How to take a screenshot on a Xiaomi phone: all the ways for Redmi, POCO and Mi

You can take a screenshot on a Xiaomi smartphone in a matter of seconds — if you know the right button combinations or hidden MIUI functions. But even experienced users sometimes face problems: standard combinations do not work, the toolbar disappears after a shot or screenshots are saved to an incomprehensible folder. In this article, we will analyze all the current ways to create screenshots on Redmi, POCO and Mi devices — from classic to little-known, and also tell you how to configure saving and editing screenshots.

Important: the instructions below work on all Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI 12-14 firmware (including global and Chinese versions) and Android 10-14. If you have an older version of the system (for example, MIUI 11 or Android 9), some features may not be available. For models up to 2018 (for example, Redmi Note 5 or Mi 8), only the basic methods are relevant - button combinations and notification panel.

1. Classic method: power and volume buttons

It’s a universal method that works on all Xiaomi smartphones without exception, including budget models like the Redmi A2 or POCO C50.

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 (on/off) and the volume reduction button.
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 Xiaomi 13 button sensitivity may vary. If the screenshot doesn't work the first time, try it:

• 🔘 Press the buttons not at the same time, but with a minimum interval (first power, after 0.5 seconds - volume).
• 🔘 Hold them for a little longer (up to 3 seconds).
• 🔘 Check if the buttons are locked in the settings (Settings) → Special facilities → Power button).

After a successful shot, a screenshot thumbnail will appear in the upper right corner of the screen, and click on it to open the editing tools immediately (trimming, drawing, adding text). If the thumbnail does not appear, check the notification settings:

Go to Settings → Notifications → Notification Management

Find the Screenshots app and enable notifications

Reboot your phone if the changes don’t apply

Update MIUI last-minute-->

2. Screenshot with three fingers (gesture)

The three-finger screenshot is one of the most convenient features of MIUI, but it's disabled by default.

1. Go to Settings → Additional settings → Buttons and gestures → Screenshot gestures.
2. Turn on the switch opposite "Three finger screenshot".
3. (Optional) Set your fingers down (default) or up.

Now to take a screenshot:

1. Place three fingers (usually index, middle and ring fingers) on the screen.
2. Then, turn them down (or up if you change the setting) with a little pressure.
3. Release your fingers after the beep.

This method is especially useful if:

• 🎮 You play mobile games (buttons do not interfere with gameplay).
• 📱 You don’t have physical buttons (like after your phone falls).
• ⚡ You need to take a screenshot as quickly as possible (for example, to fix the error).

⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Redmi Note 12 Pro)+) The gesture may conflict with other features, such as Swipe for Returns. If the screenshot doesn't work, turn off conflicting gestures in Settings. → System system → Gestures.

3. Screenshot via notification panel

If you don’t feel comfortable remembering button combinations or gestures, you can use the Quick Settings Panel, which works even on locked phones (if the option is enabled).

Instructions:

1. Deploy the notification panel by swiping your finger down from the top edge of the screen.
2. Find the Screenshot icon (usually a scissor or a zipper rectangle) if it's not there, click on the pencil icon (Edit) and add it to the active elements.
3. Slip the icon - the screenshot will be taken instantly.

Advantages of this method:

• ✅ It works on all Xiaomi models, including older ones (e.g. Redmi). 4X).
• ✅ You can use one hand (convenient for large smartphones like Xiaomi 13 Ultra).
• ✅ It does not require memorization of combinations.

If the screenshot icon is missing from the panel, check:

• 🔧 Version MIUI (Older versions may not have this option).
• 🔧 Fast panel settings: sometimes the manufacturer limits the number of active elements.

💡

Add the screenshot icon to the first 4 positions of the notification panel so you can take screenshots without fully deploying it.

4. Voice Assistant (Google Assistant or Xiao AI)

You can take a screenshot without touching your phone, using voice commands, and this is a useful way to do this if you:

• 🦾 Your hands are busy (such as cooking with a prescription).
• 🔊 Screen contaminated or damaged.
• 🎧 You use headphones with voice control support.

There are two options:

Method 1: Google Assistant (for global firmware)

1. Activate the assistant with your voice: say “OK, Google” or press the Home button (if you have one on your model).
2. Say “Take a screenshot” or “Take a screenshot.”
3. Confirm the action if necessary.

Method 2: Xiao AI (for Chinese firmware)

1. Press the home button or say Xiao AI Tongxue.
2. Say the command in Chinese: "" (Jiétú — "screenshot").

⚠️ Note: Voice commands may not work if:

• 🔇 The microphone for the assistant in the privacy settings is disabled.
• 🌐 The phone is not connected to the Internet (required to process the command).
• 🔊 Do not disturb or "on the plane" mode is enabled".

5. Advanced features: long screenshot and screen recording

On Xiaomi smartphones, you can not only take standard screenshots, but also:

• 📜 Create long (scrollable) screenshots – for example, all correspondence in Telegram or pages in the browser.
• 🎥 Record video from the screen (with or without sound).

How to Take a Long Screenshot

1. Take a regular screenshot of any of the above methods.
2. Immediately after that, a bar will appear at the bottom of the screen with a "Scroll" button. Click on it.
3. The screen will automatically scroll down, and you can stop the process at any time by pressing "Done."

⚠️ Note: Long screenshots do not work:

• 🚫 Some apps with dynamic content (such as TikTok or Instagram Reels).
• 🚫 On web pages with infinite scrolling (for example, Facebook feed).
• 🚫 If the power saving mode is turned on (may block the background scrolling).

How to record video from the screen

Screen recording is available in the notification panel (a record circle icon) and you click on the control panel, where you can:

• 🎤 Turn on/off sound recording from the microphone.
• 📱 Show or hide the touch of your fingers.
• ⏱️ Set a delay timer (3 or 10 seconds).

6.Editing and managing screenshots

After creating the screenshot, MIUI offers basic editing tools:

• ✂️ Cutting – changing the boundaries of the image.
• 🖌️ Drawing - brushes, markers, eraser.
• 📝 Text - Adding inscriptions (you can choose font and color).
• 🔲 Mosaic - blurring part of the image.
• 📤 Sharing – fast sending to messengers or the cloud.

If built-in tools aren’t enough, install third-party apps:

• 🎨 Adobe Photoshop Express for Professional Editing.
• 🖼️ Snapseed – for color correction and filters.
• 📌 Markup Hero – for annotations and markup.

To change the location of the screenshots:

1. Open the Files app.
2. Go to Categories → Images → Screenshots.
3. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select "Move" or "Copy".
4. Specify a new folder (such as Download or cloud storage).

💡

If screenshots take up too much space, enable automatic compression in Settings → Storage → Free up space → Screenshots. The system will suggest removing duplicates or reducing the resolution of old shots.

7. Frequent problems and their solutions

Sometimes screenshots on Xiaomi don't work properly, so let's look at the common mistakes and how to fix them.

Problem 1: Screenshots are not saved

Possible causes and solutions:

• 📱 We're out of space on the device. → Clear the cache or transfer files to the memory card.
• 🚫 No rights to record → Check the permissions for the Screenshots app in Settings → Annexes → Permit management.
• 🔄 System failure → Restart your phone or reset your Files application settings.

Problem 2: Three finger gestures are not working

What to do:

• ⚙️ Switch the gesture direction in the settings (Settings) → Additional settings → Screenshot gestures).
• 🧹 Clear the system cache: Settings → Annexes → Application management → Three points. → Clear the cache.
• 🔄 Update. MIUI last-minute.

Problem 3: Screenshots are made in black

This is a common mistake when trying to take a picture:

• 🎬 Videos (e.g. YouTube or Netflix) – screenshots of content-protected apps are blocked by the rules DRM.
• 🔒 Banking applications (e.g. Sberbank Online) – for security reasons.
• 🎮 Protected games (such as Genshin Impact or PUBG Mobile).

Bypasses:

• 📹 Use screen recording instead of screenshot.
• 📸 Take a picture of the screen with another phone (unless it is privacy-critical).

FAQ: Answers to popular questions