How to Take a Screenshot of Xiaomi Mi 9: All Working Ways (2026)

Xiaomi Mi 9 is still one of the most popular flagships of the brand due to its powerful hardware and up-to-date firmware support. But even experienced users sometimes have difficulty creating screenshots — especially if the smartphone is running the new version of MIUI 14 or the screen is damaged. In this article, we will analyze all possible methods, including hidden functions and workarounds for unusual situations.

You will learn not only basic button combinations, but also alternative ways, from three-finger gestures to taking screenshots from a computer via ADB, and we will analyze common errors (for example, why screenshots are not saved in the gallery) and give recommendations for streamers and gamers to optimize the process.

All instructions are tested on Mi 9 with MIUI 12.5-14 firmware and Android 10-13. If your smartphone is running on an older version, some features may not be available - check the relevance of the software in the Settings → About phone section.

1. Classic method: power and volume buttons

It’s a versatile method that works on all Xiaomi smartphones, including the Mi 9. The algorithm is simple, but there are nuances that few people know about.

To take a screenshot:

1. Open the desired screen (application, web page, settings).
2. At the same time, press the power button (right) and the volume reduction button (left).
3. Hold them no longer than 1 second - otherwise shutdown or reboot will work.

If you are successful, you will see:

• 📸 Shooting animation (running frame on the screen).
• 🔔 Shutter sound (if not disabled in settings).
• 📁 Notice of preservation in the gallery.

⚠️ Note: If you have a magnetic lock case installed (e.g. Xiaomi Smart Cover), the power button may be blocked, in which case use alternative methods or remove the case before shooting.

2. Three-finger gesture: quick screenshot without buttons

The gesture screenshot feature was introduced in MIUI 9 and has since become one of the most convenient features, allowing you to take a screenshot just by swiping it with three fingers from top to bottom, but by default, this option is disabled, you need to activate it manually.

How to turn on:

1. Go to Settings → Additional → Buttons and gestures → Screenshot by gesture.
2. Activate the switch "Swipe with three fingers".
3. (Optional) Set the direction of the gesture: top-down or bottom-up.

How to use:

• 👆 Open the screen.
• 👇 Swipe three fingers (usually index, middle and ring) simultaneously across the screen in a given direction.
• 🎯 Wait for animation and sound signal.

💡 Tip: If the gesture doesn't work, check it out:

• 🧹 Screen cleanliness (dirty or film may interfere with the sensor).
• 🔧 Touch sensitivity settings in Settings → Display. → Touch and retention.
• 🚫 No conflicts with other gestures (e.g., games or applications like Nova Launcher).

3. Notification panel: screenshot in one tap

If you are uncomfortable remembering button combinations or gestures, you can add a screenshot shortcut to the Quick Settings panel, which is especially useful for users who often take screenshots (for example, for work or streaming).

Instructions:

1. Swipe down from the top edge of the screen to open the notification bar.
2. Slip on the icon "Edit" (pencil in the upper right corner).
3. Find the Screenshot tile (usually hidden in the Other Settings section).
4. Drag it to the active area (for example, the first page).

Now it is enough to create a screenshot:

1. Open the notification panel.
2. Slap on the screenshot icon.

⚠️ Note: In some firmware (for example, MIUI 13 for global version) Screenshot tile may not be available, in which case use alternative methods or update the software.

4.Voice assistant: screenshot on command

If you have Google Assistant on or XiaoAI (a Xiaomi branded assistant), you can take voice screenshots, which is convenient when your hands are busy or the buttons are not working.

For Google Assistant:

1. Activate the assistant with your voice (OK, Google) or hold the Home button.
2. Say “take a screenshot” or “screenshot”.

For XiaoAI (only works on Chinese firmware):

1. Hold the home button or say Xiao Ai Tongxue.
2. Say: "Jie Tu" ("screenshot").

🔹 Limitations:

• 🔇 Voice commands don’t work in some applications (e.g. banking or security-enhanced applications).
• 🌐 XiaoAI is available only in Chinese ROM (In the global versions, it is replaced by Google Assistant).
• 🔊 Voice requires an internet connection to work.

💡

If the voice assistant doesn't recognize the command, try re-forming it. For example, instead of "Take a screenshot," say "Photograph the screen" or "Save the current screen."

5. Screenshot via ADB: for power users

If the touch screen or buttons on the Mi 9 don't work, you can take a screenshot via Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a technique that requires a computer and minimal command line knowledge, but is reliable in critical situations.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
• 📦 Installed drivers ADB Platform Tools (download from Google website).
• 🔧 Included debugging by USB smartphone.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on Developer Mode on Mi 9: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on MIUI Version. Go back to Settings → Additional → Developer. Activate USB Debugging.

Connect your smartphone to your PC and confirm your trust in your computer.

command-line

terminal

platform-tools

adb devices

Make sure the device is displayed in the list.

adb exec-out screencap -p > screenshot.png

The file will be saved in the folder with the platform-tools.

📌 Notes:

• 🔒 If adb devices don’t show the device, check the drivers or restart the smartphone.
• 🖼️ To shoot scrollable pages (for example, in the browser) use: adb shell uiautomator dump /sdcard/window.xml (Additional processing of the file will be required).

💡

ADB is the only way to take a screenshot of the Mi 9 with the screen or buttons down. However, it requires debugging pre-setting, so activate the developer mode in advance!

Third-party applications: enhanced capabilities

If standard MIUI features aren't enough, you can install specialized utilities that offer:

• 📜 Scrolling Screenshots (Long Pages in a Single File).
• ✏️ Editing immediately after shooting.
• ☁️ Upload to the cloud (Google Drive, Telegram).
• 🎮 Screenshots in games without pause.

Top.-3 applications for Xiaomi Mi 9:

⚠️ Note: When installing third-party applications:

• 🛡️ Check the permissions (don’t give access to the permissions) SMS or unnecessarily contacted).
• 📥 Download only from Google Play or the official Xiaomi website.
• 🔄 Update Utilities – Outdated Versions May Have Vulnerabilities.

Typical problems and their solutions

Even on a reliable device like the Xiaomi Mi 9, screenshots can fail, and we'll look at the most common ones.

Problem 1: Screenshots are not saved in the gallery.

• 📂 Check the folder. Pictures/Screenshots via file manager.
• 🔄 Reset the device.
• 🗑️ Clear the cache of the Gallery application (Settings) → Annexes → gallery → Warehouse).

Problem 2: The buttons don’t respond to the press.

• 🔋 Check battery power (at levels below 5%, some functions are blocked).
• 🧲 Make sure that the smartphone is not affected by a magnetic field (for example, from a case).
• 🔧 Reset button settings in Settings → Buttons and gestures.

Problem 3: The three-finger gesture doesn't work.

• 👆 Check if the function is included in the settings.
• 🧼 Wipe the screen – greasy spots interfere with gesture recognition.
• 📱 Update the firmware (in older versions) MIUI There were bugs with multi-touch).

Problem 4: Screenshots are black.

• 🔒 This is a security restriction – some applications (banks, messengers) block shooting.
• 📱 Try taking a screenshot through guest mode or other user environments.
• 🖥️ Use it. ADB (see section 5).

8 Where screenshots are stored and how to manage them

By default, all screenshots on Xiaomi Mi 9 are saved in the folder:

/storage/emulated/0/Pictures/Screenshots/

From there, they can:

• 🖼️ View in the Gallery (section "Screenshots»).
• ☁️ Upload to the cloud via Google Photos or Mi Cloud.
• 🗑️ Delete batch (select a few files and click "Delete»).
• ✏️ Edit with built-in tools (Pruning, Blurring, Text).

🔹 Organizational advice:

• 📁 Create separate folders for work and personal screenshots.
• 🏷️ Use tags in Google Photos for quick search.
• 🗂️ Set up automatic date sorting in the Mi File Explorer file manager.

⚠️ Note: If you share screenshots frequently, turn off geotags in camera settings (Camera settings) → Additionally. → Keep your location safe. This will protect your privacy.

FAQ: Frequent questions about screenshots on Xiaomi Mi 9