In North America, where Capitol Records typically altered the content of the band's albums, "What You're Doing" instead appeared on the 1965 US release Beatles VI.

Inspired by his often turbulent relationship with girlfriend Jane Asher, McCartney has gone on record as not liking "What You're Doing", regarding it as "a bit of filler" for the album.

[4] The following day, after finishing the recording of "Every Little Thing", the group recorded five more takes, with take 11 being deemed the "best;" Lewisohn notes that at this point, the song differed from the final version in that "its breaks between choruses were less tight, the middle eight instrumental break was performed an octave above the vocals and it had a 1 & 1/2 second pause preceding a reprise instrumental coda.

"[4] The group rejected the 29-30 September takes and re-recorded the song in its final form on 26 October, immediately after finishing work on the Carl Perkins-cover "Honey Don't".

[2] The song was sampled to create a medley, along with "Drive My Car" and "The Word", on the band's 2006 remix album Love.