How to take a screenshot on Xiaomi Redmi 5: all ways with photos and videos

Xiaomi Redmi 5 is still a popular choice among users who value reliability and functionality, but even owners of this device sometimes face the question: how to quickly take a screenshot of the screen? The methods depend on the version of MIUI and gesture settings, and some methods work only on certain firmware.

In this article, we’ll take a look at all the current ways to capture screenshots on Redmi 5, including button combinations, gestures, and hidden features, and learn how to save a screenshot to a gallery, edit it directly on your phone, and even record screen video — all without third-party apps.

We will focus on common errors that may cause a screenshot to fail (e.g., if a sensor or button is not working), and give recommendations for their elimination, and finally, answers to frequent questions that users have.

1. Classic method: power and volume buttons

The most versatile method that works on any version of MIUI is a combination of physical buttons, which is suitable even if the smartphone has disabled gestures or the touch screen is temporarily unresponsive.

To take a screenshot:

1. Open on the screen what you want to capture (for example, a message in the messenger or a page in the browser).
2. Press the power button (right) and the volume button (left) at the same time.
3. Hold them for 1-2 seconds until you hear the sound of the camera shutter and see the animation of the save.

The screenshot will automatically be saved to the Screenshots folder in the gallery. If the sound is turned off, pay attention to the top notification bar, where the thumbnail icon will appear.

⚠️ Attention: If you press the buttons too long (more than 3 seconds), the smartphone can interpret this as a command to turn off or reboot. on Redmi 5 this is especially true because of the sensitive sensors.

Screenshot by gesture (only for MIUI 9 and later)

Starting with MIUI 9, Xiaomi has added the ability to take screenshots with a three-toed gesture, which is handy if the physical buttons are worn out or you prefer to control the phone with one hand.

How to turn on and use:

1. Go to Settings → Additional → Buttons and gestures → Screenshot.
2. Activate the swipe option with three fingers.
3. Return to the main screen and swipe down three fingers at the same time.

If the gesture doesn't work:

• 🔧 Check if it conflicts with other gestures (such as unlocking the camera).
• 📱 Make sure there are no greasy spots on the screen – the sensor may not recognize touch.
• 🔄 Restart your phone if the function suddenly stops working.

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If you can't make a gesture the first time, practice on an empty screen, and the key is to move your fingers in parallel, without going apart.

Snapshot via notification panel (MIUI 10+)

In the firmware of MIUI 10 and above, a quick-access button for screenshots right in the notification curtain appeared, which is useful if you need to take a series of pictures in a row.

Instructions:

1. Swipe your finger down to open the notification panel.
2. Find the screenshot icon (usually hidden under the Edit button).
3. Slip on it – the smartphone will immediately take a screenshot.

If the button is not in the curtain:

1. Open the Settings. → Notification panel.
2. Find the screenshot in the list of disabled tiles and drag it to the active area.

4. How to take a long screenshot (scroll screen)

Redmi 5 supports long screenshots — shots that capture not only the visible part of the screen, but also the part that is hidden behind the scrolling — which is useful for saving entire web pages, chats or lists.

Step-by-step:

1. Take a regular screenshot of any of the above methods.
2. Immediately after the miniature appears at the bottom of the screen, tap it.
3. In the editor that opens, click Scrolling (or Long Snap in new versions of MIUI).
4. Wait until the phone automatically scrolls through the page and connects the parts into a single file.

Limitations:

• 🚫 It doesn’t work in some apps (like YouTube or Netflix).
• 📏 Maximum length: about 5 screens.
• ⚡ Requires sufficient free RAM (otherwise the process will be interrupted).

5. Editing and sharing screenshots

Once you've taken the shot, Redmi 5 offers basic editing tools: cropping, drawing, adding text and blurring. To open the editor:

1. Immediately after creating the screenshot, tap the thumbnail in the lower left corner.
2. Or find the file in the gallery and choose Edit.

Advice on working with the editor:

• ✏️ For accurate pruning, hold your finger on the corner of the frame and pull.
• 🖌️ The color of the marker can be changed by clicking on the palette in the top menu.
• 📤 To share a screenshot, click Send and select messenger.

Redmi 5 with MIUI 11 and later has a feature called "Text Recognition" in the screenshot editor - it allows you to copy text from the image without third-party applications.

Typical problems and their solutions

Sometimes, Redmi 5 screenshots don't work the first time, so let's look at the most common causes and ways to address them.

Problem 1: The buttons don't respond.

• 🔋 Check if the battery is discharged (at the charge level) < 5% Some functions are blocked).
• 🔄 Reboot the phone – it will reset temporary button driver errors.
• 🛠️ If the buttons are physically damaged, use a gesture or notification panel.

Problem 2: The three-finger gesture doesn't work.

• ⚙️ Make sure the function is enabled in the settings (Settings) → Additionally. → Gestures).
• 🧹 Clear the system cache: Settings → Annexes → Application management → Three points. → Clear the cache.
• 📲 Check if there are third-party launchers (like Nova Launcher) that can block gestures.

Problem 3: Screenshots are not saved.

• 📁 Check the space in the memory (you need at least 100 MB in the section Internal memory).
• 📂 Make sure the Screenshots folder isn’t manually deleted (if so, restart your phone, it will recover).
• 🛡️ Disable antivirus or cleaners (such as Clean Master) that can block file retention.

⚠️ Note: If after the update MIUI Screenshots are no longer saved to the Mi Cloud, check your sync settings: → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud → Gallery, maybe the option went off automatically.

7.Alternative methods: ADB and third-party applications

If standard methods do not work (for example, because of broken buttons or sensor), you can take a screenshot through ADB (Android Debug Bridge) or special utilities.

Method 1: Through ADB (for advanced users)

1. Install ADB on your computer and connect Redmi 5 via USB (with debugging enabled).
2. Enter the command adb shell screencap -p /sdcard/screen.png
3. The screenshot will be saved as screen.png in the phone’s memory.

Method 2: Apps from Play Market

Popular utilities:

• 📸 Screenshot Easy – Supports gestures and timer.
• 🎥 Screen Master – allows you to record video from the screen.
• 🖼️ Stitch & Share – to create long screenshots by hand.

Redmi 5 with root rights can be used ScreenShot ER — The app allows you to take pictures even from protected screens (for example, the app, DRM-content).

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ADB and third-party applications should only be used if standard methods are not available, require additional permissions and may affect device security.

FAQ: Frequent questions about screenshots on Redmi 5