Why Redmi 4X screenshots may not be available the first time
Smartphone Xiaomi Redmi 4X (The codename Santoni was released in 2017, but it remains popular due to its reliability and support. MIUI. But many users have difficulty taking screenshots, especially if they've used other brands before. MIUI offers several alternative methods, and a standard button combination may conflict with gesture settings or shells.
In this article, we will discuss all the working ways to take a screenshot on the Redmi 4X, including the little-known MIUI chips, and also explain how to fix typical errors, for example, why sometimes the screen just flashes, but the picture does not save, or how to take a screenshot if the touch screen does not respond.
Before you go to the instructions, make sure that your device has at least MIUI 9 or later installed. On earlier versions, some methods may not work. Check the shell version in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version.
Method 1: Classical button combination
The most versatile method that works on all Android devices, including the Redmi 4X. Here the main thing is synchronicity of pressing: if you press one button before another, the system will perceive this as an attempt to turn off the screen or adjust the volume.
Instructions:
- 📱 Open the screen you want to capture (application, web page, settings).
- 🔘 Press and hold the power button (right) and the volume button (left) for 1-2 seconds at the same time.
- 💥 You will hear the sound of the camera shutter, and the screen will blink for a split second - this is a signal that the screenshot was taken.
Where to look for results? All screenshots are automatically saved to the gallery in the Screenshots folder (or Screenshots in Russian), and they can be found through the file manager on the path Internal Memory → Pictures → Screenshots.
Screen unlocked and active |Finger does not close buttons |System sound enabled (for confirmation) |No active gestures in settings-->
⚠️ Warning: If you press the buttons, the screen goes out or the switch-off menu appears, you press the power button before the volume.
Method 2: Three finger gesture (fastest)
It's a MIUI signature feature that eliminates the need to search for buttons, and just swipe three fingers down on the screen, and the screenshot is ready, but by default, this feature is disabled, so you need to activate it first.
How to turn on:
- Go to Settings → Additional settings → Buttons and gestures → Screenshot gestures.
- Activate the swipe switch with three fingers.
- (Optional) Set the direction of the gesture: top-down or bottom-up.
How to use:
- 🖐️ Place three fingers (usually index, middle and ring fingers) on the screen.
- 👇 Smoothly swipe them from top to bottom (or from bottom to top if you change the setting).
- 📸 Screenshot will be taken instantly, without delay.
The advantage of this method is that it's fast and there's no risk of accidentally turning off the phone. Cons: on a dirty or wet screen, the gesture may not work. It's also uncomfortable to use one hand on large screens.
What to do if the gesture does not work?
Method 3: Through the notification panel
A lesser known, but no less effective, way is to use a quick bar, which is convenient when the buttons are jammed or you prefer not to remember the combinations.
Step-by-step:
- 📲 Scroll down from top to bottom to open the notification bar.
- 🔧 Flick it down again to expand the full Quick Settings panel.
- 🖼️ Find the Screenshot icon (usually a scissors icon or a framed camera icon) If it's not there, click on the pencil (Edit) and add it to the active elements.
- 📸 Slip on the icon – the screenshot will be taken in 1-2 seconds.
This method is especially useful if you have a faulty power button or use a case that makes it difficult to access physical keys, and it can be used to take a screenshot with one hand, which is true for the Redmi 4X with its compact dimensions (5.0 inches).
| Method | Speed. | Convenience | It works when there's a fault. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Power buttons + volume | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐ | ❌ No (if the buttons are broken) |
| Three-finger gesture | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ❌ Not if the sensor is not working) |
| Notification panel | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ✅ Yes, if the sensor is working) |
| Voice assistant | ⭐⭐ | ⭐⭐ | ✅ Yes, if the microphone is working) |
💡
If the Screenshot icon disappeared from the notification panel after the MIUI update, reset the settings of the Quick Panels: Settings → Notifications → Control Panel → Reset.
Method 4: Voice command (for MIUI 10 and later)
Few people know, but Xiaomi Redmi 4X You can take screenshots with your voice, without touching the screen. MIUI (Not to be confused with Google Assistant! MIUI 10 and above.
How to set up:
- Activate the voice assistant: Settings → Additional settings → Voice assistant.
- Turn on the "Hi, Mi" listening switch (or set the activation button).
- Remember the command: "Take a screenshot" or "Screenshot".
Limitations:
- 🎤 It only works on Chinese or global firmware. MIUI (The custom may not be supported).
- 🔇 Requires an Internet connection for the first setup.
- 🗣️ The command must be pronounced clearly, without accent (the assistant is sensitive to pronunciation).
This is the most unusual way, but it's indispensable if you have busy hands or sensors/buttons, for example, you can take a screenshot while watching a video without stopping playback.
💡
Voice assistant MIUI understands commands only in the language chosen as the main settings of the phone. If you have Russian firmware, speak Russian; if global, use "Take a screenshot".
Advanced features: Scrolling screenshot and editing
Redmi 4X on MIUI supports scrolling screenshots — when you need to grab a long web page, messenger correspondence or contact list — a feature hidden in the menu after creating a regular screen.
How to take a long screenshot:
- Take a regular screenshot of any of the above methods.
- Immediately after the miniature appears in the lower right corner, tap it.
- In the editor that opens, select the Scrolling icon (two up and down arrows).
- 📜 MIUI It automatically scrolls down and connects the frames. Repeat until you capture the desired fragment.
- Press Ready to save the result.
The editor also has tools available:
- ✏️ Drawing (brush, marker, eraser).
- 📝 Text - Adding inscriptions on top of the screen.
- 🖼️ Blurring – to hide personal data.
- 🔲 Cutting – changing the boundaries of the image.
⚠️ Note: Scrolling doesn’t work in all apps, for example, Instagram or banking programs can be blocked for security reasons, and long screenshots aren’t saved as separate files in Galery – they need to be exported manually through the Share menu.
Frequent problems and their solutions
Even on a proven device like the Redmi 4X, users have difficulty taking screenshots, and let's look at typical scenarios and how to fix them.
Problem 1: Screenshot is not saved (the screen flashes, but the file is not).
- 📁 Check the Screenshots folder through the file manager – sometimes the gallery doesn’t automatically update.
- 🗃️ Make sure your phone has enough memory (minimum 100MB of free space).
- 🔄 Reboot the device – it will reset temporary cache files.
Problem 2: The three-finger gesture doesn't work.
- ⚙️ Recheck the settings: Settings → Additional settings → Screenshot gestures.
- 🧹 Clear the Launch application data (launcher) MIUI) through settings → Annexes → Application management.
- 📱 If you use a third-party launcher (Nova, Apex), return to the stock one - some shells block gestures.
Problem 3: The power/volume buttons don't respond.
- 🔧 Check if the buttons are clogged with dust or dirt (clean carefully with a toothpick).
- 🔋 If the phone is discharged (less than 5%), connect the charger – the system can block screenshots.
- 🛠️ As a last resort, use it. ADB for emulation of button pressing (requires PC and debugging by USB).