i,i

The album was released track by track, one an hour on 8 August 2019, before the full digital release the next day and the physical release on 30 August. The opening Yi was available only on the band's fan subreddit until then. Hey, Ma and U (Man Like) had been premiered at All Points East on 2 June and released the next day, followed by Jelmore and Faith. Guests include James Blake, Aaron Dessner, Bruce Hornsby, Moses Sumney and Channy Leaneagh. It was recorded at April Base and finished at Sonic Ranch in Texas.

The band likened its four albums to the seasons, with For Emma as winter, Bon Iver as a frenetic spring, 22, A Million as an unhinged summer and i,i as autumn. Vernon called it the most adult and most complete record. Pitchfork's Matthew Strauss gave it Best New Music and wrote that Vernon reassembles the Bon Iver sound like a cubist collage, with his voice right out front. NME's Hannah Mylrea gave it a perfect score, while the Guardian's Ben Beaumont-Thomas called it the band's first ever misfire. Samples include Velvet Negroni's "Waves" on Sh'Diah and Naeem's "That Storm" on Naeem. It has a Metacritic score of 80, and at the 62nd Grammys it was nominated for Album of the Year, Best Alternative Music Album and Best Recording Package, with Hey, Ma nominated for Record of the Year.