[3] Adele began work on the track, reworking a skeleton of a song she had written when she was thirteen years old after being inspired by the release of Frank (2003) by Amy Winehouse.

[4] At the last minute, Adele changed the title of the song from "We Ain't Kids No More" to "Send My Love (To Your New Lover)," explaining: "Otherwise, you might as well just call the fucking album 'Old.

'"[3] Originally, the song was rumoured to be the album's lead-single, however "Hello" was chosen instead since "Send My Love (To Your New Lover)" did not "truly embody Adele’s intended ambition with '25'".

[5] After "Hello"'s success, Billboard wrote an article, on 26 November 2015, wondering what the next single from 25 would be, suggesting either "When We Were Young" or "Send My Love (To Your New Lover)",[6] with the former eventually being released.

Ultimately, "Send My Love (To Your New Lover)" was confirmed as the album's third single by iHeartRadio,[7] and it was released on 16 May 2016 through digital services such as iTunes, Spotify, Amazon Prime, and others.

[15] The "upbeat, poppy, rhythmic"[5] sound of "Send My Love (To Your New Lover)" has been compared to Taylor Swift's work,[17][18] most prominently from her album 1989 (2014).

[13] Amanda Petrusich of Pitchfork noted that Martin "relies on some enigmatic internal cadence, clipping syllables like a hiccuping poet, taking a tiny scalpel to his melodies," with Adele singing: "'Send-my-love/ To-your-new/ Luh-uh-ver.

"[21] During an interview with The Guardian, Adele referred to the track as a "fuck-you song" to an ex-boyfriend,[26] whom she dated between the guy who inspired her 21 album, and husband Simon Konecki.

[26] BBC News' Mark Savage called "Send My Love (To Your New Lover)" a "nimble pop/R&B song" and wrote that it "shows a fresh, playful side to the star".

[18] In an in-depth review of the song, Bustle writer Alex Kritselis called it one of the album's "major highlights" with its "über-catchy pop chorus".

[19] Kadeen Griffiths of the same magazine opined that the song is "the audio equivalent of Adele throwing a middle finger at whatever poor dude made the mistake of wronging a songwriter".

"[33] Business Insider's Tony Manfred noted that the song strays from Adele's earlier work, writing "she wades into the waters of contemporary pop music like never before".

[34] Nick Messitte of Forbes gave the song a positive review, writing: "It’s got the grace of damning individuals without sinking to their level; it boasts nostalgia—not the least of which for a sound popularized in 2013," and felt that Adele did not let Max Martin overpower her sensibilities.

[35] Vanity Fair's Josh Duboff called "Send My Love (To Your New Lover)" "the poppiest song Adele has ever recorded" and named it his "pick for the breakout track on 25".

[15] Spin 's T. Cole Rachel described it as "a cheeky pop side-eye that provides one of the records few resoundingly upbeat moments," [only on it] do we catch a glimpse of Adele's sense of humor.

[37] Chris Gerard of PopMatters called it "an upbeat pop tune with electronic beats and a strong vocal from Adele that rises and falls with the rhythm.

With a jauntiness that feels all too raw, Adele nails the balance between passive aggression towards an undeserving ex ("Send my love to your new lover/ Treat her better") and unapologetic truth-telling ('I'm giving you up/ I'm forgiving it all/ You set me free') yet again.

[49] In the United States, "Send My Love (To Your New Lover)" debuted at number 79 on the 12 December 2015 Billboard Hot 100 chart, but dropped off it the following week.

[64][65] As the music video progresses, multiple semi-transparent shots of the singer dancing at the same time appear layered on top of one another in a kaleidoscopic form.

[67] The video was described as "trippy and upbeat" by Jackie Strause and Keely Wold of The Hollywood Reporter who noted how the singer intimately sings to the camera.

[68] Anna Gaca commented how there was a simple concept behind it – "multiple, semi-transparent images of Adele singing and dancing in an elegant Dolce & Gabbana gown covered in oversize roses".

[69] Erin Coulehan, from the website Salon, was very positive towards the clip noting how the kaleidoscopic effects showcased the "ever-revolving feelings of confusion, frustration and eventual solace" a person goes through after the realization that their partner is going on with their life with another love interest, something described in the song's lyrics.

[71] Bustle's Shannon Carlin praised the release of the video, saying that the singer managed to turn it into an event with its premiere at the Billboard Music Awards.

[61] Elle's Alyssa Bailey wrote that the simple concept behind the video, along with the colors, effects, the singer's dancing and singing made it "beautiful".

[77] Adele performed "Send My Love (To Your New Lover)" for the first time on 20 November 2015 at Joe's Pub during an iHeartRadio special launched for the release of 25.

[80] "Send My Love" was covered by American pop rock band OneRepublic at BBC Radio 1's Live Lounge on 1 September 2016.

[83] I'm With Her released a single of their live cover of the song in 2017 as a mostly a cappella version with Paul Kowert from Punch Brothers accompanying the band on upright bass.