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

Why screenshots on Xiaomi 5 are not as easy as it seems

Xiaomi Redmi 5 (codenamed rosy) is still popular with users due to its price-performance balance. However, the feature of creating screenshots on this model has several nuances that are not written about in the standard instructions. For example, the classic Power + Volume Down button combination does not always work – especially if the phone has custom firmware installed or MIUI gestures activated.

In this article, we’ll look at all the ways you can take a screenshot of Redmi 5, including little-known features like scrolling screenshots and recording a screen with sound, and you’ll also learn why screenshots sometimes don’t save in the gallery and how to fix them without resetting them.

⚠️ If your Xiaomi Redmi 5 is working on MIUI 12+, Some methods may differ from those described below. At the end of the article, there is a separate section with current solutions for new versions of the shell.

Method 1: Classic button combination (works 90% of the time)

The most reliable and versatile method is the use of hardware buttons, which works even if the touch screen is not responding or the system is getting stuck.

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

⚠️ Note: If you press buttons longer than 3 seconds, the phone can reboot to Fastboot mode or shut down.

Where to look for the screenshot taken?

• 📁 Screenshots folder in the gallery (path: Internal Memory) → DCIM → Screenshots).
• 🔍 Through File Manager: Open Mi File Explorer and type in search SCR- (screenshot prefix).
• ☁️ If sync with Mi Cloud is enabled, screenshots are automatically uploaded to the cloud (check in the web version of i.mi.com).

Method 2: Three-finger gesture (fastest, but not always on)

MIUI's signature feature is the ability to take a screenshot with three fingers swiping from top to bottom across the screen, which is convenient for capturing moments in games or videos when buttons are inconvenient to use, but by default, the gesture can be turned off.

How to turn on:

1. Go to Settings → Additional functions → Gestures.
2. Find the screenshot option with three fingers and activate the switch.
3. (Optional) Enable Preview to edit the screenshot immediately.

🔹 Secret: If the gesture doesn't work, try to swipe your fingers not vertically, but slightly diagonally (left to right or right to left) to avoid conflicts with other gestures (e.g. swipe to back up).

Method 3: Notification panel (if buttons are broken)

If the hardware buttons on your Redmi 5 don’t work (for example, after a drop or moisture), you can take a screenshot through the Quick Settings Panel.This method is also useful if you take screenshots often and want to save time.

Instructions:

1. Swipe your finger down to open the notification panel.
2. Swipe down again to turn the full panel around.
3. Find a Screenshot icon (usually a scissors or screen thumbnail). If it's not there, click Edit (pencil icon) and add it to the active elements.
4. Slip the icon - the screenshot will be taken instantly.

⚠️ Note: On some firmware (for example, MIUI 10 for Redmi 5) the screenshot icon may not be in the default panel. In this case, add it manually or use another method.

Method 4: Voice command (for lazy people)

If you're lazy to push buttons or make gestures, you can use Google's voice assistant or XiaoAI, which is especially convenient when your hands are busy or your screen is dirty.

How to set up:

1. Activate the voice assistant: - For Google Assistant: download the app from Play Market and go through the setup. - For XiaoAI: go to Settings → Applications → XiaoAI → Auto Run and enable the option.
2. Say to one of the commands: "OK, Google, take a screenshot" - "XiaoAI, screenshot" (on Chinese firmware may not work).

🔹 Lifehack: If the voice assistant doesn't recognize the command, try saying "Photograph the screen" or "Photograph the screen." Sometimes it works better.

Method 5: Scrolling Screenshot (for long pages)

A standard screenshot captures only the visible part of the screen. But what if you want to save an entire web page, chat or list from an app? For this purpose, MIUI has a scrolling screenshot function (also known as a "long screenshot").

How it works:

1. Take a regular screenshot of any of the above methods.
2. Immediately after the appearance of the screenshot in the lower right corner, tap it.
3. In the editor that opens, select the Scroll option (an icon with two down arrows).
4. Wait until the system automatically scrolls the screen and connects the parts into a single file.

⚠️ Note: The feature doesn’t work in all apps, such as Instagram or TikTok, where a scrolling screenshot can only capture a portion of the content due to restrictions. API. In such cases, use third-party apps like LongShot or Scroll Capture.

💡

If the screenshot you're scrolling down fails, try scrolling the page manually to the end before you capture it, and the system will remember the position and take the picture more accurately.

Problem Solving: Screenshots Are Not Saved or Disappear

A frequent complaint of Xiaomi Redmi 5 users is that screenshots don't appear in the gallery or disappear after a reboot, the reasons can range from firmware bugs to memory shortages.

• 🔧 Check the permissions: Go to Settings → Annexes → gallery → Permits and make sure access to the storage is enabled.
• 🗑️ Clear the cache: In the same gallery settings, click Clear the cache and Clear the data (this won't delete your photos, only temporary files).
• 📱 Check Memory: If the internal memory is less than 1GB, the system can automatically delete screenshots. SD-map.
• 🔄 Update. MIUI: In older versions of firmware (below) MIUI 11) there were bugs with saving screenshots. Update via Settings → The phone. → Updating the system.

Critical information: If screenshots are saved but not displayed in the gallery, check the Pictures/Screenshots folder through the file manager. Sometimes MIUI creates duplicate folders and files are scattered across different directories.

💡

If none of the methods worked, try taking a screenshot through ADB (for advanced users).

adb shell screencap -p /sdcard/screen.png

Bonus: How to take a screenshot with sound (screen recording)

Sometimes a screenshot isn't enough -- for example, if you want to record a gameplay or a video call with a sound -- MIUI has a built-in screen recorder, but it doesn't always capture the internal sound. Here's how to get around the limitations:

Method 1: Built-in recorder

1. Deploy the notification bar and find the Screen Record icon (if not, add via Edit).
2. Slip on it and select the options: - Resolution: 720p (for space saving) or 1080p (maximum quality). - Sound: turn on Microphone (for comments) or System Sound (only on MIUI 12+).
3. Click Record and confirm the start in 3 seconds.

Method 2: Third-party applications (if you want to capture internal sound)

• 🎮 AZ Screen Recorder – supports recording internal audio on Xiaomi via Audio Mod (requires root rights on older versions of Android).
• 📱 DU Recorder is a simple interface, but sound is recorded only from the microphone.
• 💻 Vysor – broadcast screen on PC with sound recording (needed) USB-cable).

⚠️ Note: Recording system audio may violate the rules of some apps (e.g. Netflix or Spotify) and use this feature only for personal use.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions