[1][2] The band recorded the song in February 2009, alongside the tracks "Fantasy" and "Infinity" before finishing the album by the end of the month.
While recording "Shelter", a mechanical part of the guitar amplifier loosened, resulting in a clattering sound, which Rodaidh McDonald, who was the engineer and the mixer for the album, and The xx decided to keep.
The song was chosen as "Record of The Week" by UK radio DJ Fearne Cotton.
[4] The music video was first uploaded on YouTube on 16 June 2011 at a length of three minutes and fifty-seven seconds.
[9] Sophie Habibis performed a cover in the style of the Birdy version on series 8 of The X Factor, but was eliminated the same day.