How to take a screenshot on Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro: all ways from A to Z

Taking screenshots on the Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro seems like a simple task — until you encounter unexpected nuances. This 2020 flagship supports several ways to lock the screen, but not all of them are equally convenient. For example, the classic combination of buttons Volume down + Power does not always work because of the features of the MIUI firmware, and alternative methods like a three-finger gesture require pre-tuning.

In this article, we will look at all the available methods, from standard to hidden, including voice commands and the use of Quick Ball. Particular attention will be paid to the typical problems: why a screenshot is not saved in the gallery, how to change the format from.png to.jpg, and what to do if the screen does not respond to clicks. For clarity, we will give a comparative table of methods for speed and convenience, and also add unique life hacks for owners of the Mi 10 Pro with an unlocked bootloader.

1. Classic method: volume and power buttons

The most versatile method that works on all Xiaomi smartphones is the simultaneous pressing of Volume down and Power. On the Mi 10 Pro, this combination works with a delay. ~0.3 seconds, which is associated with the optimization of firmware for AMOLED-screen-frequency 90 Hz.

Algorithm of action:

• 📱 Open the screen that you want to fix (for example, a dialog in the messenger or a page in the browser).
• 🔘 Press the Volume button down (left side of the body) and do not let go.
• 🔄 Press and hold the power button (right side) at the same time. 1-2 seconds.
• 🎨 You will hear the sound of the camera shutter and see the animation of the save in the upper right corner.

⚠️ Note: If you have custom firmware installed (e.g. Pixel Experience), this combination may trigger a reboot menu.

2. Three-finger gesture: a quick way for MIUI

The MIUI firmware feature is the ability to take screenshots with three fingers wired across the screen, a method that is 40 percent faster than the classic one, but requires pre-activation in settings.

How to turn on:

1. Go to Settings → Additional functions → Gestures.
2. Select the screenshot with three fingers.
3. Activate the switch and test the gesture on any screen.

Nuances of use:

• 👆 The gesture is only vertical (top down) and horizontal motion will trigger another gesture (e.g., going back).
• 🎯 To actuate, the fingers must touch the screen at the same time (scattering). ≥0.5 seconds will lead to an error).
• 🔋 On screens with covers or protective glasses, you may need to increase sensitivity in Settings → Display. → As regards sensitivity.

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If the gesture is triggered by chance (for example, when scrolling the tape in TikTok), reduce the sensitivity zone in the gesture settings or turn off the function altogether.

3. Quick Settings (Quick Settings)

A lesser known but useful way is to use a notification panel, which is convenient when one hand is busy or the power/volume buttons are faulty.

Step-by-step:

1. Pull the notification bar down twice (to reveal the full list).
2. Find the Screenshot icon, if it's not there, click Edit (pencil in the upper right corner) and add it to the active elements.
3. Slip on the icon - the screenshot will be taken in 1 second (during this time you can remove the panel so that it does not fall into the frame).

Advantages of the method:

• ⚡ It works even with a broken screen (if the sensor is functional).
• 🔧 No need to remember button combinations.
• 📁 Allows you to immediately edit a screenshot after creating (slice, draw, share).

4. Voice commands via Google Assistant

If you have Google Assistant enabled, you can take voice screenshots, which is indispensable for people with disabilities or when hands are busy (e.g., while cooking a prescription on a screen).

How to set up:

1. Make sure that Settings → Apps → Google has access to the Assistant enabled.
2. Activate voice control of the phrase “OK, Google” in the Assistant settings.
3. Tell the command to take a screenshot or take a picture of the screen.

Limitations:

• 🗣️ Works only in English or Russian (other languages do not support this command).
• 🔇 In public places, it can trigger extraneous phrases (for example, the word "screen" in conversation).
• 📵 Requires an internet connection to process the command.

5.Quick Ball - floating widget for screenshots

Quick Ball is a semi-transparent, circular widget that appears on top of any screen, and allows you to take screenshots in one tap without remembering the combination of buttons.

How to turn on:

1. Go to Settings → Additional features → Quick Ball.
2. Activate the switch and adjust the widget position on the screen (left or right).
3. In the Quick Ball menu, add Screenshot (scissors icon).

Advantages:

• 🎯 The widget does not interfere with watching videos or games (you can configure transparency).
• 🔄 Allows you to quickly switch between the latest apps (if you add the appropriate features).
• 🖼️ Supports scrolling screenshots (long pages in the browser or chat rooms).

⚠️ Note: Quick Ball may conflict with certain games (e.g., with the game, PUBG Mobile or Genshin Impact, where floating elements are locked as "cheaters." In such cases, temporarily disable the widget.

6. Screenshots via ADB (for advanced users)

If standard methods don’t work (for example, due to a firmware failure), you can take a screenshot via Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which requires connecting your smartphone to a PC, but is guaranteed to work even on the “bricks”.

Instructions for Windows:

1. Download ADB Tools and unpack it into the C:\adb folder.
2. Turn on USB Debugging on your phone: Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (tap 7 times to unlock Developer Settings), then Settings → Additional → Developers → Debugging over USB.
3. Connect the Mi 10 Pro to your PC and type in the command line: adb devices (should appear a device with a serial number).
4. Take a screenshot by command: adb exec-out screencap -p > screenshot.png The file will be saved in the folder C:\adb.

Additional commands:

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ADB-Screenshots bypass restrictions DRM: They can be used to fix the screens of banking applications or Netflix, where standard methods are blocked.

7 Problem Solving: Screenshot not saved or black screen

If screenshots are not saved in the gallery or are black, check out the following points:

Problem 1: Files don't appear in the gallery

• 📂 Check the folder. Pictures/Screenshots File Manager (sometimes the gallery is not automatically updated).
• 🔄 Reboot your phone – it will reset the media scanner cache.
• 🛠️ Install a third-party gallery (like Google Photos) if the standard one doesn’t see files.

Problem 2: Black screen in the screenshot

• 🔒 It's protection. DRM (For example, in banking apps or Netflix. ADB (Section 6) or specialized applications such as Screen Master.
• 🎮 In games, the black screen may appear due to the Game Turbo mode on. Turn it off in the game settings.

Problem 3: The buttons are not working

• 🔧 Check if the Loudness button is clamped down (for example, because of the cover).
• 🔄 Reset button settings in Settings → System system → Buttons.
• 🛠️ If the power button does not respond, use a three-finger gesture or Quick Ball.

FAQ: Frequent questions about screenshots on Xiaomi Mi 10 Pro