How to take a screenshot on a Xiaomi smartphone: all ways from A to Z

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 the work of applications. Despite the apparent simplicity, many users face difficulties: standard keyboard combinations do not work, you can not find pictures taken or activate gesture controls. In this article, we will analyze all the available ways to create screenshots on Redmi, POCO and Mi devices โ€“ from classic to little-known, and also tell you how to customize the system to your needs.

Xiaomiโ€™s smartphone features are the MIUI shell, which is regularly updated and changes the interface. Therefore, the methods that worked on MIUI 12 may differ from those that are relevant in MIUI 14/15. We have taken into account all the nuances and prepared a universal guide that will suit both new flagships (Xiaomi 14 Ultra, Redmi K70 Pro) and budget models (POCO M6, Redmi Note 12). If you never took a screenshot or your previous method stopped working, you are on the right track.

1. Standard method: button combination

The most reliable and versatile method that works on all Xiaomi models regardless of the MIUI version is the simultaneous pressing of physical buttons.

  1. Open the screen you want to lock (such as a page in your browser or a WhatsApp dialog).
  2. Press the Volume Down button and the Power button at the same time.
  3. Hold them for 1-2 seconds until you hear the characteristic sound of the camera shutter or see an animation screenshot.

Some models (such as the Xiaomi 13T or Redmi Note 13 Pro+) may have vibration instead of sound.

  • ๐Ÿ”Š System sound โ€“ it may be disabled in settings (Settings) โ†’ Sound and vibration).
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Button state โ€“ physical keys may have become dirty or failed (relevant to older models).
  • ๐Ÿ”„ Updates MIUI โ€” In rare cases, bugs with screenshots are patched (Settings) โ†’ The phone. โ†’ Updating the system).

โš ๏ธ Note: On devices with cutouts for the front camera (for example, POCO F5) Do not press too close to the edge of the screen โ€“ the system may perceive this as a casual touch, and the screenshot will not be saved.

๐Ÿ“Š What kind of screenshot do you use?
Button combination
Three-finger gesture
Voice assistant
Notification panel
Other

2. Three-finger gesture: quick screenshot without buttons

MIUI's signature feature is the ability to take screenshots in one motion across the display, which is convenient if physical buttons break or you often take screenshots in games (where pressing a key can interfere with gameplay).

  1. Go to Settings โ†’ Additional functions โ†’ Gestures.
  2. Find the "Three Fingers Screenshot"** and switch on the switch.
  3. Test the gesture: swipe down the screen with three fingers (without pause).

If the gesture doesn't work:

  • ๐Ÿงน Clean the screen โ€“ greasy spots or protective film may interfere with touch recognition.
  • ๐Ÿ“ Check the trigger zone โ€“ the gesture should start outside the status bar (top notification bar).
  • โš™๏ธ Set sensitivity in the settings โ†’ Display. โ†’ Sensitivity of touch (relevant to the MIUI 14+).
What if the gesture is in conflict with other functions?
If you have other gestures enabled (e.g., swipe back), they can block the screenshot. Turn off conflicting options in Settings โ†’ System โ†’ Gestures or reconfigure them.

On the newer models (Xiaomi 14, Redmi K60), the โ€œLong Screenshotโ€ option** appears when using the gesture: after creating the picture, tap the thumbnail in the lower right corner and select Scrolling to capture the entire web page or chat.

3. Notification panel: screenshot in one tap

Few people know, but MIUI has a built-in screenshot button right in the notification bar, which is suitable if you need to take a quick picture without remembering the combinations.

  1. Deploy the notification panel by swiping your finger from top to bottom across the screen.
  2. Find the screenshot icon (usually a scissor or a rectangle with lightning) If it is not, tap on Edit (pencil in the upper right corner) and add the button to the active button.
  3. Click on the icon โ€“ the picture will be taken instantly.

Advantages of the method:

  • โšก Instant access โ€“ no need to remember combinations.
  • ๐Ÿ”ง Customizable interface โ€“ you can move the button to the beginning of the panel.
  • ๐Ÿ“ Convenient management โ€“ after creating a screenshot, a menu appears for editing or sending.

โš ๏ธ Note: Some firmware (e.g. Global) ROM for POCO X5) The screenshot button may not be available by default. MIUI or use alternative methods.

Deploy the notification panel |Find the Edit icon (pencil)|Turn the Screenshot to the active buttons |Save the changes

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4.Voice assistant: screenshot on command

If you are too lazy to push buttons or make gestures, you can delegate the task to the voice assistant Xiaomi (formerly Xiao AI), the feature works on most models with MIUI 12 and newer, but requires pre-configuration:

  1. Activate the voice assistant: Settings โ†’ Applications โ†’ Voice assistant โ†’ Enable.
  2. Ask the command: say โ€œTake a screenshotโ€ or โ€œScreenshotโ€ (in English firmware โ€“ โ€œTake a screenshotโ€).
  3. Confirm the action if necessary.

Features of the method:

  • ๐ŸŽค Offline โ€“ does not require an internet connection.
  • ๐ŸŒ Supports several languages (Russian, English, Chinese).
  • โš ๏ธ It may conflict with other voice services (e.g. Google Assistant).

On the POCO F4 and Redmi Note 12 Pro, the voice assistant can also:

  • ๐Ÿ“Œ Save screenshots to a specific folder (set the path to Settings) โ†’ Warehouse โ†’ Folders).
  • ๐Ÿ” Search for text on the screenshot (function) OCR built-in MIUI).

๐Ÿ’ก

If the voice assistant doesnโ€™t respond to the command, restart it through Settings โ†’ Applications โ†’ Application Management โ†’ Voice Assistant โ†’ Stop.

5. Hidden features: advanced screenshot capabilities

There are some little-known features in MIUI that go beyond the standard screenshot, which are useful if you're actively working with graphics or documentation.

FunctionDescriptionHow to turn it onSupported models
Long screenshot.Capture a scrolling page (such as a chat or website)After creating a screenshot, tap on the thumbnail โ†’ ScrollingMIUI 11+ (all models)
Editing before preservationCutting, drawing, adding text before saving the fileAfter the screenshot, click on the thumbnail โ†’ editing toolsMIUI 12+
Screenshot with delayPostponed shot (for example, for a menu that disappears)Three-finger gesture โ†’ Keep your finger on the screen for a timerPOCO F3 GT, Redmi K50 and newer
Save to the cloudAutomatically upload screenshots to Mi CloudSettings โ†’ Xiaomi Account โ†’ Mi Cloud โ†’ Synchronization of media filesAll models with Mi Cloud

Xiaomi 13 Ultra and Redmi K60 Pro appeared a unique function โ€œScreenshot with object recognitionโ€ โ€“ the system automatically selects text, QR-You can use the codes or faces in the picture and suggest actions (translation, search, save contacts). To use it, after you create a screenshot, tap the notification about it and select Image Analysis.

6 Where screenshots are stored and how to manage them

By default, all screenshots are saved to the Pictures โ†’ Screenshots folder (or DCIM โ†’ Screenshots on some firmware).

  1. Open the Gallery app**.
  2. Go to the album "Screenshots"**.
  3. Tap it on. โ‹ฎ โ†’ Album Settings and Select Options:
  • ๐Ÿ“‚ Change the save folder โ€“ redirect the screenshots to Google Drive or to SD-map.
  • ๐Ÿ—‘๏ธ Autocleaning โ€“ Removing old images (for example, over 30 days).
  • ๐Ÿ”’ Password Protection โ€“ Hiding Confidential Screenshots.

If the screenshots are not displayed in the gallery:

  • ๐Ÿ”„ Update your media library through Settings โ†’ Annexes โ†’ gallery โ†’ Warehouse โ†’ Clear the cache.
  • ๐Ÿ“Ž Check the file manager โ€“ sometimes the pictures are saved to the file manager. /storage/emulated/0/Pictures/Screenshots.
  • ๐Ÿ› ๏ธ Use third-party apps (like Files by Google) if the standard gallery is buggy.

๐Ÿ’ก

To prevent screenshots from taking up memory, enable automatic upload to the cloud (Mi Cloud or Google Photos) and set up deletion of local copies after synchronization.

7 Problem Solving: Why the Screenshot Doesn't Work

If neither of these methods works, the reasons may be both software and hardware.

Problem.Possible causeDecision
The button combination doesn't workContamination or breakage of keysClean the buttons with alcohol or use a three-finger gesture
The gesture is unrecognizable.Conflict with other gestures or protective glassTurn off conflicting options in Settings โ†’ System โ†’ Gestures
No sound/animation when screenshotSystem sounds or animations disabledInclude in Settings โ†’ Sound and vibration โ†’ System sounds
Screenshots are not savedLack of memory or gallery failureClear the cache of the galleries or check the vacant space
Voice assistant doesn't take a screenshotNo access to the microphone or service is disabledCheck permissions in Settings โ†’ Apps โ†’ Voice Assistant โ†’ Permissions

On the POCO X3 Pro and other custom firmware devices (e.g., Pixel Experience), standard MIUI techniques may not work.

  1. Install a third-party app for screenshots (like Screenshot Easy or Screen Master).
  2. Use it. ADB-Teams (for advanced users):
adb shell screencap -p /sdcard/screen.png

This command will save a screenshot in the root folder of the storage under the name screen.png.

FAQ: Frequent questions about screenshots on Xiaomi

Can I take a screenshot on a locked screen?
No, for security reasons. MIUI It blocks the capture of images on the lock screen, but on some models (e.g. Xiaomi). 12S Ultra) you can activate the โ€œscreenshot from lockโ€ option** via Settings โ†’ Screen locking โ†’ Additional (required) PIN-code or fingerprint).
How to turn off the shutter sound when screenshot?
Go to Settings โ†’ Sound and Vibration โ†’ System Sounds and turn off the โ€œScream Soundโ€ option. On some firmware, the sound is tied to the general โ€œCamera Soundโ€ โ€“ it also needs to be deactivated.
Why do screenshots turn out black?
This problem is typical for screen protection applications (e.g. Netflix, banking apps, or DRM-protected games), and it is impossible to get around the restriction, which is a security measure built on the Android level. Alternatively, use a second camera or specialized programs to record the screen (e.g. AZ Screen Recorder).
How to take a screenshot in the game without pause?
In most games, pressing physical buttons causes pause. Solutions: Use a three-finger gesture (not all games block it). Activate the notification panel and click on the screenshot icon (if the panel is not hidden in the game). Set the voice assistant on the command (e.g., "Snapshot") and say it during gameplay.
Can I recover a deleted screenshot?
If the file was deleted recently (within 30 days), check the shopping cart in the gallery. For deep recovery, use programs like DiskDigger or Recuva (root rights required). If the screenshot is synced with Mi Cloud or Google Photos, check cloud storage.