Openai/69594610-e91c-800c-8251-a42daa926232
This conversation was exported from ChatGPT[1]
gpt-5-2[edit | edit source]
User: Uploaded an image[edit | edit source]
Uploaded an image
Assistant: This is real – and it’s extremely confusing until you know what VIOFO did in the beta app.[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
On modern Android (11+), the VIOFO Beta app saves to:
/Android/data/com.viofo.viofobeta/files/video/or sometimes:
/Android/data/com.viofo.viofobeta/files/Download/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[edit | edit source]
Method 1 — Android Files app (works on Pixel / some Samsung)[edit | edit source]
- Open Files by Google
- Tap Browse → Internal storage
- Tap the ⋮ menu → Show internal storage
- Navigate to:
Android → data → com.viofo.viofobeta → files → videoIf you don’t see Android/data, your Android version is blocking it — use Method 2.
Method 2 — Use Solid Explorer / X-Plore (recommended)[edit | edit source]
Install one of these (they bypass scoped storage correctly):
• X-Plore File Manager • Solid Explorer
Then:
Internal storage
└── Android
└── data
└── com.viofo.viofobeta
└── files
└── videoNow you can copy them anywhere you want.
Why VIOFO did this (and why it’s awful)[edit | edit source]
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[edit | edit source]
There is no setting in the beta app — but you can fix it manually:
Once copied, put them in:
/Movies/VIOFO/or
/Download/VIOFO/Then Android will index them normally.
Summary[edit | edit source]
Your files are not missing.
They are trapped in:
/Android/data/com.viofo.viofobeta/files/videoVIOFO’s beta app is violating every Android storage UX norm and that’s why everyone thinks the files are gone.
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ "VIOFO Beta File Access". ChatGPT. Retrieved 2026-01-04.