How to take a screenshot on a Xiaomi phone: all the ways to MIUI 12/13/14

Screenshots on Xiaomi smartphones are one of the most popular features that can be used to save important information, share data in messengers or fix errors in applications. Despite the apparent simplicity, many users face difficulties: standard keyboard combinations do not work, gestures are inactive or buttons are missing in the notification curtain. In this article, we will analyze all the current ways to create screenshots on Xiaomi, Redmi, POCO and Black Shark devices – from classic hotkeys to hidden functions of MIUI 14.

The MIUI firmware is flexible: it regularly adds new screen capture techniques, but can remove old ones (for example, the three-finger swipe gesture has disappeared in some versions for European regions), and we tested all methods on current models – from the budget Redmi 12C to the flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra – and highlighted the only one-stop method that works on 100% of devices regardless of the version of MIUI.

1. Standard button combination: Power + Volume Down

The most reliable and common method that works on all Xiaomi smartphones, including devices with custom firmware.

1. Open the screen that you need to save.
2. Press the Power (on/off) button and the Volume Down button 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 screenshot.

⚠️ Note: On some models (e.g, POCO F5 or Black Shark 5 Pro) long-term retention of these buttons can cause the reboot menu. To avoid this, press short and synchronously - no longer than 1 second.

Where to look for a finished screenshot?

• 📁 In the gallery: Screenshots folder (or Screenshots on Russian firmware).
• 🔍 File Manager: Internal Memory → Pictures → Screenshots.
• 📱 In the notification curtain: tap the notification “Screenshot saved” for quick editing or sending.

2.Gesturals for screenshot: swipe with three fingers

The three-finger screenshot feature appeared in MIUI 9 and has since become one of the most convenient features, especially for users with large screens (such as the Xiaomi 13T Pro or Redmi K60 Ultra), but it is disabled by default in most regions to activate:

1. Go to Settings → Additional → Special features → gestures of buttons.
2. Find the screenshot with a three-finger swipe and turn on the switch.
3. Test: Swipe down the screen with three fingers at the same time.

🔹 Challenges and solutions:

• 🚫 Make sure your settings include Allow gestures in apps.
• ⚠️ Does it work by accident? MIUI 14: Setting the sensitivity of the gesture – reduce it in the same menu.
• 🔄 Conflict with other gestures? Turn off navigation gestures or double tap to wake up.

💡

If the gesture works too easily, try to hold your fingers not strictly vertically, but diagonally - this will reduce the number of false positives.

3.Screenshot button in notification curtain

The most obvious, but often ignored, way to do this is to use a quick bar in the notification curtain, which is suitable for those who don't want to remember button combinations or gestures.

1. Turn the notification curtain swipe from top to bottom.
2. Find the screenshot icon (usually a scissors or screen thumbnail).
3. Slip it – the phone will immediately take a picture of the current screen.

⚠️ Note: Some firmware (e.g. global version) MIUI 13 for Redmi Note 11, the screenshot button can be hidden:

1. Turn the curtain completely (swipe from top to bottom twice).
2. Slap the icon. ⚙️ Edit.
3. Find a screenshot in the list and drag it to the active area.

📌 Advantages of the method:

• ✅ It works even if the physical buttons are broken.
• ✅ You can take a screenshot with one hand.
• ✅ Supports a scrolling screenshot (we will talk about it below).

4. Voice assistant Google or Xiao AI

If you need to take a screenshot without using your hands (such as while playing or with busy hands), use the voice assistant. There are two options available on Xiaomi smartphones:

Method 1: Google Assistant

Activate the assistant with the command “OK, Google” or holding the Home button, then say:

Take a screenshot.


or




Take a picture of the screen.

Method 2: Xiao AI (Chinese firmware only)

On Xiao AI devices (e.g., Xiaomi 14 for the Chinese market), use the command:

(Pronounced “Xiao Ai Tongxue, Tsetu” – “Xiao AI, screenshot”)

⚠️ Note: Voice commands may not work if:

• 🔇 The microphone for the assistant in the privacy settings is disabled.
• 🌐 Unofficial firmware is used (e.g. Pixel Experience).
• 🎮 A game with system functions blocked (e.g. Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile).

5. Scrolling (long) screenshot

The Scrolling Screenshot (or Scrolling Scrolling) feature allows you to capture an entire long chat, web page or list — for example, a Telegram correspondence history or Instagram feed — and only works after you have created a regular screenshot:

1. Take a screenshot of any of the above methods.
2. Immediately after the miniature appears in the lower right corner, tap it.
3. In the editor that opens, select Scrolling (or Scroll in English firmware).
4. Wait until the screen automatically scrolls down and press Ready.

📊 Limitations of function:

💡 Secret Life Hack: If the scrolling doesn't work, try scrolling the screen manually immediately after you click on the Scrolling button - sometimes it helps to "wake up" the feature.

Open the screen in advance|Make sure the content is fully loaded|Close pop-up windows (such as ads)|Check that the Internet is turned on (for web pages)-->

6. Screenshots in games and secure applications

Many games (such as PUBG Mobile or Honor of Kings) and banking apps (SberBank Online, Tinkoff) block screenshots for security reasons.

Method 1: No Sound Mode (for games)

Some games allow screenshots if:

1. Turn off the sound in the game (Settings → Sound → No sound).
2. Use a three-finger swipe gesture (it works even where the buttons are blocked).

Method 2: Recording the screen with the subsequent frame

If the screenshot is blocked, record the screen and then extract the frame:

1. Enable screen recording through the notification curtain (screen recording).
2. Write down the right moment (2-3 seconds)
3. Open the video in the gallery, pause and take a screenshot of the video.

Method 3: ADB-team (for advanced teams)

For tech-savvy users, there is a radical method through ADB:

adb shell screencap -p /sdcard/screen.png

⚠️ Note: This method requires an unlocked bootloader and may violate the rules of some applications (e.g. banking!

7. Editing and managing screenshots

After creating a screenshot, MIUI offers instant editing – the thumbnail in the lower right corner can be tapped to:

• ✏️ Cut edges (convenient to remove unnecessary interface elements).
• 🎨 Add text or pattern (marker, arrows, emojis).
• 🔍 Blurring part of the screen (to hide personal data).
• 📤 Share directly in the messenger or cloud.

📂 Where screenshots are stored?

They are saved by default in:

/storage/emulated/0/Pictures/Screenshots/

But the way is different.

1. Open the gallery → Albums → Screenshots.
2. Tap it on. ⋮ → Folder settings.
3. Select Change the save location and specify a new folder (for example, on the SD-map).

⚠️ Note: If screenshots suddenly stop being saved, check out:

• 📱 Free space on the device (minimum 500 MB required).
• 🛠️ Gallery Permits (Settings) → Annexes → gallery → Permits).
• 🔄 Updates MIUI — In some versions, there was a bug with file saving.

FAQ: Frequent questions about screenshots on Xiaomi