Editing Openai/69594610-e91c-800c-8251-a42daa926232 (section)

== gpt-5-2 ==
=== User: Uploaded an image ===
Uploaded an image

=== Assistant: This is real – and it’s extremely confusing until you know what VIOFO did in the beta app. ===
This is real – and it’s extremely confusing until you know what VIOFO did in the beta app.

Those videos are not stored in Downloads at all — they are saved into the app’s private scoped-storage container, which normal file browsers cannot see.

==== Where the files actually are ====

On modern Android (11+), the VIOFO Beta app saves to:

<syntaxhighlight>/Android/data/com.viofo.viofobeta/files/video/

</syntaxhighlight>

or sometimes:

<syntaxhighlight>/Android/data/com.viofo.viofobeta/files/Download/

</syntaxhighlight>

These folders are blocked from standard file browsers unless you use a special SAF-enabled file manager.

That’s why:

• They appear inside the VIOFO app under Local Files
• They are completely invisible in “Downloads”
• They don’t show up in Google Photos
• Your PC doesn’t see them when you plug in USB

==== How to actually access them ====

===== Method 1 — Android Files app (works on Pixel / some Samsung) =====
# Open Files by Google
# Tap Browse → Internal storage
# Tap the ⋮ menu → Show internal storage
# Navigate to:

<syntaxhighlight>Android → data → com.viofo.viofobeta → files → video

</syntaxhighlight>

If you don’t see Android/data, your Android version is blocking it — use Method 2.

===== Method 2 — Use Solid Explorer / X-Plore (recommended) =====

Install one of these (they bypass scoped storage correctly):

• X-Plore File Manager
• Solid Explorer

Then:

<syntaxhighlight>Internal storage
└── Android
    └── data
        └── com.viofo.viofobeta
            └── files
                └── video

</syntaxhighlight>

Now you can copy them anywhere you want.

==== Why VIOFO did this (and why it’s awful) ====

They are using app-private scoped storage instead of public MediaStore downloads.

This:

• Prevents gallery scanning
• Prevents PC file access
• Prevents file manager visibility
• Breaks normal Android sharing

This is not a bug — it is a design decision in the beta.

==== How to force files into real Downloads ====

There is no setting in the beta app — but you can fix it manually:

Once copied, put them in:

<syntaxhighlight>/Movies/VIOFO/

</syntaxhighlight>

or

<syntaxhighlight>/Download/VIOFO/

</syntaxhighlight>

Then Android will index them normally.

==== Summary ====

Your files are not missing.

They are trapped in:

<syntaxhighlight>/Android/data/com.viofo.viofobeta/files/video

</syntaxhighlight>

VIOFO’s beta app is violating every Android storage UX norm and that’s why everyone thinks the files are gone.