In the Philippines, the species occurs in primary and disturbed lowland forests (Rickart et al. 1993, Heaney et al. 1998) it has also been found in second growth forest along rivers on Polillo. In Southeast Asia, a specimen has also been collected in a peat swamp forest in Malaysia (Lim Boo Liat, unpublished data), and elsewhere in the region it has been recorded in degraded forest adjacent to good lowland and montane forest. In Melanesia, it seems to be a tree hollow roosting species, which has been recorded from both primary and disturbed tropical moist forests. It can be found in coconut plantations adjacent to forest. Up to 55 animals have been collected from a single tree (Bonaccorso 1998). It forages in the forest understorey and sub-canopy and over grassland (Bonaccorso 1998).

This widespread species has been recorded from parts of Southeast Asia, and MelanesiaIn Southeast Asia, it has been recorded from Peninsular Malaysia, Padang District in western Sumatra (Indonesia) (Koopman 1983, Suyanto pers. comm. 2006), Borneo (Sarawak and Sabah, Malaysia), the island of Sulawesi (Indonesia) and the Philippnes. In the Philippines it has been recorded from Catanduanes, Leyte, Luzon (Camarines Sur, and Laguna), Mindanao (Bukidnon, Misamis Oriental, and Zamboanga del Sur provinces) and Negros (Kock 1981, Heaney et al. 1998) where it has been found from 475-900 m asl (Rickart et al. 1993, Heaney et al. 1998), although there is a recent record of the species on Mount Isarog at 1,450 m asl. The species has also been reported as scattered records in New Guinea (Indonesia and Papua New Guinea) and the Bismarck Archipelago and Milne Bay (Papua New Guinea). It ranges here from sea level 2,100 m asl.
Earlier records of the species from Nepal and Sikkim (Koopman 1983, specimens housed in the Field Museum of Natural History and the Museum of Southwestern Biology) were based on mis-identified specimens of Hypsugo joffrei (Saikia et al. 2017).

In Southeast Asia, the species has been recorded from a number of protected areas. It is not known if the species is present in any protected areas on New Guinea. Surveys, ecological, population, and taxonomy studies are recommended.