Modern users of Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones face the daily need to save information from the screen: whether it is a screenshot of correspondence, a travel map or confirmation of a bank transfer. The MIUI operating system, which is based on Android, has many tools for capturing images, but beginners often do not know about all the possibilities. The standard algorithm of actions, familiar to many, is not always convenient, especially if the hardware buttons of the smartphone are damaged or in an uncomfortable place.
In this article, we will explore all the current methods of creating screenshots, from classic to hidden features available on devices of different generations. You will learn how to configure one-handed control and automate the process. Understanding these nuances will significantly speed up the work with the device and make interaction with the interface of Xiaomi more comfortable.
There are several basic ways to capture the contents of a display, and the right one depends on the situation, for example, for long pages of websites, some methods are better for you, and for games, we will look at each option in detail so that you can choose the most convenient for you.
The most common and reliable way to work on all versions of MIUI and HyperOS firmware is a combination of hardware keys. To create a screenshot, you need to simultaneously press the Power and Volume Down button. You don't need to hold them for long: just a short-term, but clear press is enough. If done correctly, you will hear the characteristic click of the camera shutter, and at the top of the screen a thumbnail of the image taken.
This is considered universal, because it works even when the touch screen is temporarily unresponsive or the system is under stress. However, it has its own features. On some Redmi models with a side fingerprint scanner combined with a power button, it is important not to confuse the actions. If instead of a screenshot, you unlock or turn off the device, then you pressed the Power key too much or for too long.
⚠️ Warning: If you press the power button for too long (more than 3 seconds), the smartphone will go to the switch off or reboot menu instead of taking a screenshot.
After you take a screenshot, a thumbnail floats in the corner, and the system waits for you to take action, so you can click on the thumbnail to edit right away, or ignore it, allowing the image to automatically be saved to the gallery. Files are saved to the Screenshots folder in the internal storage.
Three finger control and gestures
Xiaomi smartphone owners with a serviceable touch screen are much more comfortable using special gestures. This eliminates the need to reach for buttons on the case, which is especially true when using the device with one hand or in narrow cases. To activate this feature, you need to go to the system settings. The path usually looks like this: Settings → Additional features → Screenshots.
In the menu that opens, you need to find the "Three-finger screenshot" item and activate the switch. After that, just swipe three fingers down from top to center of the screen to take the picture. The gesture should be smooth and confident. If the system does not respond the first time, try to increase the speed of movement or press your fingers closer to the display.
- 🖐️ Three-finger gesture is the fastest way for modern Redmi models.
- ⚙️ Sensitivity setting is available in the special features menu.
- 🚫 The method does not work if the “In your pocket” mode is turned on or the screen is blocked.
It is worth noting that on some custom firmware or in certain applications (for example, banking), this gesture can be blocked for security reasons. In such cases, the system can simply ignore the movement or show a notification of impossibility of action.
What to do if the gesture does not work?
If three-fingered motion fails, check to see if the screen sensitivity mode (hands on) is turned on. Sometimes it affects the recognition of multi-touch gestures. Also try to clear the screen area of moisture or greasy traces that can violate the accuracy of the sensor. Using the notification curtain and the floating window MIUI offers another convenient tool that often goes unnoticed - the quick access button in the notification curtain. To do this, you need to swipe your finger from top to open the control center, and find the "Instandible gesture on the screen, this device, it looks like a three fingers, the current buttons, or a knife does not look like a snapshot." But it has one important caveat: to tap the icon in the curtain, you have to remove your finger from where you want to take a screenshot, if it's a game or a video. In static menus, it's not a problem, but in dynamic content you can miss the right moment. In addition, new versions of the shell have a "floating window" for screenshots. If you activate the Assistive Touch function in the special settings, a virtual button will appear on the screen. In its menu, you can make a screenshotshotshotshot feature, which is especially useful for people with a "Screen" or a menu with a "Screen features that are more useful for the most useful for the users of the smartphone" (one features of the "Screen's with limited features of the smartphone). Once you've taken a regular screenshot (in any of the above ways), click on the thumbnail that appears. In the editor that opens, you'll see a few buttons, including a two-arrow icon or a "Scroll" sign, activating this mode, the smartphone will automatically start "scrolling" the page down, taking a series of pictures and gluing them into one long picture. This is indispensable for saving long correspondence in messengers, articles in the browser or news feeds on social networks. The process continues until you click on this mode, the smartphone will automatically start to "scroll" from the final page, for example, you can make a few photos of the video clip from the final page, you can get a quickened page, you can get a few clip from the page. Speed Method Convenience of Button Risks (Power) + Vol-) High Average Wear of Gesture Mechanics (3 fingers) Very High High False Positives of Notifications Curtain Low Average Content Shift Voice Control Average High Internet Need 📊 Volume and power buttons: Three finger gestures:Through the notification curtain:Voice commands Voice control and Google Assistant For those who prefer voice control, Redmi smartphones perfectly integrated Google Assistant. If you have busy hands or the device is in hands-free mode, just say, "OK, Google, take a screenshot" (or "Make a screenshot" if the language is English). This method requires an active Internet connection and enabled voice search function. It can be less reliable in poor communication or in high external noise, where the microphone cannot clearly recognize the command, but it is a great alternative when tactile contact with the screen is not possible. It’s also worth mentioning the ability to customize your own voice commands through macro apps if you don’t like the standard Google Assistant functionality, but basic features are enough for most users. When you create a screenshot, the question is, where do you find it? All screenshots are automatically saved in the Gallery app in an album called Screenshots. The path to a file system is usually: Internal memory. → MIUI → Gallery → cloudCache → Screenshots (the path may vary slightly depending on the Android version). Built-in image editor in MIUI allows you to perform basic actions immediately after creating a screenshot: cropping, adding text, drawing arrows or blurring confidential information (for example, card numbers or telephone numbers). The blur tool is especially important for protecting personal data before sending an image to the interlocutor. 📂 Screenshot folder syncs with Google Photos if backup is enabled. ✏️ The editor allows you to add stamps with the date and time of creation. 🗑️ Deleted screenshots are in the gallery basket and stored there for 30 days. ⚠️ Warning: When sending screenshots with sensitive information, always check if notifications from other apps or password autocomplete data are in the frame. Use the blur tool before posting. 💡Use the built-in editor immediately after you create a screenshot to hide personal data before the file gets to the cloud or is sent to someone.Frequent problems and their solution Sometimes users are faced with the fact that screenshots stop being created or saved with errors. Often, the reason lies in the crowded RAM, if there are many heavy applications running in the background, the system can block the creation of a new process of screen capture, in which case cleaning the memory through the menu of running applications will help. Another common problem is that you don't have a shutter sound, and check the sound settings, and you may have a silent mode or vibration on. The sound of a screenshot is usually tied to the volume level of a media or system, but in some regions (due to legal restrictions) the sound may be turned off at the firmware level if the phone is inserted into the phone. SIM-If none of these methods work, try restarting the device. In rare cases, a failure can cause a SystemUI system process, and a simple reboot will return it to working condition. Also make sure that the device has enough free memory space. Why is the screenshot not working in the banking app? Banking apps use a heightened level of security, which prohibits screenshots and screen recording so that attackers can't steal your financial data, passwords or card numbers through malware. This is the normal behavior of Android security. How to take a screenshot if the volume buttons are broken? Use alternative methods: a three-finger gesture (if the sensor is intact), a button in the notification curtain, Google's voice assistant or Assistive Touch in the special features settings. Where are screenshots stored on Xiaomi Redmi? By default, all images are saved in the Gallery app in Screenshots. In the file manager, the path most often: Internal Memory / DCIM / Screenshots or internal memory / MIUI / Gallery / cloudCache. Can you change the format of the screenshot to PNG? In standard settings MIUI The format is usually selected automatically (more often than not). JPG to save space), but when editing and resaving through the built-in editor, you can choose the quality and format.