How to take a screenshot on Xiaomi Mi 5: all ways with photo instructions

The Xiaomi Mi 5, released in 2016, is still popular with users due to its balanced performance and reliable MIUI firmware. However, many owners of this smartphone face difficulties when trying to take a screenshot — especially if they used devices from other brands. In this article, we will discuss all the available ways to take screenshots on the Mi 5, including button combinations, gestures and hidden firmware functions.

It is important to understand that the methods may vary depending on the version of MIUI (e.g. MIUI 8 vs MIUI 12) and the shell installed, and we have taken these nuances into account and prepared universal instructions that will work even on custom firmware, and you will learn where screenshots are stored, how to edit and share them without loss of quality.

If you've recently switched from an iPhone or Samsung, the usual gestures may not work — don't worry, Xiaomi has its own chips. For example, on the Mi 5, you can take screenshots even with the screen off if you turn on a special option in the settings.

1. Standard method: button combination

The most reliable and versatile method is the use of hardware buttons, which works on all versions of MIUI and does not require additional settings.

1. Open the screen you want to capture (for example, a dialog in the messenger or a page in the browser).
2. At the same time, press the power button (right) and the volume reduction button (left).
3. Hold them for 1-2 seconds until you hear the shutter sound or see the save animation.

If the screenshot didn’t work the first time, check:

• 🔋 Both buttons are pressed simultaneously (not sequentially!).
• 📵 Does the case block access to the buttons (especially important for thick bumpers).
• 🔄 Is not the Do Not Disturb mode on - it can turn off the shutter sound.

⚠️ Note: On some custom firmware (e.g. LineageOS), the button combination may conflict with other features.

The screen is unlocked and active

The power and volume buttons are not stuck

The phone has enough free memory (minimum 50 MB)

The sound is not turned off in the settings-->

2. Screenshot via notification panel (quick access)

If you're uncomfortable with buttons, MIUI has an alternative, which is a special icon in the notification curtain, which is especially useful when one of the hardware buttons is faulty.

Instructions:

1. Swipe your finger down to open the notification panel.
2. Find the screenshot icon (usually a scissor or rectangle with an arrow) if it's not there, tap it. ⚙ Edit and add manually.
3. Touch the icons – the screenshot will be taken instantly.

Advantages of this method:

• 👆 You don’t need to remember button combinations.
• 🎯 Accuracy: You can take a screenshot of a particular moment (e.g. in a game or video).
• ⚡ Faster than gestures (they will be discussed below).

If the icon is not in the curtain, you can add it:

1. Open Settings → Notification panel and status bar.
2. Select Edit the Control Panel.
3. Find the "Screenshot" in the list and drag it to the active area.

Power buttons + volume

Icon in the Notification Curtain

Three-finger gesture

Another option-->

3. Screenshot by three finger gesture (hidden function)

One of the most convenient, but little-known, ways is to use a three-finger gesture across the screen, which is disabled by default, so you need to activate it in the settings.

How to turn on:

1. Go to Settings → Additional functions → button gestures.
2. Find the option "Screenshot with three fingers" and turn it on.
3. Choose the direction of the gesture (usually from top to bottom).

How to use:

• 🖐 Place three fingers on the screen (for example, index, middle and ring fingers).
• 👇 Swipe them down the display (as if you were swiping the screen).
• 📸 Hear the shutter sound – the screenshot is ready!

⚠️ Note: On some versions MIUI If the gesture is not available, check if other gestures are included in the Settings. → Screen. → Gestures.

The advantages of this method:

• 🆓 No need to press buttons – convenient for large hands.
• 🎮 Ideal for games where power/volume buttons can interfere with gameplay.
• 🔄 You can adjust the gesture direction (up/down/left/right).

4 Where screenshots are stored and how to find them

By default, all screenshots on the Xiaomi Mi 5 are saved in the DCIM/Screenshots folder (or Pictures/Screenshots in newer versions of MIUI).

• 📁 Through Explorer: Open the Files app (folder icon) and go to Images section → Screenshots.
• 🖼 Through the gallery: the album "Screenshots" displays all the saved pictures.
• 🔍 Through Search: Enter a screenshot request in the search bar (in the explorer or gallery.

If the screenshots are not displayed:

1. Check if they're hidden. ⋮ → Settings → Show hidden files.
2. Make sure your phone has enough memory, and if you don't have enough space, screenshots may not be saved.
3. Restart the device – sometimes the system does not have time to update the media base.

If you need to share a screenshot quickly:

1. Immediately after creating the picture in the lower right corner will appear miniature – tap it.
2. Select Share and specify the app (such as Telegram or WhatsApp).
3. If necessary, cut the image before sending.

💡

To prevent screenshots from taking up memory, set up automatic cloud saving. To do this, open Settings → Xiaomi Accounts → Mi Cloud → Gallery and enable synchronization.

5. Editing and annotating screenshots

Xiaomi Mi 5 allows you to edit screenshots right after they are created.

• ✂️ Cutting: Remove unnecessary parts of the image.
• 🖍 Drawing: Add arrows, circles or text with a pen/marker.
• 🔤 Text: Insert captions or comments.
• 🌈 Filters: apply standard effects (e.g. C/B or Sepia).

How to open the editor:

1. Immediately after creating the screenshot, tap the thumbnail in the lower right corner.
2. Choose Edit (the pencil icon).
3. Use the tools in the bottom panel. Save the changes when you're done.

If the thumbnail is gone, open the screenshot through the gallery and tap on it. ⋮ → Edit.

Editing tips:

• 📏 For accurate pruning, hold your finger on the corner of the frame and pull.
• 🎨 To cancel the action, press the arrow. ← top-down.
• 💾 Keep a copy of the original if you plan to make several changes.

⚠️ Note: When editing screenshots in format PNG The quality is not lost, but the file can grow in size. If compactness is important, save the final version in the file. JPEG (Option available for export).

💡

The screenshot editor in MIUI supports layers – you can add multiple text blocks or drawings on top of the image.

6. Screenshot Problems and Their Solutions

Sometimes Xiaomi Mi 5 users encounter errors when taking screenshots, and let’s look at the most common cases and how to fix them.

If screenshots are taken but not displayed in the gallery:

1. Check the DCIM/Screenshots folder through the Explorer.
2. Update the media base: open Settings → Apps → All apps → Gallery → Storage → Clear cache.
3. Install a third-party gallery (e.g. Google Photos).

To solve the problems with the buttons:

• 🧹 Clean the mud buttons with an alcohol napkin.
• 🔧 Check the gesture settings in Settings → Additional functions.
• 📱 If the power button is broken, use AssistiveTouch (includes in Settings). → Special facilities).

If none of these methods work, try resetting the screen settings:

Settings → System and device → Additional → Resetting settings → Reset screen settings

7. Alternative methods: applications and ADB

If the standard methods don't work, you can use third-party tools. Let's look at two options:

Method 1: Screenshot applications

Google Play has a variety of utilities that extend the ability to create screenshots.

• Screenshot Easy – supports screenshots on timer and page scroll.
• Super Screenshot – allows you to take pictures in PDF format.
• Screen Master – has a built-in editor with effects.

How to use:

1. Install an app from the Play Market.
2. Provide the necessary permissions (e.g. Overlay over other applications).
3. Follow the instructions in the program interface.

⚠️ Note: Some apps require root rights to run older versions of Android (e.g. Android 6.0 on Mi 5.

Method 2: Screenshot via ADB (for advanced)

If the phone is connected to a computer, you can take a screenshot via Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a method that is useful for debugging or if the sensor is not working.

Instructions:

1. Install ADB on your PC (download from the Android Developers website).
2. Turn on USB Debugging on your phone (Settings → About Phone → MIUI version – tap 7 times, then go back to Settings → Additional → For Developers).
3. Connect the Mi 5 to your computer and execute the command:

adb shell screencap -p /sdcard/screen.png

To download the screenshot on PC:

adb pull /sdcard/screen.png

Advantages of ADB:

• 🖥 It works even with a faulty screen.
• 🔧 Allows you to automate the creation of screenshots (for example, on a schedule).
• 📊 Suitable for testing applications.

Frequently asked questions