It occurs widely in the Sub-Saharan Africa and is known from coastal Kenya and eastern and southern Tanzania (including Zanzibar), south to Malawi and Mozambique and southwest to Zambia and southern Democratic Republic of the Congo to western Angola, northern Botswana, Zimbabwe, and northeastern South Africa.

[1] Arthroleptis stenodactylus inhabits a very wide variety of habitats such as forest, savanna woodland, thickets, and suburban areas at elevations up to 1,500 m (4,900 ft) above sea level, possibly higher.

Breeding is through direct development and not dependent on water.

The eggs are laid in hollows or burrows in damp earth.

It is an abundant species that is not facing significant threats.