How to take a screenshot on Xiaomi Redmi 9A: all the ways from standard to hidden

Xiaomi Redmi 9A is one of the most popular budget smartphones, but even its owners do not always know all the ways to create screenshots. Some are used to using the classic combination of buttons, and some do not even know about the existence of gestures or voice commands. Meanwhile, MIUI has several alternative methods that can be useful in various situations, from fast saving the screen to creating long screenshots of scrolling pages.

In this article, we'll look at not only the basics, but also the little-knowns: how to take a screenshot with one hand, how to save a screen with Google Assistant, and why sometimes standard methods don't work. And also what to do if screenshots aren't saved in the gallery, and how to set up automatic editing. If you think you know about screenshots on Redmi 9A, chances are you'll find something new here.

Method 1: Classic button combination – fast and reliable

The most versatile method that works on all Xiaomi smartphones is to press power buttons and reduce volume simultaneously. On the Redmi 9A, this combination works flawlessly, but there are a few nuances worth knowing about:

• 🔘 Press the buttons strictly at the same time – if you first press the volume and then the power (or vice versa), the system may perceive this as an attempt to turn off or adjust the sound.
• ⏱️ Hold the buttons for no longer than 1 second. If you hold them too long, the smartphone will begin to offer options to turn off or reboot.
• 📱 Location of buttons on Redmi 9A Not the most convenient for one hand – if you can not press two keys at once, try the method with gestures (described below).

After a successful screenshot, you will see the animation (white rectangle at the edges of the screen) and hear the characteristic shutter sound (if the sound is not turned off). Pictures/Screenshots Or in a gallery on a Screenshots album.

⚠️ Warning: If the screen flashes after clicking the buttons, but the screenshot is not saved, check if you have an app installed to block screenshots (for example, some banking programs or games prohibit their creation).

Make sure the buttons are not stuck or damaged.|

Check if Do Not Disturb mode is on (it can block the shutter sound)|

Open the screen in advance – after pressing the buttons, the screenshot is taken instantly |

If it doesn’t work, try restarting your phone.-->

Method 2: Three finger gestures for one hand and quick access

MIUI's signature feature is the ability to take screenshots with a gesture. Redmi 9A has the default gesture of holding three fingers down the screen.

• 🤳 You hold your phone with one hand and can’t reach the buttons.
• ⚡ You need to take a screenshot as quickly as possible (for example, in a dynamic game or when watching storis).
• 🔧 Power or volume buttons are faulty.

To activate the gesture:

1. Open Settings → Additional functions → Gestures.
2. Find the screenshot with three fingers and switch on the switch.
3. Try to swipe the screen from top to bottom with three fingers (not necessarily strictly vertically - it works with a slight tilt).

If the gesture doesn't work, check:

• 🧹 Is there a screen or a film that interferes with the sensor.
• 📱 Are the gestures in the settings disabled (sometimes they are reset after the update) MIUI).
• 👆 Swipe your fingers with little effort – too light a touch may not be recognized.

Classic buttons |

Three finger gesture |

Voice assistant |

Other ways-->

Method 3: Voice commands – when hands are busy

Few people know, but Redmi 9A can take voice-over screenshots without touching the screen, and this is something that both Google Assistant and XiaoAI (if installed) can do.

• 🍳 Hands dirty or busy (e.g. while cooking with a prescription).
• 🚗 You are driving and you need to save information from the screen quickly (but keep in mind safety!).
• 🎮 Play a mobile game where you can not be distracted by pressing buttons.

Instructions for Google Assistant:

1. Activate the assistant with a voice command, OK, Google, or by holding the Home button (if you have one on your firmware).
2. Say, Take a screenshot or take a screenshot.
3. Confirm the action if the assistant requests permission.

For XiaoAI (if installed):

1. Say Little Ai (or click on the assistant icon).
2. Say, Screenshot or Take a picture of the screen.

⚠️ Attention: Voice commands may not work if the security settings disable access for assistants to screen functions. → Annexes → Permits → Special access → Screen recording and enable permission for Google or XiaoAI.

💡

If the voice assistant doesn't recognize the command, try to pronounce it more clearly or reformulate it. For example, instead of "screenshot," say "screenshot."

Method 4: Quick Settings Panel for Menu Lovers

Another little-known way is to use a notification bar, which is for people who prefer to do everything through menus rather than remember button combinations or gestures.

1. Deploy the notification panel by swiping your finger from top to bottom across the screen.
2. Find the Screenshot icon (usually a scissor or a serif rectangle) if it's not there, click on Edit (the pencil icon) and add it to the panel.
3. Touch the icon - the smartphone will take a screenshot.

Advantages of this method:

• ⚡ Faster than pressing buttons if the panel is already deployed.
• 🔧 Other useful shortcuts can be added (e.g., screen recording or Do Not Disturb mode").
• 📱 It works even if one of the physical buttons is faulty.

There are, however, downsides:

• 🕒 Needs extra action - deploying the panel.
• 🔄 The badge may accidentally disappear after the update MIUI — It's gonna have to be added again.

Method 5: Long Screenshot (Scrollable) – for Web Pages and Chats

Redmi 9A supports a long screenshot feature that allows you to capture not only the visible part of the screen, but also the part that is hidden behind the scrolling.

• 📄 Complete web pages (such as articles or instructions).
• 💬 Dialogues in messengers (for example, all correspondence in WhatsApp or Telegram).
• 📊 Long listings (such as search results or tables).

How to take a long screenshot:

1. First, take a regular screenshot of any of the above methods.
2. Immediately after the screenshot appears at the bottom of the screen, click on it.
3. In the editor that opens, select the Scrolling option (or Long Screenshot – the name depends on the version of MIUI).
4. Wait until the smartphone automatically scrolls the page and combines screenshots.
5. Press Ready to save the result.

⚠️ Note: Not all apps work, for example, in some games or banking programs, scrolling may be blocked for security reasons, and a long screenshot will not be possible if the content is loaded dynamically (for example, Instagram or TikTok).

What to do if screenshots are not saved?

Sometimes Redmi 9A users have a problem: a screenshot is taken (sound is heard, animation is visible), but the gallery does not have it. The reasons can be different from a trivial lack of memory to a failure in MIUI.

• 📁 Reservation folder: By default, screenshots are in Pictures/Screenshots, But some apps (like Google Photos) may hide them.
• 🗑️ Free space: If the memory is less than 500 MB, the system can automatically delete old screenshots. → Memory.
• 🔧 Permissions: Make sure that the Gallery or Files app has access to storage (Settings) → Annexes → Permits).
• 🔄 System failure: Reboot your phone – sometimes it solves the problem with saving.

If the screenshots are missing after the MIUI update, try:

1. Update the Gallery app through Google Play.
2. Clear the cache of the gallery: Settings → Applications → Gallery → Storage → Clear the cache.
3. Install a third-party app to view screenshots (such as QuickPic or Simple Gallery).

On Redmi 9A with MIUI 12.5 firmware and above, screenshots are saved as.png by default, but if you turn on power saving mode, they can convert to.jpg with loss of quality. To avoid this, turn off the screenshot optimization option in the battery settings.

💡

If screenshots are not saved in just one app (like a game or a banking app), it’s likely a limitation of the app itself. Try using third-party screenshot utilities like Screenshot Easy or Super Screenshot.

Additional chips: editing, fast sending and automatic processing

The screenshot is only half the story, and MIUI offers some useful tools to work with it:

• ✏️ Quick editing: Immediately after you create a screenshot, click on its thumbnail at the bottom of the screen – an editor will open where you can crop the image, add text or a picture.
• 📤 Instant Submitting: The same editing menu has buttons for fast sending a screenshot to instant messengers or social media.
• 🔍 Text recognition: Click on the magnifying glass icon in the editor – the smartphone recognizes the text in the screenshot and allows you to copy it (works only on Chinese and global firmware). MIUI 12.5+).
• 📂 Automatic Sorting: In the gallery, screenshots are grouped by date and app in which they were taken (e.g., separately screenshots from Chrome, Instagram, etc.).

To speed up the work with screenshots, configure:

1. Auto-delete takes: Include in Settings → Additional features → Optimize screenshots.
2. Lossless Compression: In the same settings, activate the option to Compress Screenshots – this will reduce their weight without any visible deterioration in quality.
3. Quick access: Add Screenshots widget to the home screen for instant viewing of the latest shots.

Editing (cutting, drawing)|

Sending to messenger |

Text recognition |

Save to the cloud |

I'm not doing anything, I'm just saving.-->

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Screenshot Questions on Redmi 9A