How to take a screenshot on Xiaomi Mi A3: all working ways

Xiaomi Mi A3 is one of the few smartphones of the brand that runs on pure Android One instead of the proprietary shell MIUI. Because of this, the standard combination of buttons to create a screen may not work, and the menu does not have the usual options. In this guide, we will analyze all the current ways to take a screenshot on the Mi A3, including hidden features and workarounds for non-standard situations.

The model features the lack of a physical Menu button and altered gesture logic, such as the three-finger swipe (a popular method on other Xiaomis) is disabled by default here, but don't worry: in this article you will find alternatives for any version of the firmware, including cases when the touch screen does not respond or the power buttons break.

Important: the instructions are checked on the Mi A3 with Android 10/11 (the latest official updates for the model).

1. Standard method: power and volume buttons

The most reliable method that works on any Android device is a combination of physical buttons. On the Mi A3, the algorithm is this:

1. Open the screen you want to save.
2. Then, turn the food down and turn it down.
3. Hold for 1-2 seconds until you hear the shutter sound or see the animation.

⚠️ Attention: On Mi A3 The power button is sensitive, and if you hold it for longer than 3 seconds, you'll have a switch-off menu!

Where to look for the screenshot taken:

• 📁 Screenshots folder in gallery or file manager.
• 🔍 Through notification: swipe down the notification panel and tap on the screen preview.
• 🌐 In Google Photos (if synchronization is enabled).

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If screenshots are not saved, check for free space on the device.The Mi A3 requires a minimum of 100MB on the system partition to take screenshots.

2.Gestural: hand swipe (only for MIUI)

On pure Android One, the swipe gesture is turned off by the palm of the hand, but if you have replayed the Mi A3 on MIUI (for example, MIUI 12 for Laurel), you can activate it like this:

1. Go to Settings → Additional → Buttons and gestures → Screen gestures.
2. Turn on the screenshot swipe option.
3. Select the direction of the gesture (usually from right to left).

How to make a screen gesture:

1. Touch the screen with your hand (not your finger!).
2. Swipe the display from left to right (or vice versa, depending on the settings).
3. Wait for vibration and sound signal.

⚠️ Attention: On Mi A3 The sensor often confuses swipe with casual touch. If the screens are created spontaneously, turn off the gesture or reduce sensitivity in the settings.

3.The Google Assistant Voice Assistant

If the buttons or sensor don't work, use voice control, which is universal for all Android devices, including the Mi A3:

1. Activate Google Assistant: Long-term Home button retention (if any) Voice command OK, Google (if configured).

Take a screenshot.

Take a picture of the screen.

Confirm the action in the window that appears.

Limitations of the method:

• 🚫 Does not work in games and applications with blocking overlays (for example, banking programs).
• 🔇 Requires Internet connection to recognize voice.
• 📵 Some firmware may request additional permissions.

4. Screenshot via computer (ADB)

If the sensor is completely out of order and the buttons are not responding, you can do a screening via ADB (Android Debug Bridge).

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/Linux/macOS.
• 🔌 USB-cable (original, with data transmission support).
• 🛠️ Installed Xiaomi drivers and package ADB Tools.

Step-by-step:

1. Enable Developer Mode on Mi A3: Settings → About Phone → Build Number (shap 7 times)
2. Activate Debugging by USB in the Developer Menu.
3. Connect your phone to your PC and execute: Adb devices (you should display your device).
4. Take a screenshot with the command: adb shell screencap -p /sdcard/screen.png
5. Download the file on PC: adb pull /sdcard/screen.png

⚠️ Note: On some versions of Android 11+ Additional permission is required android.permission.READ_MEDIA_IMAGES. If the team is not working, update. ADB beforehand 33.0.0 higher.

5. Screenshot apps from the Play Market

If the standard methods don't work, install a third-party app. For the Mi A3, you can:

How to set up:

1. Install an app from the Play Market.
2. Grant permissions to Overlay over other windows and access files.
3. Select the activation method (floating button, shaking, timer).

⚠️ Attention: On Android 10+ Applications cannot take screenshots in bank programs and secure messengers (for example, WhatsApp with screen lock enabled). ADB physical buttons.

6.Problems and solutions

Let’s take a look at the typical Mi A3 screenshots:

• 🔇 No shutter sound: Check if the phone is silent. Screen sound is tied to system notifications - its volume is adjusted in Settings → Sound. → Media volume.
• 📱 Screenshots not saved: Delete folder Pictures/Screenshots manually and restart the phone. The system will recreate it with the right rights.
• ⚡ The screen flashes, but the screen is not created: This is a graphics driver bug on some firmware. Helps disable animation in the developer settings (Scope of animation window) → No animation).
• 🔒 Blocked screenshot in the application: Use ADB Some apps (like Netflix) block screens at the level. DRM.

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On the Mi A3 with Android One, the swipe gesture only works after manual activation via ADB or MIUI installation. This is a key difference from other Xiaomi models.

FAQ: Frequent questions