How to take a screenshot on Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus: all ways + error solving

Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus (codenamed Vince) is still a popular budget smartphone, despite its release in 2017, and owners often face the question of how to take a screenshot on this device if standard methods do not work or the device behaves unexpectedly. In this article, we will analyze all the current ways to create screenshots from classic button combinations to hidden MIUI functions and third-party utilities.

The Redmi 5 Plus is unique in that it ran on different versions of the firmware, from MIUI 9 to MIUI 12 (new builds are unofficially supported), and screen shooting techniques may vary depending on the version of the shell, and we took that into account and put together instructions that cover all possible scenarios — including when the smartphone is bugged or buttons are unresponsive.

If you’ve never taken screenshots on Xiaomi before, start with the first section.Savvy users can jump straight to alternative methods or problem-solving.

Standard methods: button combinations and gestures

Redmi 5 Plus has two native ways to take a screenshot without any additional software, and works on any version of MIUI, as long as the system is not damaged.

Method 1: Power and volume buttons

This is a universal method for all Xiaomi smartphones:

1. Open the screen you want to capture.
2. Press the Power button (right) and the Volume Down button (left) at the same time.
3. Hold them for 1-2 seconds until you hear the camera shutter sound and see the save animation.

The screenshot will automatically be saved to the gallery in the Screenshots folder.

Method 2: The Three-Finger gesture

The Three-Finger Screenshot feature is enabled by default in MIUI 10 and later.

1. Place three fingers on the screen (usually index, middle and ring fingers).
2. Swipe down the display in one quick move (as with a swipe to update the page).
3. The screenshot will be taken instantly, without delay.

⚠️ Warning: If the gesture doesn't work, check the settings in Settings → Additional → Special Features → Gestures. In some firmware, the function is disabled by default.

Both methods are reliable, but each has nuances:

• 🔋 Buttons: Do not work if one of the keys is damaged or contaminated.
• ✋ Gesture: May conflict with other swipes (e.g., in custom gesture games or apps).
• 📱 MIUI 9: In the old firmware, the three-finger gesture may not be present — an update will be required.

Hidden MIUI features for screenshots

Xiaomi has built a few little chips into its shell that many people don't know about, making it easier to create and edit screenshots.

1.Floating toolbar

When you take a screenshot, you get a thumbnail in the bottom right corner of the screen, and if you click on it, you open an editing panel where you can:

• 🖌️ Cut the screenshot (the "Cadration" tool).
• 🎨 Add text, drawings or stickers.
• 📤 Share immediately through messengers.
• 🗑️ Delete screenshot without saving to the gallery.

⚠️ Warning: In MIUI 12 and later, the toolbar can automatically hide after 5 seconds. To return it, tap the screenshot thumbnail again.

2. Scrolling screenshot

If you want to capture a long page (such as a chat or website), use the Long Screenshot feature:

1. Take a regular screenshot in any way.
2. Click on the thumbnail in the lower right corner.
3. Select the Scrolling option (or Long Screenshot in older versions).
4. Wait until the system automatically scrolls the screen and connects the parts into a single file.

The feature doesn’t work in all apps (for example, it may not work in Telegram or VK due to security restrictions).

3.Voice assistant

If the buttons or sensor are not responding, you can take a screenshot with your voice:

1. Activate Xiaomi Voice Assistant (hold the Home button or say OK, Google).
2. Say the command: Take a screenshot or screenshot.

The method requires an internet connection and a microphone turned on.

Alternative methods: if the standard methods do not work

Sometimes screenshots can't be taken because of software failures or hardware problems, and in these cases, workarounds will help.

1.The Quick Settings appendix

MIUI has a built-in Quick Settings menu where you can add a button for screenshots:

1. Swipe down from the top edge of the screen to open the notification bar.
2. Click on the icon. ⚙️ Edit (or Modify).
3. Find the Screenshot tiles and drag them to the active area.
4. Now you can take a screenshot with one touch on this tile.

Third-party annexes

If built-in methods fail, install one of the verified applications:

Check reviews before installing – some apps may contain ads or request unnecessary permissions.

3 ADB- Team (for advanced)

If the smartphone is connected to a computer, you can take a screenshot through Android Debug Bridge (ADB):

adb shell screencap -p /sdcard/screen.png

The file will be saved in the root folder of the device. The method requires debugging over USB (includes in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version – press 7 times, then return to Additional → For Developers).

Problem Solving: Screenshots are not saved or taken

If screenshots are not created, the causes can be both software and hardware, and let's look at the typical cases and how to fix them.

1. Screenshots are not saved to the gallery

• 📁 Check the DCIM/Screenshots folder through the file manager — sometimes files are saved but not displayed in the gallery.
• 🔄 Reboot the device – it will reset the cache of the media scanner.
• 🗑️ Clear the Gallery app cache in Settings → Applications → Application Management.

2.The buttons are unresponsive

• 🔋 Check if the battery is discharged – at a charge level below 5%, some functions are turned off.
• 🧹 Clean the mud buttons with an alcohol napkin (especially relevant for the Redmi 5 Plus, which has buttons protruding above the body).
• 🛠️ If the Power button is broken, use the three-finger gesture or ADB.

3. The three-finger gesture doesn't work.

• ⚙️ Go to Settings → Additional → Special Features → Gestures and turn on a screenshot with three fingers.
• 👆 Make sure you swipe your fingers strictly vertically—diagonal swipes are ignored.
• 📱 In some firmware, the gesture conflicts with Navigation gestures – turn them off in Settings → Display → Navigation on the system.

4.The app blocks screenshots

Some programs (banking apps, Netflix, Disney+) prohibit screen shooting for security reasons.

• 📱 Using another device (take a picture of the screen with another smartphone).
• 🖥️ Through screen mirroring on a PC (e.g., Scrcpy).
• 🔓 Installation of modified firmware (not recommended due to security risks).

💡

If screenshots are taken but are black, this is a sign that some apps (like Google Pay) have dark mode enabled. Try taking a picture in a light theme or using third-party utilities.

Editing and managing screenshots

The screenshot is only half the story, and MIUI offers built-in tools to process it, but they're limited. Let's look at how to make the most of the screenshots.

1. Built-in editor

After the screenshot was taken:

1. Touch the thumbnail in the lower right corner.
2. The editor that opens is available in: 🖋️ Drawing: brushes, markers, eraser. 📝 Text: Adding text with a choice of font and color. 🟨 Blurring: Hiding confidential information. 🔍 Trimming: changing the boundaries of the screenshot.

Save.

In MIUI 12+, the editor supports layers, so you can add multiple texts or drawings on top of each other.

2. Screenshots folder: where and how files are stored

By default, all screenshots are saved along the path: /storage/emulated/0/Pictures/Screenshots/

• 📂 Files are named by template: Screenshot_YYYYMMDD-HHMMSS.png.
• 🗃️ In MIUI 11 and older, screenshots are also duplicated in Gallery → Albums → Screenshots.
• ☁️ When synchronized with Mi Cloud, the images are automatically uploaded to the cloud (if the feature is enabled).

3. Automatic cleaning

So that screenshots do not occupy memory:

1. Go to Settings → Storage → Cleaning.
2. Select Screenshots from the category list.
3. Click Clean to delete all photos over 30 days (threshold is set).

💡

MIUI 13/14 has a Smart Cleanup feature that automatically removes duplicate screenshots. To enable it, go to Settings → Warehouse → Cleanup Settings → Smart Cleanup and activate the Screenshots option.

Advanced Features: Screenshots for Developers

If you're in the business of testing apps or debugging, standard screenshots may not be enough.The Redmi 5 Plus supports several "professional" techniques.

1. Screenshots via fastboot

If the smartphone does not turn on, but reacts to the connection to the PC, you can take a screenshot in fastboot mode:

fastboot devices


fastboot getvar all




fastboot oem screen-capture /sdcard/screen.png

The method does not work on all versions of the bootloader and requires an unlocked bootloader.

Screen logs and dumps

To diagnose problems, it is useful to save not only the image, but also the current state of the system, and you can do this through ADB:

adb shell dumpsys window | grep -A 10 "mCurrentFocus"


adb shell screencap -p | perl -pe 's/\x0D\x0A/\x0A/g' > screen.png

The first command will show which application is active, the second will save a screenshot on the PC.

3 Automation through Tasker

With the Tasker app, you can set up automatic screenshots on a schedule or under certain conditions (e.g., when you open a particular application).

1. Create a new task in Tasker.
2. Add the action Plugin → AutoInput → Screenshot.
3. Set up a trigger (e.g. Display → Display Unlocked).

This is useful for monitoring activity or creating logs.

Frequent questions about screenshots on Redmi 5 Plus