How to take a photo of a full-screen call on Xiaomi Redmi Note 8: 5 working ways

Why Call Photos Get Cut – and How to Fix It

Have you ever tried to capture the moment of an incoming call on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8, but instead of a full screenshot, you get a cropped image with black fields? This problem is familiar to many owners of Xiaomi smartphones - the standard ways to take screenshots just don't work during a call. The fact is that the MIUI system blocks the classic button combinations (Loudness down + Power) and gestures for screenshots when the call interface is displayed on the screen.

But there's a way out! In this article, we'll look at 5 proven ways to take full-screen photos of a call without cropping, from built-in MIUI features to advanced third-party apps, how to get around the limitations of the system, what camera settings will help maintain quality, and why some methods may not work on firmware older than MIUI 12, and a unique life hack using screen recording mode that works even on locked devices.

Before you get to the instructions, make sure your Redmi Note 8 is updated to the latest firmware. Check this in the Settings menu → About Phone → System Update. Older versions of MIUI (below 11) may not support some of the features described below.

Method 1: Using Screen Recording Mode (100 percent)

The most reliable method that is guaranteed to work on any Redmi Note 8 is to record the screen and then take frames. Unlike screenshots, video recording is not blocked by the system during calls. Here is a step-by-step instruction:

1. Activate screen recording: Open Settings → Special features → Screen recording and turn on the function. Alternatively, lower the notification curtain and find the Screen Record button (if not, add it through the notification panel editing).
2. Start recording before calling: Start recording 5-10 seconds before you get a call (or before you dial the number yourself). This is important because you won’t be able to add a recording button to the curtain during an active call.
3. Pause and extract the frame: After the call is complete, stop recording. Open the video in the gallery, pause at the right moment and take a screenshot in the standard way (Loudness down + Power). Now you have a photo of the call in the original 2340×1080 resolution!

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI 12.5+ The screen recording can automatically stop when you call in. If it does, try alternative recording applications, such as: AZ Screen Recorder or DU Recorder (links to them are available in Google Play).

Availability of free space (minimum 500 MB)|Disabling battery savings for the recording application|Permission to record sound (if you need a voice)|Absence of ad blockers (they may interfere with the work of third-party recording applications)-->

Method 2: Screenshot via Google Assistant (for support firmware)

If your Redmi Note 8 runs MIUI version 12 or later with Google Assistant preinstalled, you can use a voice command to create a screenshot. This method bypasses system limitations, since the Assistant has extended rights:

1. Activate Google Assistant: Press the Home button (or swipe from the corner of the screen if you use gesture control) and say, "OK, Google, take a screenshot." If the voice assistant isn't on, activate it in Google's settings → Settings for apps → Search, Assistant and Voice.

🔹 Limitations of method:

• 📵 It does not work on firmware (without Google services).
• 🔇 Requires a stable Internet connection to handle voice commands.
• ⚙️ On some devices, Assistant may be blocked during a security call.

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If the voice command doesn't work, try manually typing it into the Google Assistant search bar, and sometimes text input works better.

Method 3: Third-party apps for screenshots (with extended rights)

If the built-in methods didn't work, we'll have specialized tools to help, and we've tested a few apps and picked out those that work on the Redmi Note 8:

📌 How to set up Screenshot Touch for calls:

1. Install the app and provide all the permissions you request (including Display on top of other windows and Access to Notifications).
2. In the application settings, activate the option "Show the button always".
3. When you get a call, tap the floating button of the app – a screenshot will be taken even on a locked screen.

⚠️ Note: Some antiviruses (e.g. Avast or Dr.Web) may block such applications, considering them suspicious due to the request for extended rights. If screenshots are not saved, temporarily disable the antivirus or add the application to exceptions.

Method 4: Manual screen photography (if nothing helps)

If the software doesn't work, the old-fashioned way is to take a picture of the screen with another device, and the quality is worse, but you'll get a full picture of the call. Here's how to minimize the quality loss.

• 📱 Use a second smartphone with a good camera (like the Redmi Note 10 Pro or newer).
• 🔦 Turn on the second phone mode "Document" or "Professional" in the camera - this will reduce distortions.
• 💡 Lighting: Avoid direct glare on the Redmi Note 8 screen. It is better to take photos in the shade or in diffuse light.
• 📏 Place the camera parallel to the screen at a distance of 10-15 cm Use the grid frame to align.

🔹 How to process a photo after shooting:

1. Cut the extra edges in any graphics editor (like Snapseed or Lightroom).
2. Increase contrast and sharpness to make the text on the screen clearer.
3. If there are glares, use the “Fix” tool in Google Photos.

Method 5: Hidden MIUI function – Developer Mode (for advanced)

MIUI firmware has a hidden option that allows you to take screenshots in any mode, including the call screen, and to activate it you need to turn on the developer mode and change several parameters:

1. Enable Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About the phone and 7 times click on the item "Version" MIUI". Then on the Settings menu → A new section will be added for developers".
2. Find the screenshot setting: In the For Developers section, scroll down and find the USB Debugging option — turn it on. Then look for the option “Allow Screenshots to be Saved in Secure Modes” (or similar in meaning) and activate it.
3. Reboot your phone: After changing your settings, restart the device. Now the standard combination of Volume Down + Power should work even while you're calling.

⚠️ Note: On some versions MIUI (especially global) the option "Allow screenshots to be saved in protected modes" may not be available, in which case try to update the firmware to the latest version or use alternative methods from this article.

Frequent Mistakes and How to Avoid Them

Even following the instructions, users often encounter problems when trying to take a photo of a call, and here are the most common mistakes and solutions:

🔹 Advice for owners of Redmi Note 8 Pro: If you have a modification with a Mediatek Helio processor G90T, Some screenshot applications may not work well because of the kernel, and in this case we recommend using Screen Master, which is optimized for Mediatek chipsets.

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The most universal method is to record the screen and then extract the frame, which works on all versions of MIUI and does not require root rights.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions