The song was issued as the B-side of "Lady Madonna" on 15 March 1968 in the UK, with the US release following three days later. While Chris Welch of "Melody Maker" expressed doubts about the hit potential of the A-side, "Billboard" magazine commented on the aptness of "The Inner Light", given the band's concurrent "meditation spell". "Cash Box"s reviewer wrote: "Lyrics from the transcendental meditation school and near-Eastern orchestrations on a very interesting coupler that could show sales as strong as ['Lady Madonna']." In America, the song charted independently on the "Billboard" Hot 100 for one week, placing at number 96. In Australia, it was listed with "Lady Madonna", as a double A-side, when the single topped the "Go-Set" national chart.