Lyrically, "Invisible" was inspired by the group's early experiences of leaving home to play in London with the desire to be noticed by audiences, as well as Bono's tumultuous relationship with his father.

U2 performed the song on the premiere episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on the observation deck of 30 Rockefeller Plaza in New York City.

"[4] Musically, guitarist the Edge said that "Invisible" began as demo he recorded in Los Angeles that was originally a "straight-rock song" that evoked the Ramones.

[6] According to Bono, his initial lyrics were set on a train arriving into London during his first visit to the city in 1979 at age 18, as he recalled "sleeping in Euston station, being broke".

However, the latter was not the first official single to promote the album, but rather a "sort of a sneak preview – to remind people we exist," as Bono told USA Today.

Fanning's close relationship with U2 and an over 33-year history of the band's single exclusives,[11] caused many to believe the broadcast was legitimate and added further debate on U2 fan-forums.

[15] On 2 February 2014, "Invisible" was unveiled in a Super Bowl XLVIII television advertisement[16][17] and released as a free download in the iTunes Store for what was originally announced as a 24-hour period.

[20] On 17 February 2014, the band appeared on the debut episode of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and performed "Invisible" on the observation deck of 30 Rockefeller Plaza, with the Manhattan skyline during sunset as a backdrop.

[24] Doug Collette of All About Jazz commented that the song's "patently transparent lyrics set in the context of this package and the benefit of brief hindsight, make for a fitting conclusion of deliberate or accidental self-commentary.

[3] Spin magazine's Marc Hogan called the "founded in togetherness" song "a ringing stadium-rock anthem in All That You Can't Leave Behind mold," with Bono singing "like he's posing for a 21st-century Mount Rushmore.

[31] A music video for "Invisible" was directed by Mark Romanek, and shot in black-and-white in a Santa Monica airport hangar in January 2014.

It shows the band performing the song in front of a captive audience, against a massive screen with multiple video effects, with Bono singing to a circular hangdown microphone.