How to take a screenshot on a Xiaomi smartphone: all the ways from MIUI 12 to HyperOS

Taking screenshots on Xiaomi smartphones seems like a simple task — until you face unexpected limitations: some models require physical buttons, others support gestures, and new versions of MIUI and HyperOS have voice commands, and even experienced users sometimes miss the nuances of why a screenshot is not saved in a gallery or how to take a screenshot with a long web page.

In this article, we’ll look at all the current ways to create screenshots on Xiaomi, Redmi, POCO and Black Shark devices, from classic button combinations to little-known features like Scrolling Screenshot or Scrolling Screenshot with Sound. We’ll focus on the problems that arise after firmware updates, and give you a checklist for troubleshooting. If your smartphone runs on Android 13/14 with HyperOS, here you’ll find the current instructions – many old guides don’t work!

1. Classic method: power and volume buttons

The most versatile method that works on all Xiaomi models, including the budget Redmi Note and the flagship Mi 13/14.

1. Open the screen you want to capture (for example, a dialog in the messenger or a page in the browser).
2. At the same time, press the Power (on/off) button and the Volume Down button.
3. Hold them for 1-2 seconds until you hear the shutter sound or see an animation of the screenshot.

⚠️ Note: On some models (e.g, POCO F5 or Redmi K60) Button sensitivity may vary. If you don't get a screenshot:

• 🔹 Check if the buttons are locked in the settings (Settings) → Additionally. → Buttons).
• 🔹 Try not to press simultaneously, but with minimal delay (first Power, then Volume down).
• 🔹 Make sure there are no low battery system notifications on the screen – they can block screenshots from being taken.

Where do you look for the saved screenshot? By default, the files appear:

• 📁 In the gallery, in the folder Screenshots (or Screenshots on English firmware).
• 📁 In the file manager on the path Internal drive → Pictures → Screenshots.

2. Three-finger gesture: quick screenshot without buttons

The three-finger gesture feature was introduced in MIUI 9 and remains one of the most convenient ones, allowing you to take a screenshot by simply swiping down the display with three fingers (usually ring, middle and index).

1. Go to Settings → Additional → Button Gestures (on HyperOS: Settings → Special Features → Gestures).
2. Find the screenshot option of three fingers and activate it.
3. Test the gesture on any screen (except lock and some games).

🔹 nuance:

• 🎯 On some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T) The gesture works only when the screen is vertically oriented.
• 🎯 If the screenshot is not created, check if the gesture conflicts with other functions (for example, with Swipe for return).
• 🎯 In games, the gesture may not work due to performance optimization – use buttons or notification bar.

⚠️ Warning: After upgrading to HyperOS, the path to gesture settings may change. If you don't find an option, search for screenshot settings».

Option included in the settings|Screen unlocked|The gesture is done quickly and clearly.|No conflict with other gestures-->

3. Notification panel: screenshot in one tap

The most reliable method for those who do not like to remember button combinations or gestures. In MIUI and HyperOS, the screenshot button is built into the notification bar:

1. Pull the notification bar down (with one or two fingers, depending on the model).
2. Find the Screenshot icon (usually a scissors or a rectangle with lightning).
3. Slip it on it - the picture will be taken instantly.

🔹 What to do if there is no button?

• 🔧 Click on Edit (pencil in the top corner of the panel) and add the Screenshot icon to active shortcuts.
• 🔧 On some firmware (for example, POCO Launcher) the notification bar may look different – look for the icon in the Quick Settings section.
• 🔧 If the panel does not open completely, swipe down twice or hold the first swipe.

💡 Useful Lifehack: In HyperOS, you can double-press the power button to call the notification panel, which speeds up access to screenshots. → Lock screen → Double-push.

4.Voice assistant: screenshot on command

If you have Xiaomi Voice Assistant (or Google Assistant) on, you can take voice screenshots, which is convenient when your hands are busy or your buttons are not working.

1. Activate Assistant: For Xiaomi Voice Assistant, say "Hi Mi" or hold the Home button. For Google Assistant, say "OK, Google."
2. Dictate the team: 🎤 «Take a Screenshot (for Xiaomi). 🎤 «Take a screenshot (for Google).

⚠️ Note: Voice commands do not work in all applications, for example, in banking programs or screenshot-protected games (such as Genshin Impact), the assistant may refuse to execute the command.

🔹 How to improve recognition:

• 🔊 In the settings of the assistant (Settings) → Annexes → Voice assistant) turn on the option Recognition without the Internet.
• 🔊 If the command doesn’t work, try alternative wordings like “Photograph the screen” or “Save the screen».
• 🔊 On HyperOS models, voice assistant may require additional training – watch out for on-screen clues.

5. Scrolling Screenshot: How to Capture a Long Page

A standard screenshot captures only the visible part of the screen, but what if you want to save the entire web page, chat or list? MIUI and HyperOS have a scrolling screenshot feature (sometimes called Long Screenshot or Scrolling screenshot).

1. Take a regular screenshot in any way (buttons, gesture or through the panel).
2. Immediately after the appearance of the thumbnail screenshot at the bottom of the screen, tap it.
3. In the editor that opens, find the Scrolling button (or Long Screenshot) and click it.
4. The screen will automatically scroll down, capturing content. Click Ready when you need to stop.

🔹 Limitations of function:

• 📜 Does not work in some apps (such as Instagram, TikTok or YouTube due to content protection).
• 📜 In Chrome, you can only capture text, without images (depending on version).
• 📜 On models with HyperOS, the Scroll button is sometimes hidden – swipe left through the screenshot thumbnail to open additional options.

💡 Alternative: If the screenshot doesn't work, use apps like LongShot or Stitch & Share (available on Google Play) that let you manually combine multiple screenshots into one long screenshot.

💡

If you often need long screenshots of web pages, install the GoFullPage extension for the Chrome browser.It saves the entire page as a PDF or image in one click, bypassing the limitations of MIUI.

6 Screenshot in games and secure applications

Many games and applications (such as PUBG Mobile, Wild Rift or banking) block standard screenshots.

• 🎮 Game Turbo: On the models POCO And Black Shark, swipe left to right during the game to open the toolbar.
• 📱 Developer Mode: Enable the Debugging option USB and use ADB-command for forced screenshot (details below).
• 🔄 Bypass restrictions: Take a screenshot through Screen Record (in the notification panel) and then extract the frame from the video.

🔹 How to take a screenshot through ADB:

1. Connect your phone to your PC and enable USB Debugging (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times tap, then go back to Additional → For Developers).
2. Open the command line on PC and type in: adb shell screencap -p /sdcard/screen.png
3. Copy the file to your computer: adb pull /sdcard/screen.png

⚠️ Attention: Use ADB Do not follow other commands from unverified sources, it can disrupt the system. ADB the screen began to flash or artifacts appeared, restart the device.

💡

In anti-cheat games (like Call of Duty Mobile), even the game panel may not work. The only legal way is to use a second camera (another phone) or an external capture program from a PC (like Scrcpy).

7. Editing and managing screenshots

After taking a screenshot, MIUI and HyperOS offer basic editing tools:

• 🖌️ Trimming: Hold your finger on the screenshot thumbnail after it's created to cut the edges straight away.
• 🎨 Drawing: The editor has brushes, text, stickers and blur (useful for hiding personal data).
• 📤 Quick Submitting: Click on the Share icon in thumbnail to send a screenshot to the messenger or cloud.

🔹 Where screenshots are stored?

• 📂 By default: Pictures/Screenshots or DCIM/Screenshots.
• 📂 On some firmware (for example, Xiaomi.EU) the path may be different: MIUI/Screenshots.
• 📂 If the screenshots aren't displayed in the gallery, make sure they're not hidden. Open the Files, tap three dots. → Show hidden files.

⚠️ Note: If screenshots suddenly stop being saved, check out:

• 🛑 Is there enough space on the device (minimum 50-100 MB on the system partition).
• 🛑 Are permissions for the Gallery or Screenshots app disabled (Settings) → Annexes → Permits).
• 🛑 Is Incognito mode activated in the gallery (hiding screenshots from outsiders).

8. Frequent problems and their solutions

Even on new Xiaomi smartphones, users are experiencing screenshot bugs, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

💡 Advice for owners of old models: If after upgrading to HyperOS gestures stopped working, reset gesture settings: → System system → Resetting settings → Reset gesture settings. It won't delete personal data, but it will return the standard combinations.

🔧 Last chance: If none of these things work, check system integrity through Safe Mode. Press Power button, hold power down. → Safe Mode. If you're taking screenshots, the problem is with a third-party app, delete the newly installed programs.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions