Creating screenshots on Xiaomi smartphones seems like a simple task — until you encounter unexpected nuances. Some models support gestures, others require physical buttons, and some versions of MIUI hide additional features for advanced users. This article will not just list the standard methods, but will reveal the unique features of Xiaomi firmware that are not written in the official instructions — for example, how to take a screenshot with a long page scrolling or save a screenshot in PDF format.
We tested all the methods on current devices (from Redmi Note 12 to Xiaomi 14 Ultra) and found out which ones work consistently and which can cause failures. Particular attention was paid to the problems that users face after the MIUI 14/15 update – for example, why the screenshot button sometimes disappears in the notification panel or how to return the three-finger gesture after resetting. If you are looking for not just an instruction, but a solution to a specific problem, here you will find answers to questions that usually go unanswered.
1. Standard method: power and volume buttons
The classic method, which works on all Xiaomi models (including POCO and Black Shark), is to press Power and Volume Reduction simultaneously, a universal approach that has its pitfalls:
- ⚡ Pressing speed: If you linger for 0.5 seconds, the phone may interpret this as an attempt to turn off or call the voice assistant.
- 🔊 Shutter sound: In some regions (e.g. EU), the screenshot sound is disabled by default due to privacy laws. → Sounds and vibrations → Systemic sounds.
- 📱 Finger position: on large smartphones (for example, Xiaomi Mix Fold 3) it is difficult to reach the buttons with one hand - use the second finger to fix the body.
If the screenshot is not created:
- Check if the buttons are locked with dirt or a case (especially relevant for the Redmi Note 11 with protruding keys).
- Restart your phone – sometimes MIUI malfunctions block processing of hardware commands.
- Update the firmware: There was an error in older versions (e.g. MIUI 12.5) that saved screenshots in.png format with broken metadata.
2. Three-finger gesture: setting up and problems
The Three-Finger Screenshot feature appeared in MIUI 9 and has since become one of the most convenient — if configured correctly. The default gesture is disabled, so activate it first:
- Go to Settings → Additional functions → Gestures.
- Select a screenshot with three fingers and switch on the switch.
- In the Gesture Settings section, you can select the direction of movement (down or up) and sensitivity.
Challenges and solutions:
- 👆 The gesture doesn't work: make sure there are no greasy spots on the screen - the sensor can perceive them as touching with the fourth finger.
- 🔄 Conflict with other gestures: If you have a “Swipe down for notification panel” gesture enabled, turn it off in Settings → Screen. → Screen gestures.
- ⚙️ Reset after updating: in MIUI 14 was a bug that caused gesture settings to reset after security patches were installed.
Check if the gesture is included in the settings|Make sure there are no spots on the screen|Disable conflicting gestures|Update MIUI last-minute-->
Secret chip: if you swipe three fingers diagonally (from the top corner to the bottom), then instead of a screenshot, a menu of additional actions will open, where you can choose:
- 📜 Save how PDF (It only works in the browser and some applications).
- 🖼️ Cut the screenshot immediately after creation.
- 🔗 Share in Mi Share or Telegram without saving in the gallery.
3. Notification panel: quick access and restrictions
In MIUI, the screenshot button is built into the notification bar, but its behavior depends on the firmware version and the phone model.
- Pull the notification bar down (with one or two fingers – depending on the settings).
- Find the screenshot button (usually in the front row, next to the flashlight and the mode on the plane).
- Click on it - the screen blinks, and the picture will be saved in the gallery.
Limitations of the method:
| Problem. | The models on which it is found | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| The button is missing in the panel | POCO X3 Pro, Redmi 9A | Add it manually: click Edit → drag the icon “Screenshot” in the active area. |
| Screenshot is created with a delay | Xiaomi 12T, Redmi K50 | Turn off animation in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (click 7 times on version, then select Windows Animation: 0.5x). |
| Gray button (inactive) | Black Shark 5 | It's a feature of the game mode. Get out of it or use another way. |
💡
If the screenshot button is missing after the update, reset the notification panel settings: go to Settings → Notifications → Additional → Reset the panel settings.
4.Voice assistant: screenshots without hands
Few people know, but Google Assistant and XiaoAI (XiaoAI's built-in assistant) can take voice-tapped screenshots, which is especially useful if:
- 🤲 Your hands are busy (e.g., cooking on screen).
- 🔧 Broken power button or sensor.
- 🎮 You are in the game and don’t want to interrupt the process.
Instructions for Google Assistant:
- Activate the assistant with your voice (OK, Google) or hold the Home button.
- Say, “Take a screenshot” or “Photograph the screen.”
- Confirm the action (if required).
Instructions for XiaoAI (only on Chinese firmware or in regions with support):
- Hold the power button or say "" (for the Chinese version).
- Say “” (literally, “take a screenshot”).
- If the assistant doesn’t respond, check the permissions in Settings → Applications → XiaoAI → Permissions.
Why doesn’t the voice assistant take screenshots in some apps?
5 Scrolling Screenshots and Other Hidden Features
MIUI hides some advanced screenshot features that are not documented in the official manuals.
📜 Screenshot with scrolling (long page)
It works in Mi Browser, Chrome and some apps (for example, Twitter, Telegram):
- Take a regular screenshot in any way.
- Immediately after the thumbnail appears in the lower right corner, click on it.
- Select Scrolling (or Long Screenshot in older versions).
- Wait until the page scrolls automatically, then click Ready.
🖼️ Editing a screenshot before saving
If you click on its thumbnail immediately after creating the screenshot, the editor with the tools will open:
- ✏️ Cutting – changing the boundaries of the image.
- 🎨 Drawing – brushes, markers, adding text.
- 🔍 Blurring – hiding confidential information (phone numbers, passwords).
- 📎 Adding stickers – memes, emojis, Xiaomi logos.
📄 Saving a screenshot in PDF
The function is only available in MIUI 13+ It doesn't work in all applications. PDF:
- Take a screenshot with a scrolling (see above).
- In the editor, click More (three dots) → Save as PDF.
- Select the folder to save (by default – Downloads)/PDF_Screenshots).
💡
Scrolling screenshots do not work in applications with dynamic content (for example, Instagram, TikTok) and in games. The maximum screenshot length is 10 screens (MIUI restriction).
6 Problems and Errors: What to Do When Screenshots Don't Work
Even on the new Xiaomi smartphones, users are having trouble creating screenshots, and we've collected some of the most common bugs and solutions:
⚠️ Note: If after the update MIUI All ways to create screenshots have stopped working, check if Private Mode is activated (it blocks screenshots in some applications). → Special facilities → Private regime.
| Symptoms. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Screenshots are created but not saved in the gallery | Failure of the Gallery application or insufficient disk space | Clear the gallery cache in Settings → Apps → Gallery → Memory or check the free space. |
| The screen is flashing, but the screenshot is not created. | Conflict with a screen recording application (e.g. AZ Screen Recorder) | Close all background applications to record or disable them in Settings → Special Features → Special Features Apps. |
| Screenshots are saved in low resolution | Power saving mode is enabled or Adaptive resolution function is activated | Turn off adaptive resolution in Settings → Screen → Screen resolution. |
| The gesture with three fingers does not work after resetting. | Resetting has not restored the permissions for the MIUI System Interface | Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management → Three Points → Show System → MIUI System Interface → Permissions and turn on all switches. |
If none of the methods works, reset the settings to factory, but first:
- Create a backup of data through Settings → About Phone → Backup.
- Remember or take pictures of your MIUI settings (especially the Additional Features → Gestures section).
- After resetting, do not restore settings from the cloud – first check the screenshots.
7.Where screenshots are stored and how to change the save folder
By default, all screenshots on Xiaomi are saved in the folder:
/storage/emulated/0/Pictures/Screenshots/But you can change the location of the save, or you can even redirect the screenshots to the cloud.
📁 Changing the save folder
MIUI does not have a built-in function to change folders, but you can use a workaround:
- Install a file manager with support FTP-servers (e.g. Solid Explorer).
- Create a new folder (for example, Screenshots_New) root-memory.
- Use the Automate or Tasker app to set up automatic file transfer from /Pictures/Screenshots/ to a new folder.
☁️ Automatic upload to the cloud
To automatically save screenshots to Google Photos or Mi Cloud:
- 📷 For Google Photos: Open the app → Settings → Backup and synchronization → Turn on the option and select High Quality (free) or Original Quality (Google Storage Credit).
- ☁️ For Mi Cloud: Go to Settings → Accounts. → Mi Cloud → Synchronization → Gallery and enable autosynchronization.
⚠️ Note: If you use Mi Cloud to back up screenshots, remember that free storage is limited to 5GB. If you exceed the limit, new files will no longer sync, but will be saved locally. → Mi Cloud → Warehouse.