Android App

QMDL Decoder: Read Qualcomm Logs on Android

Stop carrying a laptop to read your QMDL captures. HiCellTek decodes Qualcomm DIAG logs directly on your Android phone: L3 messages, RF measurements and call events, all in real time, without root.

Try HiCellTek Free Enable DIAG Mode

What is a QMDL File?

QMDL (Qualcomm Mobile Diagnostic Log) is the binary format used by Qualcomm chipsets to capture modem-level diagnostic data. Every time a phone connects to a cell tower, performs a handover or sets up a VoLTE call, the modem generates diagnostic messages that can be logged in QMDL format.

Traditionally, reading QMDL files requires desktop tools like QCAT or QXDM Pro with a Qualcomm license. HiCellTek eliminates this dependency by decoding the DIAG stream directly on the phone.

What Data is Inside a QMDL File?

L3 Signaling

RRC messages (Setup, Reconfiguration, Release)
NAS messages (Attach, Auth, Security Mode)
SIB broadcasts (SIB1, SIB2, SIB3)
IMS/SIP signaling (VoLTE call setup)

RF Measurements

Serving cell RSRP, RSRQ, SINR
Neighbor cell measurements
Timing advance values
CQI, MCS, PRB allocation

Call & Session Events

RACH attempts and results
Handover events (success/failure)
Radio link failure (RLF) triggers
Carrier aggregation activation

Throughput & Scheduling

DL/UL throughput per bearer
PDCP and RLC statistics
DRX cycle monitoring
Buffer status reports

QMDL vs HLOG: Which Format to Use?

Feature	QMDL	HLOG (HiCellTek)
Encryption	None	XChaCha20-Poly1305
Integrity	None	Digital signature
Tamper-proof	No	Yes (audit-ready)
Desktop tool needed	QCAT / QXDM	None (Android native)
Export formats	Proprietary	PCAP, CSV, Excel, JSON
Industry standard	Yes (Qualcomm)	HiCellTek proprietary

How to Decode QMDL on Android

Enable DIAG mode on your phone

Follow our device-specific guides for Samsung, OnePlus, Google Pixel and more. No root required.

Start capturing with HiCellTek

Open the L3 Decoder module and start a capture session. HiCellTek reads the DIAG stream in real time and decodes messages as they arrive.

Analyze and export

Filter by protocol (RRC, NAS, IMS), search specific IEs, and export to QMDL, HLOG, PCAP or CSV. Share the decoded session with your team.

Related Tools & Decoders

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L3 Protocol Decoder

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RRC Decoder

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NAS Decoder

Decode NAS messages: Attach, Auth, PDU Session.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a QMDL file?

QMDL (Qualcomm Mobile Diagnostic Log) is a binary file format generated by Qualcomm chipsets to capture modem-level diagnostic data. It contains raw Layer 3 messages (RRC, NAS), RF measurements (RSRP, RSRQ, SINR), call events, handover logs and radio bearer statistics. QMDL files are the standard format used by drive test tools and network engineers for post-processing analysis.

How do I open a QMDL file?

Traditionally, QMDL files require Qualcomm QCAT or QXDM Pro to open, both of which need a desktop PC and a Qualcomm license. HiCellTek reads QMDL files directly on Android, decoding L3 messages in real time without requiring a PC. The online decoder also accepts hex frames extracted from QMDL captures.

What is the difference between QMDL and HLOG?

QMDL is the standard Qualcomm binary format that requires Qualcomm tools to fully parse. HLOG is HiCellTek's own format that captures the same diagnostic data but adds encryption (XChaCha20-Poly1305), digital signing and structured metadata. HLOG files are tamper-proof and audit-ready, while QMDL files are raw and unprotected.

Can I convert QMDL to PCAP?

HiCellTek can export decoded L3 messages from QMDL captures to PCAP format, which can then be opened in Wireshark for further analysis. This is useful when you need to correlate L3 signaling with IP-layer captures or share decoded data with teams that use Wireshark.

What Qualcomm chipsets support DIAG logging?

Most Qualcomm Snapdragon chipsets support DIAG logging: Snapdragon 8 Gen 3/2/1, 7 Gen 1/2, 6 Gen 1, 4 Gen 1, 888, 865, 855, 845, 835, 765, 720G and many others. The DIAG interface is accessed through the /dev/diag device on Android. Some OEMs restrict access, but HiCellTek provides device-specific guides for enabling DIAG on Samsung, OnePlus, Google Pixel and other devices.

Do I need root access for QMDL capture?

No. HiCellTek accesses the Qualcomm DIAG interface without root using a proprietary method. The app captures the same diagnostic data that traditionally required root access or Qualcomm DM tools. This works on most Qualcomm-based devices running Android 9.0 or later.

What data is inside a QMDL file?

A typical QMDL file contains: RRC messages (Setup, Reconfiguration, MeasurementReport, Release), NAS messages (Attach, Authentication, Security Mode), RF measurements (serving and neighbor cell RSRP/RSRQ/SINR), RACH attempts, handover events, carrier aggregation configurations, VoLTE/IMS signaling, and timing advance values. The exact content depends on the DIAG log mask configuration.

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Go deeper with real-time L3 analysis

HiCellTek decodes RRC, NAS and IMS/SIP directly on your smartphone. Identify root causes in seconds.

✓ Full ASN.1 decoding
✓ Real-time filters and search
✓ Wireshark PCAP export

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