The first indications of recent occurrences of the species in the Tien Shan were submitted by Matěkin. Uvalieva (1967) discovered the species anew in the Southern Altai Mountains and initially described it as Vertigo laevis (synonym). In recent times to date, this species has been found in the Tien Shan, Altai Mountains, Pamir Mountains and Himalayas where it is relatively widespread in their alpine altitudes.