How to take a screenshot on Xiaomi Redmi Note 8: all ways with explanations

Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 remains one of the most popular smartphones of the brand even years after its release – thanks to balanced performance, reliable hardware and flexible MIUI firmware. But many users still face a basic problem: how to quickly take a screenshot if the standard keyboard shortcuts do not work or are forgotten. This article will not just list the methods, but will analyze them with the MIUI version, interface features and even hidden features that are not written in the official manuals.

We tested all the methods on the latest firmware (including MIUI 14 and HyperOS) so you can choose the best option – whether it is a classic combination of buttons, three-finger gestures or voice commands. Special attention will be paid to the typical errors: why the screenshot is not saved, how to change the file format and where screenshots disappeared after the system update. If you are looking for not just a manual, but a complete guide with nuances for a particular model, welcome!

1. Classic method: power and volume buttons

The most versatile method, which works on all versions of the Redmi Note 8 — regardless of the year of release and firmware.

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 button (right) and the volume reduction button (left).
3. Hold them for 1-2 seconds until you hear the characteristic sound of the camera shutter and see the animation of the screenshot.

⚠️ Attention: If you press the buttons at the same time, either lock the screen or adjust the volume. On the Redmi Note 8 with worn buttons, it may take several attempts - try pressing the volume button with a slight pre-emption.

Where to look for results? Screenshots are saved by default in the DCIM → Screenshots or Pictures → Screenshots folder (depending on the MIUI version). The files are.png format with a resolution corresponding to the current screen resolution (for example, 1080×2340 for Full HD+).

Shutter animation lit |Notification appears "Screenshot saved" |File seen in the gallery in Screenshots |No artifacts (black stripes, cropping)

-->

2. Three-finger gesture: quick screenshot without buttons

The three-finger gesture is a MIUI feature that eliminates the need to use physical buttons, which is especially useful if the power button is jammed or you often take screenshots with one hand.

1. Go to Settings → Additional functions → Gestures.
2. Find the screenshot option with three fingers and turn on the switch.
3. Test: Swipe your finger (usually from top to bottom) across the screen and a screenshot should appear.

🔹 Nuances settings:

• 🎨 The direction of the gesture can be changed in the settings menu (for example, left to right).
• 🔒 The function only works on an unlocked screen.
• 📱 On some firmware, the gesture conflicts with Google Assistant – turn it off in gesture settings.

⚠️ Note: If after the update MIUI gesture stopped working, reset gesture settings to factory (Settings) → Additional functions → Gestures → This is a common problem on the Redmi Note 8 when switching from MIUI 12 on MIUI 14.

Power and volume buttons|Three-finger gesture|Voice assistant|Notification panel|Another option-->

3. Screenshot via notification panel

A little-known but extremely handy method - especially if you need to take a late screenshot (for example, to capture animations or pop-up menus).

1. Deploy the notification panel (swipe from top to bottom).
2. Find a screenshot icon (usually a scissors or a screen thumbnail) if it's not available, tap on Edit and add a shortcut manually.
3. Click on the icon – a menu with options will appear: 📸 Screenshot - standard shot. ⏱️ Screenshot with a delay (3 or 10 seconds). 📜 Long screenshot (for scrollable pages).

🔹 Advantages of the method:

• ⏳ The ability to take a screenshot with a timer – convenient for capturing temporary notifications.
• 📄 The Long Screenshot feature automatically glues several frames together (for example, for a chat in a Telegram or a web page).
• 🔧 It does not require memorizing key combinations.

⚠️ Note: On some custom firmware (e.g. Pixel Experience), the notification bar may not contain a screenshot icon. ADB label:

adb shell settings put global sysui_qs_tiles "screenshot"

4.Voice assistant: screenshot on command

If you have Google Assistant on or Alice from Yandex, you can take screenshots with your voice without touching the screen, which is useful when your hands are busy or buttons are not available.

🔹 For Google Assistant:

1. Activate the assistant with the phrase “OK, Google” or holding the Home button.
2. Say, Take a screenshot or take a picture of the screen.
3. Confirm the action in the window that appears.

🔹 For Alice:

1. Press the Home button or say Hello, Alice.
2. Say, Take a screenshot of the screen.

⚠️ Note: Voice commands may not work if:

• 🔇 Access to Special Opportunities is disabled (Settings) → Annexes → Special access).
• 📵 No Internet connection (required for voice processing).
• 🔒 Screen locked (unlock the device in front of the command).

💡

If the voice assistant doesn’t recognize the command, try alternative phrases like “Save the screen,” “Capture the display,” or “Scream the screen.”

5. Hidden features: screenshot with ADB and third-party apps

For advanced users who don’t have the standard methods, there are alternative ways to use Android Debug Bridge (ADB) or specialized utilities.

• 🔧 Physical buttons are broken.
• 📱 Installed custom firmware without gesture support.
• 🤖 You need to automate the creation of screenshots (for example, for testing applications).

🔹 Screenshot through ADB:

1. Connect Redmi Note 8 to your PC and enable USB Debugging (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times tap the version number → return to Additional → For developers).
2. In the PC command line, run: adb devices adb shell screencap -p /sdcard/screen.png
3. The screenshot will be saved in the root folder of the device under the name screen.png.

🔹 Screenshot applications:

⚠️ Note: When using third-party apps, turn off screenshot system gestures (Settings) → Additional functions → Gestures to avoid conflicts. Also check application permissions – some utilities request access to Special Features, which can be a security risk.

6. Problem Solving: Screenshot is not saved or is lost

Even after a successful screenshot, Redmi Note 8 users sometimes find that the files:

• 📁 They don't show up in the gallery.
• 🗑️ Disappear after rebooting.
• 🔄 Save in the wrong format (e.g..jpg instead of.png).

🔹 Checklist for diagnostics:

1. Check the DCIM/Screenshots folder through the Explorer (sometimes the gallery doesn’t update the media base).
2. Open Settings → Storage → Files and launch the garbage scanner – this will update the file index.
3. Make sure that the device has enough memory (screenshots are not saved if less than 500 MB is free).
4. Check the permissions for the Gallery app (Settings → Apps → Gallery → Permissions → Storage).

🔹 If screenshots are saved to.jpg instead of.png:

This is a feature of some versions of MIUI. To return.png, do:

1. Install the Screenshot Type app from Google Play.
2. Select the PNG format and restart the device.

⚠️ Note: If screenshots are missing after the update MIUI, check the folder /storage/emulated/0/Pictures/Screenshots_old — Sometimes the system automatically transfers files there.

💡

On the Redmi Note 8 with MIUI 14+, screenshots are saved by default in.png format with a bit depth of 24, which provides better quality compared to.jpg.

7 Additional features: editing and sharing screenshots

The screenshot is only half the story, and MIUI offers built-in tools for quick editing and sending:

🔹 Quick editing:

• Immediately after creating a screenshot, a panel with options appears at the bottom of the screen: ✏️ Edit – cropping, drawing, adding text. 📤 Share – sending to messengers or the cloud. 🗑️ Delete – if you don’t need a screenshot.
• 🎨 For advanced editing, use the Gallery → Editor (there are tools for blurring, adding stickers and color correction).

🔹 Sharing screenshots:

• 📲 To send a screenshot to Telegram or WhatsApp, tap on the save notification – a quick send menu will appear.
• ☁️ To back up, enable Autoboot in Mi Cloud (Settings) → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud → gallery).
• 🔗 To get a link to a screenshot, upload it to Google Photos and select Share the link.

🔹 Bloggers’ Tip: If you often need to show screenshots (for example, for instructions), use the Markup app (built into the app). MIUI). It allows you to add arrows, highlighting elements and text explanations directly on the screen.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions