show on the newly-designed stage.

[28] Summarizing Bieber's performance, Teen Vogue's Casey Lewis identified him as a "dreamboat [that] shows a more vulnerable side of himself" and noted the revelational content.

[14] In Vulture, Lindsey Weber said the song should not be disregarded by any similarities to West, highlighting the melody and sadness that echo the rapper, as well as comparing it to "our currently reigning sadcore champ Drake".

[23] Mikael Wood from the Los Angeles Times praised the "moody, slow-rolling, digital-soul cut" that resembles American record producer Timbaland's productions for Ginuwine in the early 2000s and includes Bieber's voice going "full-on sad-robot" like West in a breakdown.

[16] For Fact, Aimee Cliff wrote that "Heartbreaker" opens the album "into zero gravity", saying the chords move "in and out of focus over a low-slung groove and vocals float menacingly somewhere over your head" in a prominent production style.

[18] She appreciated how Bieber offers "a refreshingly patient take on pop" instead of "the sugar rush of pounding choruses and pseudo-Timberlake / Timbaland" of his early chart hits, thinking he showcases musical space and his voice manages "to roam and reflect around" in it.

[18] At Billboard, Jason Lipshutz said the "contemplative track" marked Bieber's "most direct" attempt at adult R&B, with the setting created by a "simple acoustic lick and snare taps", then "completed with the spoken-word breakdown" that he compared to the work of Boyz II Men.

[29] In a mixed review at the Daily Record for his weekly column, Rick Fulton gave "Heartbreaker" two out of four stars and derided it as a "slow burner" that may appeal to Bieber's fans, yet "sounds old fashioned and out-dated".