How to take a screenshot on Xiaomi: all the ways from standard to hidden

Taking a screenshot on Xiaomi seems like a simple task — until you run into a situation where standard keyboard shortcuts don't work, like models with screen cutouts or broken power buttons, or when you need to capture a rolling menu that disappears when you tap on the screen. This article covers all the possible ways to take screenshots on Redmi, POCO and Mi devices — from basic to little-known, including methods for broken phones and devices with non-standard firmware.

We’ll look at not only classic Power + Volume Down, but also alternatives: gestures in MIUI, voice commands through Google Assistant, hidden features in the notification bar, and even creating screenshots through ADB for advanced users. Here’s a look at common mistakes (such as why a screenshot isn’t saved in the gallery) and a checklist to diagnose problems. If you’ve ever wondered how to take a screenshot on Xiaomi with one hand or without using physical buttons, here’s the answer.

1. Standard method: button combination

The most versatile method that works on all Xiaomi models – from Redmi 4X to Xiaomi 14 Ultra.

• 🔋 Power button (right)
• 🔊 Volume down button (left)

Hold them for 1-2 seconds until you hear the camera shutter sound and see the screen saving animation. On some models (such as the POCO F5), the screen will blink for a split second - this is normal.

⚠️ Note: If you have Xiaomi with AMOLED-screen (e.g. Mi 11 or Redmi) K50), Holding the buttons too long can cause a ghostly tap, where the phone recognizes a random gesture after creating the screen. To avoid this, release the buttons immediately after the beep.

Where to look for the finished screenshot? By default, it is saved in the folder:

/storage/emulated/0/Pictures/Screenshots/

Or in the gallery on the album Screenshots. On MIUI 14, you can change the save path: go to Settings → Warehouse → Folders → Screenshots.

2.Gestural for screenshot in MIUI (no buttons)

If the physical buttons on your Xiaomi are faulty or you are uncomfortable pinching them, turn on the screenshot gesture.This method works on all devices with MIUI 10 and later (including the POCO Launcher).

The function can be activated as follows:

1. Open Settings → Additional functions → Gestures.
2. Select a screenshot with three fingers.
3. Turn on the switch and read the prompt: swipe three fingers down the screen (not necessarily vertically, light tilt is allowed).

Advantages of this method:

• 👆 It works on any screen (even in games or videos).
• 🔄 You can take a screenshot with one hand if you swipe your fingers from the side.
• ⚡ Faster than a button combination (especially on larger smartphones like Xiaomi) 13T Pro).

⚠️ Note: On some firmware (for example, MIUI Global for Redmi Note 10) The gesture may conflict with the swipe to return. If the screenshot is not created, check the navigation gesture settings in Settings → Display. → Navigation buttons.

Check if the gesture is enabled in the settings|Make sure you use 3 fingers (not 2!)|Try to play from different parts of the screen|Disable other gestures (such as swipe for screenshots in games)-->

3. Screenshot via notification panel

Few people know, but MIUI has a built-in screenshot button right in the Quick Settings panel, which saves you when no buttons or gestures are working.

1. Open the notification bar with two fingers (to see all icons).
2. Find the Screenshot icon (usually scissors) 🖇️ If you don't have one, click Edit. ✏️) And add it to the active icons.
3. Slip the icon – the screenshot will be taken instantly.

This method is particularly useful for:

• 🎮 Games (such as Genshin Impact or PUBG Mobile, where the button combination can be blocked).
• 📱 Devices with touch buttons (e.g. Redmi) 9A), where physical keys wear out faster.
• 🔧 Phones after repair, if the buttons are not yet calibrated.

On models with MIUI 14 and later, the notification bar supports the creation of long screenshots (scrollable). To do this, after clicking on the screenshot icon, tap on the thumbnail in the notification and select Scrolling.

4. Voice assistant: "OK Google, take a screenshot"

If you have Google Assistant set up, you can take voice screenshots -- it's convenient when your hands are busy or your screen is dirty.

1. Activate the assistant with OK Google or by holding the Home button.
2. Say: Take a screenshot or Make a screenshot (in English it works more stable).
3. Confirm the action if necessary.

Limitations of the method:

• 🚫 It does not work in silent mode (needs at least vibration).
• 🔒 It can be blocked in some applications (for example, banking).
• 🌐 Requires Internet connection to process voice.

On Xiaomi with MIUI for Russia (e.g. Redmi Note 12 Pro+), an alternative command sometimes helps: Take a picture of the screen. If the voice method doesn't work, check the permissions for Google Assistant in Settings → Apps → Permissions.

💡

If the voice assistant doesn't recognize the command, try saying it with an American accent (e.g., "screen-chot" instead of "screen-chot"), which is due to the speech processing features of MIUI Global.

5. Screenshot via ADB (for advanced users)

If all of the above methods don't work (for example, on a broken phone with a broken screen or faulty buttons), you can take a screenshot through ADB, the Android debugging tool, which requires a computer and enabled USB debugging.

Step-by-step:

1. Connect Xiaomi to your PC via USB-cable.
2. Turn on Developer Mode (7 times tap the MIUI version in Settings → About Phone).
3. Activate Debugging by USB in Settings → Additional → For developers.
4. Open the Command Prompt (Windows) or Terminal (macOS/Linux) and type:

adb devices


adb shell screencap -p /sdcard/screen.png




adb pull /sdcard/screen.png

After the commands are executed, the screenshot will be saved on the computer under the name screen.png. This method works even on a locked screen (if debugging was enabled in advance) and on devices with custom firmware (for example, LineageOS).

6 Screenshot in games and secure applications

Some apps (e.g. Netflix, SberBank Online, or Wild Rift) block screenshots because of content protection (DRM). If you see a message that says, “No screenshots,” try these workarounds:

• 📱 Second phone: Take a picture of the screen with another device (quality is worse, but it always works).
• 🖥️ Screen Mirror: Connect Xiaomi to your PC via Miracast or Scrcpy and screen from your computer.
• 🔧 Shutdown DRM: On rooted devices, you can delete the file /system/etc/drm/drm_service.conf, But it's a security breach.
• 🎮 Game mode: in MIUI There is a built-in screen recording function (no sound) – it sometimes bypasses the lock.

For games like Call of Duty Mobile or Honor of Kings, there is another lifehack: use multitasking mode. Swiftly swipe up to enter recent apps and then take a screenshot from there. This will work in 60% of cases, as some games block even this method.

⚠️ Attention: Disconnection HDCP (Content protection may result in blocking some services, such as Google Pay or Netflix HD. On devices with Widevine L1 (Xiaomi 13 Pro, for example, will also lower the quality of streaming to 480p.

7 Automation: Screenshots of a timer or event

If you need to take screenshots regularly (for example, to monitor applications or create GIFs), you can automate the process by:

• 🤖 Tasker: Create a task with Take Screenshot action and time/event trigger.
• ⏱️ MacroDroid: a simple analogue of Tasker with a template Screenshot by timer.
• 📱 Built-in screen recording: in MIUI You can record screen videos and then extract the frames through the editor.

Example of settings in Tasker:

1. Create a new task → Add action → Media → Screenshot.
2. Specify the save path (e.g. /Pictures/AutoScreenshots/).
3. Add a trigger: Time (e.g., every hour) or Event (opening a particular application).

The POCO F4 GT and other Xiaomi gamers have a hidden feature of autoscreenshots at high FPS. It is activated via the engineering menu (#4636##) and allows you to save frames from games at a frequency of up to 120 Hz.

💡

Automating screenshots is useful for tracking bugs in apps, creating tutorials, or monitoring activity (such as tracking price changes in stores).

FAQ: Frequent questions about screenshots on Xiaomi