The effect of microstructure-induced strain stress heterogeneity on the evolution of hydrogen distribution was studied on 316 L stainless steel. A crystal plasticity-transient hydrogen diffusion finite element analysis was developed. To reach the stress strain heterogeneity, synthetic microstructures were computed under uniaxial loading. The results show that hydrostatic stress gradients is the main cause of the hydrogen redistribution and the strain rate has a crucial effect on the redistribution degree. Statistical analysis of H-segregation reveals clustering of H-enriched zones at the mesoscopic scale. Copyright (C) 2013, Hydrogen Energy Publications, LLC. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.