This species is found in varied habitat types from forested regions, agricultural landscapes to urban areas. It roosts in trees, crevices and cracks in walls and ceilings of houses, tiles of huts, old buildings, temples, under bark and in holes of large trees, signboards, tree hollows in small groups of few individuals. In Vietnam this bat prefers forested areas with either pristine mountainous or secondary forest formations. It is an early flyer, emerging soon after sunset, when it still relatively light. Flight similar to other pipistrelles: moderately fast and maneuverable, somewhat fluttering, animals were usually seen foraging mainly along the linear landscape elements: forest edges and streams, at about 8-15 m above the ground. There is not reliable information about its ration, but probably it consists of small moths and other small flying insects. In Lao Cai province of Vietnam during spring breeding season adult males were observed mainly in forest formations at 1,800-2,000 m asl, while females and young animals – in disturbed and rural plant formations at about 1,300 m asl (Kruskop 2013). There are up to three breeding seasons (probably vary along the distribution range) and one to two young ones are born (Bates and Harrison 1997).

This widely distributed species is found throughout most of South Asia, parts of southern China and much of mainland Southeast Asia. In South Asia this species is presently known from Afghanistan (Konar, Laghman and Nangarhar Province) (Benda and Gaisler 2015), Bangladesh (no exact location), Bhutan (no exact location), India (Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Andhra Pradesh, Arunachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Goa, Gujarat, Jammu and Kashmir, Jharkhand, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Orissa, Sikkim, Tamil Nadu, Tripura, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal), Nepal (Central), Pakistan (North West Frontier Province and Punjab) and Sri Lanka (Central, North Central, North Western Northern, Southern and Uva provinces) (Das 2003, Khan 2001, Korad et al. 2007, Molur et al. 2002, Simmons 2005, Srinivasulu and Srinivasulu 2005, Vanitharani 2006, Srinivasulu and Srinivasulu 2012). In South Asia, it has been recorded from 100 to 2,769 m asl (Molur et al. 2002). According to distribution scheme provided by Corbett and Hill (1992), Afghan and Pakistan population (P.c. afghanus) is probably isolated from the Indian part of distribution range. In China it has been recorded from Xizang (Smith and Xie 2008). In Southeast Asia, it is present in Myanmar, Thailand, Lao PDR, Vietnam, Cambodia and Peninsular Malaysia. In Vietnam this bat occurs from southern provinces to most northern provinces, it has been recorded from ca. 900 to 2,000 m asl (Kruskop, 2013, and Kruskop, S.V. pers. comm.).

In South Asia, although there are no direct conservation measures in place, the species has been recorded from several protected areas including Kanha National Park in Madhya Pradesh and Nagarjunasagar-Srisailam Tiger Reserve in Andhra Pradesh (C. Srinivasulu pers. comm. 6 March 2008). In Southeast Asia it has been recorded from some protected areas, in particular in Vietnam it occurs in e.g. Bi Doup – Nui Ba, Chu Yang Sin and Hoang Lien Son national parks.