What was One Direction’s first single released in the United States?

One Direction’s first single released in the United States was “What Makes You Beautiful.”

The song was released in September 2011 as One Direction’s debut single and became the lead single from their first studio album, Up All Night. It was written by Savan Kotecha, Rami Yacoub, and Carl Falk, and its upbeat pop sound introduced the group to listeners beyond the United Kingdom and Ireland.

In the United States, “What Makes You Beautiful” was released in February 2012. It reached number four on the Billboard Hot 100 and helped One Direction become one of the most commercially successful acts to emerge from The X Factor UK.

The group formed during the 2010 series of the British talent show after its five members—Harry Styles, Liam Payne, Louis Tomlinson, Niall Horan, and Zayn Malik—were placed together. The song’s success preceded the release of Up All Night, which later topped the US Billboard 200.