How to Take a Screenshot of Xiaomi Redmi 5: All the Ways to Work (2026)

Xiaomi Redmi 5 is still a popular budget smartphone, but many users have difficulty creating screenshots. Unlike modern models, there is no universal gesture or screenshot button in the notification curtain. In this article, 5 proven ways to take a screenshot on Redmi 5 (including versions with MIUI 9, MIUI 10 and custom firmware), as well as solving typical problems: black screen on the screenshot, no sound of the alarm and save errors.

Redmi 5 features the lack of a physical home button (unlike the Redmi 4/4A), which makes it difficult to use standard combinations, and some firmware also has default screenshot gestures disabled, and we'll look at not only basic methods, but also alternatives for cases where the buttons don't work or the touch screen is damaged.

Important: If your Redmi 5 runs on MIUI 12+ (which is unlikely for this model, but possible with manual upgrades), some of the methods may not work.

1. Standard method: combination of buttons "Power + Volume Reduction"

This is the basic and most reliable method for Xiaomi Redmi 5, running on any version of MIUI.

1. Open the screen you want to capture (for example, a dialog in the messenger or a page in the browser).
2. Press two buttons at the same time: Power (right) and Volume Down (left).
3. Hold them for 1-2 seconds until you hear the sound of the camera shutter and see the animation of the screenshot.

⚠️ Warning: If you press the buttons longer than 3 seconds, the smartphone can reboot to Fastboot mode or shut down!

Where to look for the screenshot taken? By default, the files are saved in the folder:

/storage/emulated/0/Pictures/Screenshots/

Or through the gallery: open the Gallery app → Screenshots album.

The camera shutter sounded | Screenshot animation appeared at the top of the screen | The file appeared in the Screenshots folder | No error messages-->

2. Alternative method: "Food + Home" button (for MIUI 9/10)

Some versions of Redmi 5 firmware use a Power + Virtual Home button, which is convenient if the physical volume button is broken.

• 📱 Open the screen you want (such as an error window or a map in Google Maps).
• 🔘 Press the power button and tap the touch button “Home” (round icon at the bottom of the screen).
• 🎵 Hold 1-1.5 seconds until the screenshot notification appears.

⚠️ Attention: if you have the touch buttons of navigation disabled (guest control is used), this method will not work:

Settings → Display → Full-screen mode → Navigation buttons

3. Screenshot of the "Three fingers down" gesture (set up in MIUI)

MIUI has a hidden feature for making screenshots with a gesture, which is to swipe three fingers across the screen from top to bottom, and it's disabled by default, but it's easy to activate:

1. Go to Settings → Additional → Buttons and gestures → Screenshot gestures.
2. Turn on the swipe switch with three fingers.
3. Choose the direction of the gesture: Top down (recommended) or bottom up.

How to use:

• 🖐️ At the same time, touch the screen with three fingers (for example, index, middle and ring).
• 👇 Swipe down with a little delay (not too fast!).
• 📸 The screenshot will be saved automatically.

1) Wipe the screen - dirt or moisture interferes with touch recognition.

(2) Use other fingers (e.g. thumb + index + pinky).

3) Calibrate the sensor in settings (Settings) → Display. → Sensor calibration).-->

4. Screenshot via notification panel (for MIUI 10+)

Starting with MIUI 10, a quick button for screenshots appeared in the notification curtain.

1. Pull the notification curtain down with two fingers (to open the full panel).
2. Find the screenshot icon (usually it looks like a scissor or screen thumbnail).
3. Slip on it – the smartphone will immediately take a picture of the current screen.

⚠️ Note: If there is no button, you need to add it manually:

1. Open the curtain and tap the icon. ⚙️ (Edit).
2. Find a screenshot in the list and drag it to the active area.

5. Screenshot using third-party apps

If standard methods don’t work (for example, due to damaged buttons or custom firmware), third-party software will help.

• 📱 Screenshot Easy – Supports screenshots with gestures, timer and editing.
• 🖼️ Super Screenshot – allows you to take scrolling screenshots (long pages).
• 🔧 Button Mapper – Reassigns buttons for screenshots (useful if the volume button is broken).

How to install and use (Screenshot Easy):

1. Download the app from Google Play.
2. Run and grant permissions to Overlay over other applications and Warehouse.
3. Choose how to create a screenshot (such as shaking your phone or floating button).
4. Follow the instructions on the screen.

- The physical buttons are out of action.

Additional functions are needed (editing, long screenshots).

- Unofficial firmware installed without standard gesture support.-->

6.Solving Screenshot Problems on Redmi 5

Frequent errors and their correction:

Problem 1: The screenshot is black.

This is due to the protection of content in some applications (e.g. Netflix, Banking apps, DRM-protected videos).

• 📵 Use an external camera (take a picture of the screen with another phone).
• 🔄 Try to take a screenshot through ADB (for advanced users).
• 📥 Install Screen Master app – it sometimes bypasses restrictions.

Problem 2: No sound when taking a screenshot

If the buttons are not pressed with a characteristic shutter sound:

1. Check if the silent mode is on.
2. Go to Settings → Sounds and Vibrations → System Sounds and turn on the Screenshot Sound.
3. If the sound is turned off at the firmware level, it can only be returned via TWRP (Advanced Method).

Problem 3: Screenshots are not saved

Causes and solutions:

7. Hidden screenshot features on Xiaomi

Few people know, but Redmi 5 has additional features for working with screenshots:

• 🖌️ Quick editing: immediately after creating a screenshot, tap the thumbnail in the notification – an editor with cropping, drawing and adding text will open.
• 📤 Instant Submitting: In the screenshot notification, there are buttons for quick sending to Telegram, WhatsApp or email.
• 🔍 Scrolling Screenshot: In Some Versions MIUI You can take a long photo of a page (for example, a chat or a website). To do this, after a normal screenshot, tap the Scroll button in the toolbar.

FAQ: Frequent questions about screenshots on Xiaomi Redmi 5