How to take a screenshot on a Xiaomi phone: all ways + hidden MIUI features

Taking a screenshot on a Xiaomi smartphone seems like a simple task — until you encounter unexpected nuances. Some models require physical buttons, others support gestures, and MIUI 14 has completely hidden features for advanced users. This article will not only list the standard methods, but also reveal little-known techniques that save time, from creating long screenshots of scrolling pages to instant recognition of text from the screen.

We tested all the methods on the latest devices – from the budget Redmi Note 12 to the flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra – and found out which ones work consistently and where problems can arise (for example, when using gestures in games or a Broken display).

Method 1: Classic button combination (works on 100% of devices)

It’s a versatile method that’s guaranteed to work even on Xiaomi’s oldest models (including the Redmi 4A or Mi A1).

1. Open on the screen what you want to capture (for example, correspondence in Telegram or map in Google Maps).
2. Press two buttons at the same time: Power (right) + Volume Down (left).
3. Hold them for 1-2 seconds until you hear the characteristic shutter sound (if the sound is turned off, visual animation will appear).

⚠️ Note: On some models (e.g, POCO F5) Holding the buttons too long can activate FastBoot or Recovery Mode. If the screen goes out and the Mi Bunny logo appears, don't panic: just restart the phone with a long press on Power.

Screen unlocked and active | Finger not closing buttons | Sound on (for confirmation) | No active calls or screen recordings-->

Where to look for a ready screenshot? By default, files are saved in the folder:

/storage/emulated/0/Pictures/Screenshots/

Or through the gallery: open the Photos → Screenshots app. In MIUI 14, the Edit button will also appear here with tools for cropping, blurring and adding text.

Method 2: Three-finger gesture (fastest, but requires adjustment)

The Three-Finger Screenshot feature allows you to take a screenshot in one motion, swipe top-down with three fingers (without pressing) and is ideal for games (Genshin Impact, PUBG Mobile) where physical buttons are locked by the interface.

How to turn on:

1. Go to Settings → Additional → Special features → Screenshot gesture.
2. Activate the screenshot switch with three fingers.
3. (Optional) Enable a Long Screenshot to capture the scrollable pages.

🔹 Challenges and solutions:

• 🎮 Does it work in games? Check if the gestures in the game settings are disabled (for example, Call of Duty Mobile has a Block Screenshots option).
• 👆 Reduce the sensitivity of the gesture in the same settings or turn off the feature for specific applications.
• 🔧 Does the gesture conflict with navigation? MIUI You can set priority: Settings → System system → Gestures → Priority of gestures.

Power and volume keys|Three-finger gesture|Voice assistant|Other-->

Method 3: Voice command via Google Assistant or Xiao AI

If your hands are busy or your buttons are faulty, you can take a voice screenshot.

Through Google Assistant:

1. Activate the assistant with your voice: say OK, Google or press the Home button.
2. Say the command: Take a screenshot or take a picture of the screen.

Through Xiao AI (China only/Global Firmware with China Region):

1. Press the Power button to call Xiao AI.
2. Say in Chinese: (jiétú) or in English: Take a screenshot.

⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Redmi Note 11 Pro)+ 5G) voice commands may not work in restricted applications (banking programs, encrypted messengers), in which case a notification will appear: Screenshot blocked due to security policy.

Method 4: Long screenshot (to capture scrollable pages)

Scrolling Screenshot allows you to capture all the content of a page, such as a long chat on WhatsApp or an article in your browser.

1. Take a regular screenshot of any of the above methods.
2. Immediately after the thumbnail appears in the lower right corner of the screen, click on it.
3. In the editor that opens, tap the Scrolling icon (two arrows down).
4. Wait until the system automatically scrolls the page and connects the frames.

📌 Limitations:

• 📱 Does not work in applications with dynamic content (such as TikTok or Instagram Reels).
• 🔄 Maximum length of capture – up to 10 screens (in MIUI Exceeding the limit will cut the result.
• 🚫 In some applications (for example, YouTube) the function is disabled by default.

💡 Lifehack: If a long screenshot is not saved, try cropping it in the editor first and then click Save.This often solves the problem with "broken" files.

Method 5: Screenshot via the notification menu (for older versions of MIUI)

MIUI 10-12 has an alternative way of doing it through the notification bar, but although it's been eliminated in the newer versions, it still works on some devices:

1. Pull the notification curtain down.
2. Find the Screenshot tile (if it is not available, click Edit and add it manually).
3. Slip on the tile - the picture will be taken in 3 seconds.

⚠️ Attention: MIUI 13/14 This tiles may be missing, and instead, a button appeared in the curtain, which is a Screen Recording button that is not associated with screenshots.

💡

If the Screenshot tile disappeared after the update, try resetting the notification bar settings: Settings → Notifications → Additional → Reset the panel settings.

Editing and managing screenshots

After creating the screenshot, MIUI offers basic editing tools:

🔹 Hidden function: B MIUI 14 it was possible to save screenshots in PDF. For that:

1. Open the screenshot in the gallery.
2. Click More → Export to PDF.
3. Select several screenshots to combine into one file.

This is convenient for creating instructions or saving checks from online stores.

💡

Screenshots in MIUI are automatically synced to Mi Cloud if Backup → Gallery is enabled, allowing you to restore them even after you reset your phone.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Problem 1: Screenshots don’t save or disappear.

• 📁 Check the folder. Pictures/Screenshots/ via file manager.
• 🔄 Restart your phone – sometimes the system doesn’t have time to write a file.
• 🚫 If the folder is empty, check if saving in Settings is disabled. → Warehouse → Additionally. → Saving screenshots.

Problem 2: The screenshot is black.

This is typical for DRM-protected applications (such as Netflix, Disney+ or banking programs).

1. Use the screen recording (but no sound – it is also blocked).
2. Connect your phone to your PC and take a screenshot via scrcpy or Vysor.

Problem 3: The buttons or gestures are not working.

• 🔧 Check if the Child Mode or Guest Mode is activated – they limit the functionality.
• 🛠️ If the buttons do not respond, clear the system cache: Settings → Annexes → Application management → Three points. → Clear the cache.
• 🔄 Update the firmware: in older versions MIUI There were gesture processing bugs.

Yeah, the screenshots didn't survive.|Yes, buttons/gestures didn't work.|Yeah, black screen in apps.|No, it worked fine.-->

FAQ: Answers to popular questions