Xiaomi Mi A3 is still popular with users, despite the release of new models, and its uniqueness is in the pure Android One without a MIUI shell, which also affects standard features, including creating screenshots. Many owners face the problem: the usual combinations of buttons do not work, and the settings do not have familiar items. Why is this happening?
The Mi A3 uses Google’s stock firmware, where screenshot implementations are different from Xiaomi’s, and came out in 2019, and screen shooting algorithms have evolved since then, and in this article we’ll look at all the current ways to take a screenshot of the Mi A3, including hidden features and workarounds for non-standard situations.
If you’ve recently switched from another Xiaomi smartphone (like the Redmi Note 10 or POCO X3), you’ll notice that the Mi A3 doesn’t have the usual menu with quick screenshot settings. It’s not a bug, it’s a feature of Android One. But don’t worry, alternative methods are no more complicated, and sometimes even more convenient than classic ones.
It's important to consider the firmware version, too. Once you upgrade to Android 11/12 (if it's available in your area), some gestures may change, so we've tested all of them on the latest versions of the software and ensure they work, and if something goes wrong, there's a problem-solving section at the end of the article.
Method 1: Standard button combination (always working)
It’s a versatile method that works on any Android smartphone, including the Xiaomi Mi A3.
- Open the screen you want to save.
- Press the Power button (right) and the Volume Down button (left) at the same time.
- Hold them for 1-2 seconds until you hear the sound of the camera shutter and see the animation of the screenshot.
On the Mi A3, the power button is not comfortable for one hand, so it's easier for many to use two hands: thumb on the volume button, index on the power. If you don't get a screenshot the first time, try:
- 🔄 Press the buttons simultaneously, not alternately.
- ⏱️ Hold them for a little longer (up to 3 seconds).
- 📱 Turn the phone horizontally – sometimes it makes it easier to press.
Where do I look for the screenshot? All screenshots are automatically saved to the folder:
/storage/emulated/0/Pictures/Screenshots/Or open the gallery and find the Screenshots album.
⚠️ Warning: If the screen is turned off after pressing the buttons or the switch-off menu appears, you have held the power button for too long.
Method 2: Three-finger gesture (requires settings)
On Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI, you can swipe three fingers down, but on the Mi A3 with Android One, this feature is not the default. However, it can be activated through hidden settings!
Here's how to do it:
- Open the settings → System → Gestures.
- Find the Screenshot item using a swipe (if not, go to method 3).
- Activate the slider and select the swipe direction (usually down).
- Check the work: swipe three fingers on the screen from top to bottom.
If there is no gesture item, don’t be upset. This means that your version of Android doesn’t support system-level functionality, and a third-party app will help (see Method 4).
The benefits of a gesture:
- ⚡ Faster than a button combination.
- 👆 He works with one hand.
- 🎯 Accuracy: You can take a screenshot of a particular section of the screen without pressing the button.
⚠️ Note: The gesture may conflict with some games or applications where three-finger swipes are used for control (e.g., in the game). PUBG Mobile or Genshin Impact. In such cases, temporarily disable the function.
Method 3: Voice command via Google Assistant
If you have Google Assistant on, you can take voice screenshots, which is convenient when your hands are busy or your buttons are not pressed well.
- Activate the Assistant with your voice (OK, Google) or hold the Home button.
- Tell the command: Take a screenshot or a screenshot.
- Confirm the action (if required).
Warnings:
- 🔇 It only works when connected to the Internet (necessary for voice recognition).
- 📶 In noisy places, the team may not work the first time.
- 🔒 Some banking apps block screenshots for security reasons - voice command won't work either.
To check if the Assistant is on:
Settings → Applications → Google → Google Settings → Voice Search → Voice Assistant💡
If the voice command doesn’t work, update the Google app to the Play Market and reboot your smartphone.
Method 4: Screenshot applications (for advanced features)
Standard methods are not always convenient, for example, they do not allow:
- 📏 Take screenshots of scrollable pages (scroll screenshots).
- ✏️ Edit the pictures immediately after creation.
- 🔄 Automatically upload screenshots to the cloud.
We tested 5 popular apps and selected the best ones.
| Annex | Features | Cons | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screenshot Touch | Gestures, editor, scrolling screenshots | Advertising in the free version | Play Market |
| Screen Master | Automatic pruning, cloud storage | Requires access to notifications | Play Market |
| Screenshot Easy | Mi A3 support, no root rights | Interface in English | Play Market |
How to install and configure (Screenshot Touch example):
- Download the app from the Play Market.
- When you first start, grant permissions to Overlay over other applications and access to storage.
- In the settings, select the activation method (such as shaking your phone or floating button).
- Take a test screenshot to check the work.
⚠️ Note: Some applications (such as Screenshot Ultimate) require root rights. A3 If you receive them, you may lose your warranty and the system will not work smoothly.
Check reviews and ratings in the Play Market|Read the list of required permits|Create a backup copy of important data|Try the free version before buying-->
Where screenshots are stored and how to manage them
By default, all screenshots on the Xiaomi Mi A3 are saved in the Pictures/Screenshots folder.
- 🗑️ Disappear after rebooting?
- 📁 Save in the wrong folder?
- 🔍 Not displayed in the gallery?
Here are the solutions:
| Problem. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Screenshots are not saved | There's not enough disk space. | Clear the memory or transfer the files to SD-map |
| Screenshots folder is empty | Screenshots are saved to the cloud (Google Photos) | Check Google Photos or change your save settings |
| Blurred pictures | Power saving mode is on | Turn it off in Settings → Battery |
To change the default save folder:
- Install a file manager (e.g. Files by Google).
- Go to Pictures/Screenshots.
- Press. ⋮ → Move and select a new folder.
On the Mi A3 with Android 11+, screenshots are automatically optimized to save space. This can reduce image quality. To disable optimization, go to Settings → Memory → Free up space → Settings → Disable Image Optimization.
How to recover deleted screenshots?
Frequent mistakes and how to fix them
Even with a simple screenshot feature, Mi A3 can crash, and we've collected the TOP-5 bugs and how to fix them:
- Buttons do not respond Problem: when pressed Power + Turning down the volume is not happening: 🔋 Check battery power (below 5% of screenshots may not work). 🔄 Reboot the phone. 🛠️ Update the firmware (Settings) → System system → Updating the system).
Black screen on the screenshot
The problem is that the screenshot is completely black.
Solution: This is DRM protection in some applications (Netflix, banks, games) and you can't get around it, you can use the second phone to take pictures of the screen.
No shutter sound.
Problem: The screenshot is taken, but without the characteristic sound.
Solution: Check if the system sound is turned off (Settings → Sound → No Sound Mode).
If none of the methods helped, try resetting to factory settings:
Settings → System → Resetting settings → Resetting application settings⚠️ WARNING: Full reset (Reset all settings) will delete all data from your phone! pre-backup through Settings → System system → Backup.
Additional chips: Scrolling screenshots and editing
The standard screenshots on the Mi A3 only capture the visible area of the screen. But what if you want to save an entire web page or a long chat? There's a scrolling screenshot feature for that, but it's hidden in the settings.
How to take a long screenshot:
- Take a regular screenshot (by any means).
- Immediately after the thumbnail appears at the bottom of the screen, click on it.
- In the editor that opens, tap the Scrolling icon (or Long Screenshot).
- Wait until the screen automatically scrolls down and press Ready.
If you don't have a Scrolling icon, your Android version doesn't support it, and the LongShot app will help you with this:
- 📱 Download it from Play Market.
- 🎯 Run and follow the tips to create a scrolling screenshot.
- ✂️ Edit the result with built-in tools.
For quick editing of screenshots directly on the phone, use:
- 🖌️ Google Photos (basic tools: cropping, filters).
- 🎨 Snapseed (advanced processing).
- 📝 Markup (to add text and arrows).
💡
Scrolling screenshots don't work in all apps, like WhatsApp or Telegram, they can crop messages or display them incorrectly, and in those cases, take a few simple screenshots and paste them in the editor.