Xiaomi’s current smartphones, including the popular Redmi and POCO lineups, offer users many ways to save images from the screen. Screenshots (or screenshots) are one of the most popular tools for communication, work and entertainment. The ability to quickly and efficiently take interface pictures significantly increases the productivity of the gadget.
In this article, we will take a closer look at all the existing screenshot techniques on devices running MIUI and HyperOS. You will learn not only about standard keyboard shortcuts, but also about advanced features such as long-screenshots and gesture control.
We will also discuss editing images and finding stored files in your device memory, and understanding these processes will allow you to make the most of your operating system.
Standard key combinations and button management
The easiest and most versatile way to capture what's happening on the display is to use physical buttons, which works on all smartphone models, regardless of the firmware version or screen diagonal, and you need to press the power button and the volume button at the same time.
It's important to press the keys synchronously and briefly. If you press them too hard or hold them for a long time, the shutdown menu or voice assistant can activate. Usually the system responds to the press with the characteristic click of the camera shutter and vibration.
For users who prefer tactile feedback, this is the most reliable method, it requires no configuration and is available immediately after the device is turned on, but on large screens, reaching both buttons with one hand can be inconvenient.
- 📱 Simultaneous pressing of “Nutrition» + «Loudness down" - the classic method.
- ⚡ Instant system response without needing to activate additional functions.
- 🔊 The characteristic sound and vibration confirm the successful creation of the image.
- 🛑 Risk of accidentally calling the off menu with long button retention.
It is worth noting that on some custom shells or in game mode, the response to buttons can be changed. If the standard combination does not work, check the settings of special features or the game accelerator.
⚠️ Attention: On devices with mechanical volume buttons, frequent use of the combination for screenshots can lead to accelerated wear of the keys or the appearance of a backlash.
For those who often use this method, there are special cases with raised sides that protect buttons from accidental pressing, but make it easier to access them, which prolongs the life of the hardware of the smartphone.
Using three finger gestures for quick access
The MIUI shell offers a more modern and convenient way to capture screenshots, by snooping three fingers across the screen, a feature that is particularly relevant for owners of models with large displays, where it is physically difficult to reach the buttons.
To activate this feature, you need to go to the settings menu. Find the "Additional Features" or "Extended Settings" section, and then select "Screenshot" and switch the switch to the active position.
Once you turn on the function, just swipe your three fingers from top to bottom over any area of the screen, and the system instantly creates an image, which is considered one of the most ergonomic methods for everyday use.
Gesture control allows you to not only take normal pictures, but also immediately move to editing. In some versions of the firmware, you can create long screenshots immediately after you swipe your fingers, if you select the appropriate option in the preview menu.
- 🖐️ Activation through Settings → Additional functions → Screenshot.
- 📉 Move three fingers down from top to bottom for instant results.
- ⚙️ Possibility of adjusting the reaction to double tapping.
- 🎨 Automatically open the editing menu after the image is created.
If the gesture doesn't work, make sure you touch the screen with three fingers at once, and screens with low-quality protective glass or old protective films can reduce the sensitivity of the multi-touch.
⚠️ Warning: The feature may not work in some secure applications (bank clients) or in split screen mode where the touch area is limited.
For users with small palms or with one hand occupied, this method may seem complicated, but after a few training sessions, muscle memory captures movement, and the process becomes automatic.
Setting up the Quick Access Menu and Notification Curtains
A third way that newbies often ignore is to use a control panel, where the upper right corner of the screen (or left, depending on the navigation settings) has a curtain with fast switches.
Among the Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and flashlight icons, there's often a "Screenshot" button hidden, and if it's not on the first screen, click on a pencil or edit icon to add this shortcut to the active zone, which allows you to take pictures without using your hands to clamp the buttons.
This is especially useful when the smartphone is attached to the holder or lying on the table. You do not need to take the device in your hands, just make a swipe from top to bottom and tap the icon.
☑️ Checking the screenshot settings
In new versions of HyperOS, the curtain interface has been redesigned, and the icons have become more informative. The screenshot button can display a preview of the last shot taken, which speeds up the work.
- 🔽 Swipe from top to bottom to open control center.
- ➕ Adding the Screenshot widget through the panel editing menu.
- 📱 Ease of use with a fixed smartphone.
- 🔄 Possibility to adjust the position of the label in the list.
The disadvantage of the method is that it requires two actions (swipe and tap), which takes longer than using buttons, but in certain scenarios, this is the only option available.
It’s also worth mentioning that in some design themes, the standard screenshot icon can be replaced or hidden.If you can’t find the button, try switching to the standard Classic theme.
The function of a long screenshot and page scrolling
One of the most useful features in Xiaomi’s ecosystem is creating long screenshots, which allows you to save entire web pages, instant messengers, or social media feeds in one image.
Once you've taken a normal screenshot of any of the ways I've described, there's a thumbnail in the upper right corner, and it's got a button with an arrow down on it, or it says, "Scroll." You click on it and you start automatic scrolling.
The system will scroll down the screen contents, stitching the frames into a single image, and you can stop the process by re-clicking the screen or when the content of the page is over.
| Parameter | A typical screenshot. | Long screenshot. |
|---|---|---|
| File size | Small (up to 2MB) | Medium (2-10 MB) |
| Format | PNG / JPG | PNG (most often) |
| Application | One image, one dialogue | Websites, long articles, checks |
| Processing | Instant. | It takes time to render. |
Long screenshots are essential for preserving evidence of correspondence, instructions or articles without having to take many individual frames, saving time and making it easier to share information with people.
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When you take a long screenshot, try not to touch the screen while scrolling, so as not to knock down the automatic capture of the area.
Keep in mind that when you glue very long pages together, you can create artifacts at the docking points if you have animations or videos on the screen, and in these cases, you'd better take a few separate pictures.
The maximum length of this image is limited by the processor and the amount of RAM, and if the page is too large, the system will suggest saving it in parts or interrupt the creation of the file.
Use of voice assistant and additional methods
For those who prefer voice control, Xiaomi offers integration with Google Assistant and its own voice assistant Xiao AI (global versions may differ), you can just say, "OK, Google, take a screenshot."
This method requires an Internet connection and an activated microphone, which is ideal in situations where hands are busy or dirty, and it is undesirable to touch the screen, and the accuracy of the command recognition depends on the diction and the surrounding noise.
There's also a method through the Multitasking menu, where you can click on the app icon and select Screenshot from the action list, which is convenient if you want to save the status of a particular application before you close it.
- 🎤 Voice command “Take a screenshot” through Google Assistant.
- 📋 Multitasking menu for selecting a specific window.
- 🔌 Support for external keyboards with assigned hot keys.
- ⌨️ Using stylus (for Xiaomi Pad tablets) with a capture button.
Using external accessories such as Bluetooth keyboards also opens up new possibilities. Often a combination of Print Screen or Fn+P can be reassigned to create a screenshot in the input settings.
⚠️ Warning: Voice commands may not work in Do Not Disturb mode or if the microphone is blocked by other apps.
The combination of methods allows you to choose the most suitable for a particular situation, for example, buttons are good for games, gestures are good for the browser, and voice is for cooking recipes when your hands are in flour.
Where to look for saved screenshots and how to share them
Once a screenshot is created, the system automatically stores it in internal memory, and you can find the file through the standard Gallery app in Screenshots or through the file manager on the Internal Storage/DCIM/Screenshots path.
The gallery has basic editing tools: cropping, overlaying, marker drawing, and adding stickers, which allow you to prepare the image for sending without installing third-party applications.
For fast transfer, use the Share function immediately after you have created the image. The system will prompt you to send the file via messengers, mail or save to the cloud storage Mi Cloud or Google Photos.
How to clean the cache of thumbnail screenshots?
Regular screenshot sorting helps keep the device’s memory in order. Screenshots often take up a significant amount of space, especially if you save a lot of high-resolution graphics.
- 📂 The path to files: MIUI/Gallery/cloud/screenshots or DCIM.
- ✏️ Built-in editor allows you to hide confidential data before sending.
- ☁️ Automatic synchronization with the cloud with Wi-Fi enabled.
- 🗑️ Ability to batch delete old screenshots via file manager.
Using cloud services ensures that important screenshots are not lost when your smartphone breaks or is lost. Set up an automatic upload of screenshots for maximum data security.
Why does the screenshot appear black in some apps?
Can I take screenshots in split screen mode?
What format are screenshots saved on Xiaomi?
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The fastest and most reliable way is a combination of buttons, but for larger screens it is more convenient to adjust the gesture with three fingers in additional functions.
Possession of all of the methods described will turn you into an advanced Xiaomi user. Experiment with settings to find the perfect balance between speed and convenience for your smartphone usage style.