It was released as the first official single from his fourth studio album, Love Is a Four Letter Word, on December 26, 2011, via iTunes.

After "I'm Yours" remained at the Billboard Hot 100 chart for a record 76 weeks ending in October 2009 (peaking at number 6), Mraz headed to the Gulf of Mexico during the summer of 2010 to help with efforts to clean the Deepwater Horizon oil spill.

Later, Mraz was in Antarctica, spending time with Al Gore and learning about climate change aboard the National Geographic Explorer.

During his activist outings, Mraz wrote and recorded his fourth album, Love Is a Four Letter Word, with producer Joe Chiccarelli.

[2] He further elaborated: "The pressure I put on myself, or what I hope my 'I Won't Give Up' does, is to make a difference in people's lives .

As many of my songs are, I write for the purpose of understanding what the hell's going on in my life, my position in the world, processing that lesson and that miracle that I'm learning.

For me, the true meaning exists in the bridge saying 'I don't want to be someone who walks away so easily, I'm here to stay and make a difference.'

"[3] "I Won't Give Up" was written by Jason Mraz and Michael Natter, while production was handled by Joe Chiccarelli.

[4] The acoustic folk blues[5] and folk-pop[6] ballad features a slower tempo and a sparse arrangement written in the key of E major.

David Greenwald of MTV wrote, "The fresh track's wispy acoustic guitars and patient melody remind us of Irish crooner Damien Rice's 'Delicate,' though when Mraz soars into the chorus, it's with his own signature full-blast hook.

"[10] Amy Dawson of Metro UK called it "a delicate, countrified guitar ballad that drives into a power-chorus singalong conclusion.

"[11] Colin McGuire of PopMatters was mixed in his review, writing that "'I Won't Give Up', for instance, is acoustic guitar-laden folky pop that falls at least a little bit flat with its predictably bland approach.

[13] On the Hot 100, the track's launch is the highest for a male pop/rock singer-songwriter since David Cook burst in at number 3 with "The Time of My Life" the week of June 7, 2008, after he was crowned "American Idol" champion.

"[23] Andrew Unterberger from PopDust described the video as "a stately, if somewhat boring, assemblage of nature shots mixed with pictures of people young and old looking semi-contemplative.

The song was recorded by and released as a single by New Zealand boy band Titanium which features on their debut studio album All For You (2012).

In Australia after a short two week tour in early 2013 and heavy promotion the song reached number 69 on the Australian Singles Chart.

[75] The song was also covered by Lea Michele as Rachel Berry in the season 3 episode of Glee, entitled "Props".

"I Won't Give Up" is also covered by a cappella group Straight No Chaser in which Jason Mraz is featured on the recording Under the Influence.