In western North America, Hypotrachyna afrorevoluta has been reported from British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, California, and Arizona; also been reported east to the Rocky Mountains (Exeter et al 2016). In eastern North America, H. afrorevoluta can be found in oceanic habitats and high elevations of the Appalachian Mountains, where is becomes especially abundant in spruce-fir forests >1219m. This species also occurs in coastal areas of northern New England and the Canadian Maritimes (Lendemer and Allen, 2020).

In western North America, Hypotrachyna afrorevoluta occurs on hardwood and conifer trees in coastal and riparian forests, occasionally on rock or soil. In Arizona, it is known from acidic rock or bark in forest habitats (Exeter et al 2016). In eastern North America, H. afrorevoluta occurs on bark or branches of both conifers and hardwoods; rarely on non-calcareous rocks in shaded or otherwise protected microhabitats (Lendemer & Allen 20202).