How to take a screenshot on Xiaomi Redmi 4X: all ways with explanations

Xiaomi Redmi 4X is one of the most popular budget smartphones of the brand, released in 2017. Despite its age, the device is still actively used due to the reliability and support for MIUI updates. However, many owners face difficulties when trying to take a screenshot: standard button combinations do not work, MIUI gestures are disabled, and there are no obvious items in the menu. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to create screenshots on the Redmi 4X, including hidden features and workarounds for different versions of the firmware.

The feature of the model is the absence of a physical Menu button, which makes it difficult to use classical methods. MIUI (from MIUI 8 MIUI 12) The interface and the options available may be different, and we've taken these nuances into account, and we've developed universal instructions that even work on custom firmware. If you've tried to take a screenshot but you haven't succeeded, here's the solution.

1. Standard method: button combination

The most reliable method that works on all versions MIUI — You can press physical buttons at the same time. 4X for this purpose:

• 🔘 Power button (right) + volume-down button (left).
• 🕒 Hold both buttons for 1-2 seconds until you hear the camera shutter sound and see the screenshot animation.
• 📁 The finished image is saved in the Screenshots folder in the gallery or file manager.

If the combination does not work:

• ⚡ Check if the buttons are locked (for example, due to cover or dirt).
• ⚙️ Make sure that screenshots are not turned off in the settings (see Section 4).
• 🔄 Try pressing the buttons in a different order: first Volume Down, then Power.

⚠️ Note: On some custom firmware (e.g. LineageOS), this combination can cause a reboot. If the smartphone starts to reboot, use alternative methods.

2 MIUI gestures: three-finger swipe

MIUI has been using gesture screenshots since version 9, and on Redmi 4X, it works like this:

1. Open the screen you want to capture.
2. Swipe three fingers from top to bottom across the display (as if “wiping” the screen down).
3. If the gesture is recognized, an animation and a screenshot sound will appear.

If the gesture doesn't work:

• 🔧 It may be disabled. To activate it, go to Settings. → Additionally. → Button gestures → Screenshot and switch on.
• 👆 Make sure the swipe is strictly vertical and captures most of the screen.
• 📱 On some versions MIUI Hold your finger at the end of the gesture for 0.5 seconds.

Is the three-finger swipe enabled in the settings?

Do you make the gesture fast enough?

Are there any conflicts with other gestures (e.g., a long-press screenshot)?

Have you tried to restart your smartphone after changing your settings?-->

On the Redmi 4X with MIUI 8, the three-finger swipe can conflict with the split screen function. If you can't take a screenshot, turn off the split screen in Settings → Special Features → Separate Screen.

3. Alternative method: long pressing of the Home button

In older versions of MIUI (before MIUI 10), another method was available on the Redmi 4X:

1. Open the screen.
2. Press and hold the home button (center) for 1-2 seconds.
3. In the menu that appears, select the Screenshot (scissors icon).

This method doesn't work on all firmware, but it can be useful if other methods aren't available. If you have a touch button on your home, try:

• 🔘 Press and hold the virtual home button (at the bottom of the screen).
• 🔄 If the menu does not appear, check the settings of virtual buttons in Settings → Screen. → Navigation buttons.

⚠️ Attention: MIUI 11 and later, a long-term click on Home opens Google Assistant by default. To return the old feature, disable the assistant in Settings → Annexes → By default. → Assistant and voice input.

4. MIUI settings: Turning on and off screenshots

If neither method works, the problem may be system settings.

If the screenshots are blocked in the Special Permissions section, this may be due to:

• 🔒 Incognito mode in some applications (e.g. banking).
• 🛡️ Corporate profile security policy (if the phone is used for work).
• 📱 Custom firmware limitations (e.g. HavocOS or Pixel Experience).

5. Screenshots via notification panel

MIUI has quick access to the screenshot function through the notification curtain to use:

1. Swipe your finger down to open the notification panel.
2. Find the screenshot icon (scissors) and click on it.
3. If the icon is not present, open the panel completely (swipe down twice) or set it up:

Adding a screenshot button to the curtain:

1. Open the notification panel and click on the icon ⚙️ (Settings) in upper right corner.
2. Select Edit or Configure the Control Panel.
3. Find a screenshot in the list and drag it to the active area.

💡

If the screenshot button in the curtain is inactive (grey), it means that you cannot take a screenshot at the moment (for example, in a banking application or during a call).

6. Screenshot applications: when standard methods don't work

If system methods are not available (for example, due to broken buttons or custom firmware), you can use third-party utilities. 4X:

• 📱 Screenshot Easy – supports screenshots with gestures, timer and even scrolling the page.
• 🎯 Super Screenshot – allows you to take late-action photos and edit them immediately after creation.
• 🔧 ADB Screenshot – for advanced users (requires a PC connection).

Installation and configuration of Screenshot Easy:

1. Download the app from Google Play.
2. When you first start, grant permission to Overlay over other windows (manually in Android settings).
3. Choose the method of creating a screenshot: 🔘 Widget on the main screen. 🔄 Floating button (includes in the application settings). 🕒 Timer (useful for screenshots of menus that disappear).

⚠️ Note: Some apps (such as Netflix or SberBank Online) block screenshots for security reasons, and even third-party utilities won’t help if you have to use a second phone or take a screen picture.

💡

The screenshot app side requires permission to record the screen or overlay, and without those permissions, they won't work, even if installed.

7. Screenshots by PC (ADB)

If your smartphone doesn't respond to taps or your screen is broken, you can take a screenshot through your computer using the Android Debug Bridge (ADB), a technique that requires pre-tuning, but works 100% of the time.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/Linux/macOS.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
• 🛠️ Installed drivers ADB and Fastboot.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on USB debugging on Redmi 4X: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on MIUI to activate Developer Mode. Go back to Settings → Additional → For Developers and enable USB Debugging.

Connect your smartphone to your PC and confirm your trust in the device.

adb devices

Make sure your Redmi 4X is listed.

adb shell screencap -p /sdcard/screen.png

adb pull /sdcard/screen.png

The finished screenshot will be saved in the folder where the command was launched, under the name screen.png.

8 Problem Solving: Why You Can't Take a Screenshot

If none of the methods worked, check the following points:

If the problem persists, try:

• 🔄 Reboot your smartphone – sometimes it resets temporary errors.
• 📱 Update MIUI Up to the latest version, if available).
• 🛠️ Reset your settings (only if other methods don't help).

FAQ: Frequent questions about screenshots on Redmi 4X