It is found in Eastern Europe, in old-growth beech forests of the Carpathian Mountains in the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania and Ukraine.

The type specimen was collected from a valley in the protected area Stužica (Nová Sedlica, Poloniny Mountains, Slovakia), at an altitude of 600 to 800 m (2,000 to 2,600 ft).

The species epithet alludes to the fact that the lichen is mostly encountered in the sterile state (i.e., lacking apothecia), and fertile specimens are rare.

[1] Lecanora substerilis has a matt and grey crustose thallus that forms patches up to 5 cm (2.0 in) in diameter; the prothallus is either indistinct or whitish-grey.

[1] Lecanora substerilis occurs primarily in old-growth Carpathian beech forests, and has been recorded growing at elevations between 450 and 1,235 m (1,476 and 4,052 ft).