diff --git a/hive_flutter/CHANGELOG.md b/hive_flutter/CHANGELOG.md
index 520f6dbe..91129170 100644
--- a/hive_flutter/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/hive_flutter/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,3 +1,7 @@
+## 2.4.0
+
+- `Hive.initFlutter` uses absolute paths as-is without calling `getApplicationDocumentsDirectory` (by [@jheld](https://github.com/jheld) in [#293](https://github.com/IO-Design-Team/hive_ce/pull/293))
+
 ## 2.3.4
 
 - Adds `hive_ce_flutter.dart` to make the publish action happy
diff --git a/hive_flutter/lib/src/hive_extensions.dart b/hive_flutter/lib/src/hive_extensions.dart
index d11776db..e6e353ca 100644
--- a/hive_flutter/lib/src/hive_extensions.dart
+++ b/hive_flutter/lib/src/hive_extensions.dart
@@ -8,13 +8,15 @@ import 'package:hive_ce_flutter/src/wrapper/path.dart' as path_helper;
 extension HiveX on HiveInterface {
   /// Initializes Hive with the path from [getApplicationDocumentsDirectory].
   ///
-  /// You can provide a [subDir] where the boxes should be stored.
+  /// You can provide a [dir] where the boxes should be stored. Relative paths
+  /// are resolved against [getApplicationDocumentsDirectory]. Absolute paths
+  /// are used as-is.
   ///
   /// Also registers the flutter type adapters
   /// - [colorAdapterTypeId] - The type id for the color adapter (default: 200)
   /// - [timeOfDayAdapterTypeId] - The type id for the time of day adapter (default: 201)
   Future<void> initFlutter([
-    String? subDir,
+    String? dir,
     HiveStorageBackendPreference backendPreference =
         HiveStorageBackendPreference.native,
     int? colorAdapterTypeId,
@@ -24,8 +26,15 @@ extension HiveX on HiveInterface {
 
     String? path;
     if (!kIsWeb) {
-      final appDir = await getApplicationDocumentsDirectory();
-      path = path_helper.join(appDir.path, subDir);
+      // Root-relative Windows paths still take the drive from the app directory
+      if (dir != null &&
+          path_helper.isAbsolute(dir) &&
+          !path_helper.isRootRelative(dir)) {
+        path = dir;
+      } else {
+        final appDir = await getApplicationDocumentsDirectory();
+        path = path_helper.join(appDir.path, dir);
+      }
     }
 
     init(
diff --git a/hive_flutter/lib/src/wrapper/stub/path.dart b/hive_flutter/lib/src/wrapper/stub/path.dart
index fab62db4..945fcf29 100644
--- a/hive_flutter/lib/src/wrapper/stub/path.dart
+++ b/hive_flutter/lib/src/wrapper/stub/path.dart
@@ -13,3 +13,17 @@ String join(
     '[Hive Error] Tried to use the `path` package from Flutter Web.',
   );
 }
+
+/// Stub `path.isAbsolute` method
+bool isAbsolute(String path) {
+  throw UnimplementedError(
+    '[Hive Error] Tried to use the `path` package from Flutter Web.',
+  );
+}
+
+/// Stub `path.isRootRelative` method
+bool isRootRelative(String path) {
+  throw UnimplementedError(
+    '[Hive Error] Tried to use the `path` package from Flutter Web.',
+  );
+}
diff --git a/hive_flutter/pubspec.yaml b/hive_flutter/pubspec.yaml
index 6ac20570..7208d060 100644
--- a/hive_flutter/pubspec.yaml
+++ b/hive_flutter/pubspec.yaml
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 name: hive_ce_flutter
 description: Extension for Hive. Makes it easier to use Hive in Flutter apps.
-version: 2.3.4
+version: 2.4.0
 homepage: https://github.com/IO-Design-Team/hive_ce/tree/main/hive_flutter
 
 environment: