How to take a screenshot on a Xiaomi phone: all ways + secret MIUI chips

Creating screenshots on Xiaomi smartphones seems like a simple task โ€” until you encounter unexpected nuances. Some models support gestures, others require button combinations, and in the case of a new model, the user can use a new model. MIUI 14+ This article will not only list the standard methods, but also reveal the unique features of screenshots on Xiaomi, which even official instructions are silent about โ€“ for example, how to take a screenshot with a scrolling or save it immediately to the cloud.

You will learn why some Redmis donโ€™t work with the usual keyboard shortcut, how to get around the limitations in games and apps with screenshot protection, and what settings are available. MIUI It affects the quality and format of the images you store, and there's a separate section that deals with the typical problems of the black screen, the lack of sound or the missing button in the notification curtain, and all the instructions are relevant for the devices on the base. MIUI 12โ€“15 and HyperOS (including Xiaomi 14, Redmi Note 13 Pro)+ and POCO F6).

1. Standard method: button combination

The classic method works on 99% of Xiaomi devices, but many users make critical mistakes when using it. The main rule is that the buttons must be pressed simultaneously and with the right force - not consistently, as beginners think, POCO X5) combination:

Power button + Volume Down button

Hold both keys for 1โ€“1.5 seconds until you hear the characteristic shutter sound (if enabled in the settings) or see the save animation in the upper right corner. 13T) Short enough pressing โ€“ long hold can cause the screen to turn off or the voice assistant to be activated.

  • ๐Ÿ”น For models with a physical home button (e.g. Redmi) 5A): Use the power + Home instead of reducing the volume.
  • ๐Ÿ”น On Xiaomi tablets (like Pad 6): The combination is the same, but the buttons are located on the end, which requires getting used to.
  • ๐Ÿ”น In games with active Game Turbo: the standard combination may not work โ€“ use alternative methods (see section 4).

โš ๏ธ Note: On devices with a faulty power button (for example, after a fall), this method can lead to an accidental reboot.

Make sure the screen is unlocked|Check the charge level (below 5% of screenshots may not be saved)|Turn off Do Not Disturb (it blocks shutter sound)|Close applications with protection from screenshots (banks, instant messengers)-->

2. Screenshot via notification panel

An alternative method that saves you when you have a broken button or when you have to take a picture with one hand. MIUI HyperOS, but its effectiveness depends on the settings of fast access.

Instructions:

  1. Turn the swipe notification curtain from top to bottom (some models require a swipe twice to fully deploy).
  2. Find a screenshot button (an icon with scissors or a rectangle) If it's not there, tap the pencil icon (Edit) and add the item to the active one.
  3. Press the button and the screen will blink and the screenshot will be saved in the gallery.

Advantages of the method:

  • ๐ŸŽฏ It works even with touch buttons (on Xiaomi Mi). A3 or Redmi Go).
  • ๐ŸŽฏ Allows you to take a screenshot in applications where gestures are blocked (for example, in TikTok).
  • ๐ŸŽฏ You can set a double press of the button in the curtain for a long screenshot (see section 5).
Xiaomi modelAvailability of the default buttonIs the curtain editing required?
Xiaomi 14 ProYes.No.
Redmi Note 12Yes.No.
POCO X4 GTNo.Yes (add manually)
Xiaomi Pad 6Yes.No, but the button is hidden in the second swipe.

โš ๏ธ Note: If the screenshot is not saved after clicking on the button, check the permissions for the Service application. MIUI in settings (Annexes) โ†’ Permit management โ†’ Without access to memory, screenshots will not be created.

Button combination|Notification curtain|Three-finger gesture|Voice assistant|Another way.-->

3. Three-finger gesture: tuning and nuance

The "Three Fingers Screenshot" feature appeared in MIUI 10 and has since become a favorite tool for users, but by default it is disabled โ€” it needs to be activated manually. This method is especially convenient for owners of devices with large screens (for example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra or Redmi). K60 Pro), where reaching the power and volume buttons is problematic.

How to turn on:

  1. Go to Settings โ†’ Additional functions โ†’ Gestures.
  2. Select a screenshot with three fingers.
  3. Activate the switch and select the action: Swipe down for a screenshot of the current screen. Swipe up for a long screenshot.

Technical details:

  • ๐Ÿ‘† The gesture is recognized only when the vertical swipe (not diagonal).
  • ๐Ÿ‘† In some models (POCO F5) It requires three fingers to touch simultaneously, not consecutively.
  • ๐Ÿ‘† In games, gestures can conflict with controls โ€“ turn it off via Game Turbo.

If the gesture doesn't work:

  • โœ… Check if the One Hand mode is enabled in the screen settings.
  • โœ… Make sure there are no greasy spots or low-sensitivity protective film on the screen.
  • โœ… Restart the device โ€“ sometimes the gesture service โ€œhangs".
Why does the gesture not work in some applications?
Some apps (such as Netflix or SberBank Online) block screenshots for security reasons. MIUI It ignores gestures and button combinations to prevent sensitive data from leaking. ADB-Teams or root access, but this violates Xiaomiโ€™s security policy and may result in loss of warranty.

4. Screenshots in games and secure applications

Many games (such as Genshin Impact or PUBG Mobile and banking apps (Tinkoff, VTB Online) block standard screenshots, display a "Screenshots Prohibited" notification or save a black image, and solve the problem in several ways:

Method 1: Game Turbo (for games)

  • ๐ŸŽฎ Open the game and swipe from left to right to call the Game Turbo panel.
  • ๐ŸŽฎ Click on the Screenshot icon (if not, add via Settings). โ†’ Control elements).
  • ๐ŸŽฎ Alternative: Use the Screen Record button and then extract the frame from the video.

Method 2: Google Assistant (bypassing restrictions)

This method works even in banking applications, but requires pre-configuration:

  1. Activate Google Assistant in Settings (Applications) โ†’ By default. โ†’ Assistant).
  2. Say in your voice, โ€œOK Google, take a screenshot,โ€ or hold the Home button (on physical-button models).
  3. Confirm the action in the pop-up window.

Method 3: ADB-Teams (for advanced teams)

If you need to regularly take screenshots in protected applications, you can turn off restrictions through ADB:

adb shell settings put global hidden_api_policy 1

โš ๏ธ This method requires an unlocked bootloader and may disrupt some functions. MIUI. Use it at your own risk!

๐Ÿ’ก

If the game does not support screenshots, but you need to save the moment - use screen recording followed by the extraction of the frame. MIUI There is a built-in video editor for this: open the entry in the gallery, click Edit โ†’ Select the right moment and select the right moment.

5. Long screenshot (scroll screen)

Scrolling Screenshot (or "long screenshot") captures all the content of a page, from the top to the bottom, and is essential for saving dialogs in messengers, long articles or lists in apps. MIUI HyperOS has two ways of activating:

Method 1: Through a screenshot miniature

  1. Take a regular screenshot by any method (buttons, curtain, gesture).
  2. Immediately after saving in the lower right corner will appear miniature - tap on it.
  3. In the editor that opens, select Scrolling (an icon with down arrows).
  4. Wait for the automatic scroll of the screen and press Ready.

Method 2: Three finger gesture (if tuned)

If you activate the three-finger gesture (see section 3), swipe up the screen and the system will automatically take a long screenshot.

Limitations of function:

  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Does not work in applications with dynamic content (such as Instagram or Twitter).
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ Maximum length: 10 screens (limited) MIUI).
  • ๐Ÿ“ฑ In some versions, firmware can "short" the bottom of the page.
Type of contentIs a long screenshot supported?The alternative
Web pages (Chrome, Mi Browser)Yes.โ€”
Dialogues in WhatsApp/TelegramYes.โ€”
Instagram feedNo.Screen recording
Documents Word/PDFPartially (depending on the application)Export to PDF

๐Ÿ’ก

A long screenshot is saved as a separate file in the Screenshots folder marked "Scroll_" It can be edited, cut or converted into a name. PDF straight in the standard gallery MIUI.

6 Where screenshots are stored and how to change the way you save them

By default, all screenshots on Xiaomi are saved to the folder:

/storage/emulated/0/Pictures/Screenshots/

But you can change that path, and you can also set up automatic uploads to the cloud or sends them to instant messengers.

Change the save folder:

  1. Install a file manager with support for root folders (such as Mi File Explorer or Solid Explorer).
  2. Go to Pictures and create a new folder (for example, Screenshots_Work).
  3. Use it. ADB-Redirect command: adb shell settings put system screenshot_save_path /storage/emulated/0/Pictures/Screenshots_Work/

Automatic upload to the cloud:

  • ๐ŸŒฅ๏ธ Open the Settings. โ†’ Xiaomi accounts โ†’ Mi Cloud โ†’ gallery.
  • ๐ŸŒฅ๏ธ Enable Autoboot and select Only Screenshots.
  • ๐ŸŒฅ๏ธ Set a limit on mobile data if necessary.

Quickly sending a screenshot:

After the image was taken:

  1. Slip the thumbnail in the lower right corner.
  2. Select Share and specify the app (Telegram, Email, etc.).
  3. To speed up the process, set up Direct Submit to Settings โ†’ Additional functions โ†’ Quick action.

โš ๏ธ Suddenly disappeared from the gallery, check the folder.thumbnails in the root directory - sometimes MIUI moves them there during system optimizations. Also, after updating to HyperOS, the screenshot path may reset to default.

7. Solving screenshot problems

Even on new Xiaomi devices, users face typical screenshot problems, and here are some of the most common bugs and ways to fix them:

Problem 1: Screenshot is not saved (no notification)

  • ๐Ÿ”ง Check the free space on the device (need a minimum of 500 MB on the system partition).
  • ๐Ÿ”ง Open the Settings. โ†’ Annexes โ†’ Application management โ†’ Services MIUI โ†’ Storage and clear the cache.
  • ๐Ÿ”ง Restart your phone โ€“ sometimes the screenshot service โ€œhangsโ€ after prolonged use.

Problem 2: Black screen in the screenshot

This happens in screen-protected applications (banks, some games).

  • ๐Ÿ–ฅ๏ธ Use screen recording (see section 4).
  • ๐Ÿ–ฅ๏ธ Connect your phone to your PC and take a picture via scrcpy or Vysor.
  • ๐Ÿ–ฅ๏ธ Enable Developer Mode and Turn Off Screenshot Ban (requires) ADB): adb shell settings put global hidden_api_policy_pre_p_apps 1 adb shell settings put global hidden_api_policy_p_apps 1

Problem 3: No shutter sound

  • ๐Ÿ”Š Go to Settings. โ†’ Sounds and vibrations โ†’ Systemic sounds.
  • ๐Ÿ”Š Make sure the screenshot sound switch is on.
  • ๐Ÿ”Š If there is a sound but quiet, check the volume of the media (adjusted by the volume buttons).

Problem 4: Three-finger gestures conflict with other functions

  • โœ‹ Open the Settings. โ†’ Additional functions โ†’ Gestures โ†’ Screenshot with three fingers.
  • โœ‹ Turn off conflicting gestures (e.g. Swipe for returns).
  • โœ‹ Configure the activation zone (in some firmware available in the Developer Settings).

๐Ÿ’ก

If screenshots are saved in low resolution, check the screen settings: go to Settings โ†’ Display. โ†’ Screen resolution and set the maximum value (e.g, FHD+ or QHD+). Also turn off the power saving mode โ€“ it can reduce the quality of pictures.

8 Hidden Screenshot Chips on Xiaomi

Besides the standard functions, MIUI HyperOS and HyperOS offer unique screenshot capabilities that few people know about:

Tip 1: Edit immediately after creation

After creating a screenshot, tap the thumbnail in the corner of the screen - the editor with the tools will open:

  • ๐ŸŽจ Blurring โ€“ hides confidential information.
  • ๐ŸŽจ Text - Adding inscriptions with a choice of font and color.
  • ๐ŸŽจ Mosaic โ€“ pixelation of selected areas.
  • ๐ŸŽจ Pruning with aspect ratio โ€“ for social networks (9:16, 1:1, etc.).

Tip 2: Quick text recognition (OCR)

In the gallery. MIUI You can extract text from the screenshot without third-party applications:

  1. Open the screenshot in the gallery.
  2. Slip the text icon (or Remove text in new versions).
  3. Select the desired fragment - the text will be copied to the clipboard.

Tip 3: Screenshot with timer

If you need to prepare before shooting (for example, expand the menu), use a delayed screenshot:

  1. Hold the Power combination + Volume Down 3 seconds.
  2. Release the buttons and a countdown timer will appear.
  3. You will have 5 seconds to prepare the screen.

Figure 4: Save in format PDF

Long screenshots can be converted into PDF gallery-line:

  1. Open a long screenshot.
  2. Tap to share. โ†’ Save how PDF.
  3. Select the folder to save (by default โ€” Documents/PDF).

Tip 5: Voice control of screenshots

If you have Google Assistant or Alice enabled from Yandex, you can take screenshots with your voice:

  • ๐Ÿ—ฃ๏ธ For Google Assistant: OK, Google, take a screenshot".
  • ๐Ÿ—ฃ๏ธ For Alice: Alice, take a picture of the screen".

๐Ÿ’ก

HyperOS has a Smart Screenshot feature that automatically recognizes the type of content on the screen (text, table, picture) and offers optimal editing tools, for example, when shooting a table, the system will suggest saving it to Excel.

FAQ: Frequent questions about screenshots on Xiaomi

Can I take a screenshot on the switched off Xiaomi?
No, it's technically impossible. The screenshot requires the GPU and the operating system to work actively. However, if the phone freezes (the screen is unresponsive, but the device is on), try: Hold the Power. + Volume Up 10 seconds for forced reboot. After reboot, check the Screenshots folder - sometimes the system saves a screenshot before crashing. If the phone is completely discharged, plug it into charging and wait for it to turn on - only then can you take a screenshot.
How to take a screenshot on Xiaomi without buttons (if the screen or buttons are broken)?
There are three ways: ADB (Requires PC: Adb shell screencap -p /sdcard/screen.png The image will be saved as screen.png in the root folder. Voice assistant: Activate Google Assistant or Alice. Say the command: "Take a screenshot." Remote control: Connect your phone to your PC via scrcpy or TeamViewer QuickSupport. Take a screenshot from your computer (in scrcpy, this is the key). F12).
Why are screenshots on Xiaomi still in low quality?
The quality of screenshots depends on several factors: Screen resolution: Set the maximum in Settings โ†’ Display. โ†’ Screen resolution. Power saving mode: Turn it off in Settings โ†’ Battery - it reduces graphics performance. Save format: Default MIUI use JPEG with compression, to keep in PNG (Lossless), use third-party apps (e.g. Screenshot Touch) App restrictions: Some games (e.g. Call of Duty Mobile) force screenshot quality to be reduced. To check the actual resolution of a screenshot, open it in the gallery and see the properties (tap on icon i). The optimal value is not less 1080ร—2400 (For most of todayโ€™s Xiaomi).
How to turn off the screenshot notification in Xiaomi?
The pop-up notification and shutter sound can be turned off: Go to Settings โ†’ Notifications and status bar โ†’ Notification management. Find the Service app. MIUI (or UI Turn off the Screenshot or Screen capture switch. To turn off the sound: Go to Settings โ†’ Sounds and vibrations โ†’ System sounds. Turn off the screenshot sound. โš ๏ธ Note: On some models (POCO F4, Redmi Note 11: These settings are reset after the update MIUI. Check them after installing new versions of the firmware.
Can I recover deleted screenshots on Xiaomi?
Yes, but success depends on how long ago they were removed: If less than 30 days have passed: Open the Gallery โ†’ Albums. โ†’ Bag. Select the screenshots you want and click Restore.