How to take a screenshot on Xiaomi devices: 7 working ways

Screenshot is one of the most popular features on Xiaomi devices, but not everyone knows how to use it correctly. There are several ways to capture screenshots on Redmi, POCO and Mi flagships, and there are different features on Mi TVs. In this article, we will discuss all the current methods, including hidden MIUI capabilities and alternative solutions for non-standard situations.

You will learn how to take a screenshot on Xiaomi with physical buttons, gestures, voice commands, and even through ADB (for advanced users), separately, we will focus on the nuances for Mi TVs and Pad tablets, where the algorithm is different from smartphones, and also – we will reveal the secrets of editing screenshots on the fly and automatically uploading to the cloud.

If you've ever seen screenshots not being saved, a black screen appears, or a system says "Can't take a screenshot" -- here's a solution to these problems. The instructions are for MIUI 12/13/14 and HyperOS, and for pure Android devices (such as the POCO F5 or Xiaomi 13T Pro).

1. Classic method: power buttons + volume

The most versatile method, which works on all Xiaomi smartphones – from the budget Redmi 10A to the flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra.

1. Open on the screen what you want to capture (message, page in the browser, game moment).
2. At the same time, press the power button (on/lock) and the volume down button.
3. Hold them for 1-2 seconds until you hear the sound of the camera shutter and see the animation of the screenshot.

On some models (such as the POCO X3 Pro), the power + volume combination may also work, depending on the firmware version. If the first one didn't work, try the second one.

The screen is unlocked and active|Finger doesn't close the buttons|The sound is not turned off (to hear the signal)|No active gestures (e.g., "Double touch to wake up")-->

Where to look for the screenshot taken?

• 📁 In the gallery: Screenshots folder or Screenshots.
• 🔍 Through File Manager: Internal Storage → Pictures → Screenshots.
• 🖼️ In the notification: immediately after creation, a preview will appear with the buttons "Share" and "Delete".

⚠️ Warning: On mechanically buttoned devices (such as the Redmi Note 8 Pro), don’t press too hard, which can cause the screen to accidentally turn off.

2. Screenshot by gesture (no buttons)

If the physical buttons on your Xiaomi are broken or you just prefer contactless control, use the "Three fingers down" gesture, which is available on most devices with MIUI 10 and newer, but can be disabled by default.

How to turn on:

1. Go to Settings → Additional functions → Gestures.
2. Find the item "Scan screen with three fingers" and activate the switch.
3. (Optional) In the gesture settings, you can choose the direction of movement: down or up.

How to take a screenshot:

• 👆 Place three fingers on the screen (for example, index, middle and ring fingers).
• 📉 Quickly swipe them from top to bottom (or from bottom to top if you choose another option).
• 🎯 The photo will be taken instantly, without delay.

This method is particularly useful for games (such as Genshin Impact or PUBG Mobile), where pressing buttons can interfere with gameplay, and it is also useful if you have button sticking or use a case with thick walls.

3. Voice command (via Google Assistant)

Few people know, but you can take a screenshot on Xiaomi with your voice — without touching the screen — and this works on devices with Google Assistant preinstalled (most models, except for the Chinese versions without Google services).

Instructions:

1. Activate Google Assistant with your voice (OK, Google) or hold the Home button (if you have one).
2. Tell the command, “Take a screenshot” or “Make a screenshot” (in English, it often works more stable).
3. Confirm permission to access the screen (when you first use it).

Advantages of the method:

• 🎤 It works from a distance (useful if the phone is on a stand).
• 🛠️ No physical contact with the device is required.
• 🔄 You can use Freeform (floating window).

⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Redmi Note 11 Pro)+ 5G) The voice screenshot may conflict with MIUI Optimization. If the team doesn't work, try disabling optimization in the developer settings (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Tap 7 times, then return to the Additional Settings → For developers → Turn off optimization MIUI).

4.Screenshot on Xiaomi TV (Mi TV, Redmi Smart TV)

On Xiaomi TVs, the screenshot algorithm is very different from smartphones, there are no physical buttons, and gestures are not supported, instead using a remote control or the Mi Remote app.

Method 1: Through the remote

• 📺 Press and hold the button "Menu" (or "Settings") on the remote for 3-5 seconds.
• 🖼️ In the menu that appears, select Screenshot (on some models, Screen Capture).
• 💾 Screenshot will be stored in internal memory TV file /storage/emulated/0/Pictures/Screenshots.

Method 2: Through the Mi Home app

1. Connect the TV to the Mi Home app (if you haven’t already).
2. Open the tab with your Mi TV and find the option "Screen Control".
3. Select “Screenshot” – the file will be sent to your smartphone.

On Xiaomi TVs, you can’t take a screenshot in DRM-protected apps (Netflix, Amazon Prime, Disney+) and if you try, you’ll get a black screen or a “screenshot forbidden” notification.

Mi TV 4S/4A|Redmi Smart TV|Mi TV QLED|Mi TV A Pro|Other-->

5. Advanced Methods: ADB and Third Party Applications

If standard methods do not work (for example, on POCO F1 with custom firmware or on Xiaomi Pad 6 with damaged buttons), you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge) or specialized utilities.

Method 1: Screenshot via ADB

1. Enable USB debugging in the developer settings (Settings → About Phone → MIUI version – tap 7 times, then go back to Additional settings → For Developers).
2. Connect the device to the PC and execute the command: adb shell screencap -p /sdcard/screen.png
3. Download the file to your computer: adb pull /sdcard/screen.png

Method 2: Screenshot applications

• 📱 Screen Master – Supports Scrolling Screenshots and Editing.
• 🎮 AZ Screen Recorder – allows you to take screenshots while recording videos.
• 🖥️ ScrPy (for PC) – managing screenshots via Wi-Fi.

⚠️ Attention: When in use ADB Xiaomi with HyperOS may require additional permission MIUI Optimization. If the screencap command returns an error, try: Adb shell cmd display screenshot or disable optimization. MIUI developer-side.

💡

If you often need scrolling screenshots (like long chats or web pages), install LongShot from Google Play.The app automatically glues multiple frames into one long shot.

6.Editing and managing screenshots

Once you have created a screenshot on Xiaomi, you can edit it immediately without opening additional apps.

• ✏️ Quick editing: In the screenshot notification, tap on the preview - a mini-editor with cropping, drawing and text addition tools will open.
• 📤 Instant Submitting: Click Share in the notification to send a picture to Telegram, WhatsApp or save to Google Drive.
• ☁️ Auto Sync: If Mi Cloud is enabled, screenshots are automatically uploaded to the cloud (set up in Gallery) → Settings → Cloud).

For advanced editing (such as blurring personal data or adding arrows), we recommend:

• 🎨 Snapseed – Professional Color Correction.
• 🔍 Lightroom Mobile – Accurate exposure setting.
• 📝 Markup Hero – Annotations and Comments.

If screenshots take up too much space, enable compression in the gallery settings:

1. Open the gallery → Settings → Storage management.
2. Activate the option "Screenshot Compression" (available on MIUI 13+).
3. Choose Quality: Balanced (recommended) or Save Place.

💡

On HyperOS devices, screenshots are saved by default in.webp format, which takes up 30-40% less space than.png, without loss of quality.

7. Solving screenshot problems

Sometimes Xiaomi has some errors in screenshots, and here are the most common problems and solutions:

If none of these methods help, try:

1. Reset the device.
2. Update your firmware to the latest version (Settings → System Update).
3. Reset your gesture settings (Settings → Additional Features → Gestures → Reset).

Xiaomi with custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience) may not have a built-in screenshot feature, in which case use ADB or apps like Screenshot Easy.

FAQ: Frequent questions about screenshots on Xiaomi