[1] “History” was written by members Liam Payne and Louis Tomlinson, along with Wayne Hector, Ed Drewett and the band's regular collaborators Julian Bunetta and John Ryan.

[8] Madeline Roth of MTV News commented, "littered with hand claps and campfire singalong vibes, "History" is both nostalgic and forward-looking at the same time" and that the song is "the perfect goodbye to their fans".

[9] Brennan Carley, writing with Spin, wrote that "utilizing hand claps, acoustic guitar, and Harry Styles' sweet, standout harmonizing, the song's proof that each of the remaining four 1D singers will be just fine on their own".

[10] Brittany Spanos of Rolling Stone wrote that the group went "rootsy" with the song, while adding that "the quartet harmonize above acoustic guitars and hand claps" and that "the boy band's latest veers sharply from the more anthemic, arena rock sounds of their most recent singles".

[11] Lucy Wang, writing for Time, called the song a "crooning, bittersweet anthem" and "a celebration of the British boy band’s five-year journey alongside its fans".