How to take a screenshot on your Xiaomi phone: 7 proven ways

Screenshots on Xiaomi smartphones are one of the most popular features that will be useful to every user. Whether you want to save an important message, capture an error in the application or share a funny meme from social networks, the ability to quickly take a screenshot will save time and nerves. But not everyone knows that on devices with the shell of MIUI there are several ways to create screenshots, including hidden chips for advanced users.

In this article, we will discuss all the current methods, from the classic combination of buttons to gestures and voice commands, special attention will be paid to the nuances for different models (Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Xiaomi 13T, etc.), and also tell you how to edit and instantly share screenshots without unnecessary actions. If you have ever faced a situation where the screen is not saved or buttons do not respond, here you will find a solution.

1. Classical method: button combination

The most versatile method that works on all Xiaomi smartphones regardless of the model and version of MIUI. To create a screenshot simultaneously press two physical buttons:

• 🔘 Power button (on/locking) + volume-button
• 🕒 Hold them down. 1-2 seconds until you hear the characteristic shutter sound (if the sound is on) and see the save animation
• 📁 The finished screenshot will automatically appear in the gallery in the Screenshots folder or Screenshots

This is a reliable method, but it has one caveat: on some models (for example, Xiaomi 12 Lite), the buttons are too close, and you can accidentally hit the volume control. If you can not simultaneously press both keys, try alternative methods from the following sections.

⚠️ Note: On devices with damaged buttons (for example, after a fall), this method may not work.

2. Screenshot by gesture (swipe across screen)

The MIUI shell offers a convenient alternative, which is to take a screenshot with a three-finger swipe down the screen, which is enabled by default on most modern devices (Redmi Note 11, POCO F4, Xiaomi 13 and later), but it can also be activated manually.

How it works:

1. Open the screen you want to save.
2. Place three fingers on the screen (for example, index, middle and ring finger).
3. Swipe them upwards (as if you were swiping the screen downwards).
4. Hear the shutter sound, the screenshot is ready!

If the gesture does not work, check the settings:

1. Go to Settings → Additional functions → Gestures.
2. Find the Screenshot swipe down and activate it.
3. If necessary, adjust the sensitivity of the gesture.

Check the MIUI version (must be at least 12.5) | Activate the function in Additional Settings | Make sure there is no gesture lock on the screen (e.g. in games) |Reboot the phone if the gesture doesn't work-->

3. Screenshot via notification panel

Another quick method is to use a quick setup panel, which is useful if you need to take a screenshot with one hand or if your phone buttons are damaged.

Instructions:

• 📱 Open the desired screen (for example, a chat in Telegram or a page in the browser).
• 🔽 Swipe down from the top of the screen to open the notification bar.
• 🖼️ Find a screenshot icon (usually a scissors or screen thumbnail) and tap it.
• 🎯 If there is no icon, click on Edit (pencil) and add it to the panel.

The advantage of this method is that it works even on locked devices (if the notification bar is available without unlocking), however, on some models (POCO M5), the screenshot icon can be hidden by default - you have to add it manually.

4. Voice command via Google Assistant

If you have Google Assistant enabled (or XiaoAI on Chinese firmware), you can take a voice screenshot, which is convenient when your hands are busy or the buttons are not working.

How to activate:

• 🎤 Say OK, Google or hold the Home button to call the assistant.
• 🗣️ Dictate the command: Take a screenshot or Take a screenshot.
• 📸 Assistant will confirm the execution – screenshot will be saved in the gallery.

Important: This method only works when connected to the Internet (for voice command processing) and may not work in some applications (for example, in banking programs due to security restrictions).

⚠️ Note: On devices with Chinese firmware MIUI XiaoAI is used instead of Google Assistant. The command for it sounds like (pronounced Xiao Ai Tongxue, jietu").

5. Scrolling screenshot (long screenshot)

MIUI allows you to create “long screenshots” – save not only the visible part of the screen, but also the scrollable content (for example, the entire web page or a long chat), this feature is not available in all applications, but works in the browser, Telegram, WhatsApp and most social networks.

How to do this:

1. Take a regular screenshot of any of the above methods.
2. Immediately after saving the screen at the bottom, a screenshot will appear - tap on it.
3. In the editor that opens, select the Scrolling option (or Long Screenshot).
4. Wait until the system automatically scrolls the page and combines the frames.
5. Press Ready to save the result.

Limitations:

• ❌ Does not work in applications with dynamic content (for example, TikTok or games).
• ❌ Maximum length: 10 screens (depending on model).
• ❌ Some sites (with lazy loading) may have empty areas.

💡

If a long screenshot is cropped in the wrong place, use manual framing in the standard MIUI editor. To do this, after creating a screenshot, click on the thumbnail and select the "Pruning" tool.

6. Screenshot via computer (ADB)

For advanced users who have access to USB debugging, there is a way to take a screenshot via a computer using the ADB tool. This is useful if the phone’s sensor doesn’t work or you need to automate the process (for example, for testing applications).

Step-by-step:

1. Install Platform Tools on your computer (Windows/macOS/Linux).
2. Turn on the phone Developer Mode (7 times tap the Assembly Number in Settings → About the phone).
3. Activate debugging over USB in the developer settings.
4. Connect your phone to your computer and confirm your trust in the device.
5. Open the command prompt (or Terminal) and type: Adb devices Make sure your phone appears in the list.
6. Run the command for a screenshot: adb exec-out screencap -p > screenshot.png The file will be saved in the folder where the command was launched.

This method requires a basic knowledge of ADB, but gives you complete control over the process, such as setting up automatic screenshots on a schedule or saving them to the cloud.

7 Hidden Chips: Screenshot in Games and Safe Mode

On Xiaomi devices there are several non-obvious nuances, which not everyone knows:

• 🎮 In games: many games (for example, PUBG Mobile or Genshin Impact block the standard ways to create screenshots: 🔹 Game Turbo (built-in to the game) MIUI Game mode – there is a separate button for screenshots. 🔹 Swipe gesture (if not disabled in game settings).
• 🔒 Safe Mode: If your phone is loaded in Safe Mode, screenshots can be taken, but they won’t be saved to the cloud or synced.
• 📱 On the locked screen: on some models (Xiaomi 13 Pro) you can take a screenshot without even unlocking the phone - swipe on the lock screen (if the appropriate setting is enabled).

It is also worth remembering that in banking applications (SberBank, Tinkoff, etc.) and some messengers (for example, Signal), screenshots can be blocked for security reasons, in which case you will have to use a second phone or screen mirroring.

💡

On devices with AMOLED-screens (e.g. Xiaomi) 12S Ultra) screenshots are clearer if the brightness is reduced to 70-80%. This is due to the peculiarities of the pixels at high levels of backlighting.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even with so many ways, users sometimes find it difficult, and here are the most common mistakes and how to fix them:

If none of the methods work, check:

• 🔄 Reboot your phone – sometimes helps with temporary crashes.
• 📱 Update. MIUI Up to the latest version (old firmware may have bugs).
• 🛠️ Reset your gesture settings in Settings → Additional functions → Gestures → Drop it.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions