How to take a screenshot on Xiaomi Mi A1: all ways with photos and videos

Introduction: Why screenshots on Mi A1 — topical

Smartphone Xiaomi Mi A1, Released in 2017, it became the first device of the company running a “clean” Android One instead of a proprietary shell. MIUI. This feature has radically changed the way Xiaomi users create screenshots, and if other models of the brand just had to swipe three fingers on the screen, then this gesture just does not work.

What's more, Mi. A1 It has a non-standard arrangement of power and volume buttons, which makes it difficult to use the classic combination. In this article, we will discuss 5 working methods for creating screenshots, from standard to little-known, including solutions for cases when the phone does not respond to pressing. All instructions are relevant for firmware based on Android 9 Pie and Android 10, which were officially supported by the device.

We'll focus on common mistakes: why a screenshot might not be saved, how to find it in a gallery, and what to do if the screen freezes while you're taking a picture. At the end of the article, we'll show you a comparative table of all the ways in terms of speed and convenience, and answers to common questions.

Method 1: Standard button combination

It is a universal method that works on all Android devices, including Xiaomi Mi. A1. However, because of the unusual location of the buttons, many users make mistakes:

• 🔘 Power button (right, top)
• 🔊 Volume down button (left, bottom)

Key points:

• ⏱️ Press the buttons strictly at the same time – if you first press the volume and then the power, the system will perceive this as an attempt to turn off the phone.
• 🕒 Hold on. 1-1.5 Seconds – too short a press will not work, and a long time will cause the shutdown menu.
• 🔋 If the battery is under 5%, the function can be blocked by the system.

The screen is unlocked and active

There is no protective film or cover on the buttons.

The sound is not turned off (otherwise there will be no confirmation signal)

Free at least 100 MB of memory-->

After successfully creating a screenshot, you will see:

1. Short animation of the shooting (the effect of the camera shutter)
2. Notification in the top bar with the share button
3. Shutter sound (if not disabled in settings)

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If you have a case with "ears" on the buttons, try to take a screenshot without it - often it is the cases that interfere with synchronous pressing.

Method 2: through the Quick Settings Panel

This method is suitable for those who cannot use physical buttons (for example, when the volume key breaks).

1. Unlock your phone and open the screen.
2. Swipe down from the top edge of the screen to open the notification bar.
3. Swipe down again to deploy the full Quick Settings panel.
4. Find the Screenshot icon (usually located on the second page of the panels).
5. Slip on it - the picture will be taken through 1-2 seconds.

If the Screenshot icon is missing:

• 🔧 Click on the icon. ⚙️ Edit the bottom panel.
• 🔍 Find a screenshot in the list and drag it to the active area.
• 📱 Some firmware may be called Capture or Screen capture.

Advantages of the method:

• ✅ No need to press physical buttons.
• ✅ It works even with a faulty volume key.
• ✅ You can assign other useful functions to the panel (for example, screen recording)

Method 3: Google's Voice Assistant

On Mi. A1 Android 9/10 Google Assistant is preinstalled, and it's a voice-guided screenshot, and it's the most convenient way for people who often use one hand:

1. Activate Google Assistant: Long-Tap Home (if enabled in settings) with the OK Google voice command (you need to pre-set)

Take a screenshot.


Take a picture of the screen.




Take off the screen.

2-3 seconds

Limitations of the method:

• 🚫 Does not work in office applications (Word, Excel) due to security policies
• 🚫 Requires Internet connection to recognize voice
• 🚫 Some firmware may request confirmation before creating a screenshot

To speed up the process, you can create a shortcut on the desktop:

1. Long pressing on the free screen space → Widgets
2. Find Assistant Labels or Google App
3. Drag on the screen widget Voice search

Method 4: Third-party applications (for advanced functions)

If you don't like the built-in methods, you can install specialized utilities.

• 📸 Postponed screenshot (timer) 3-10 seconds)
• 🎨 Editing immediately after creation
• 📂 Automatic upload to the cloud (Google Drive, Dropbox)
• 📱 Screenshots of scrollable pages (long screenshots)

Top.-3 Proven applications for Mi A1:

Important: Before installing, check the permissions of the application. No legitimate screenshot application should request access to the app. SMS, If you see these requests, it's potentially dangerous software.

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The side of the application is convenient for advanced users, but increases the load on the processor and can conflict with system services.

How to install and configure (Screenshot Easy example):

1. Download from Google Play (direct link: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ice.cold.screenshot)
2. At the first start, grant permissions: 📱 Overlay over other windows (for floating buttons) 🔔 Access to notifications (for delayed screenshots) 📁 Storage (to save files)

Activation method → Shake the device


File format → PNG (without loss of quality)




The save folder → DCIM/Screenshots

Method 5: through ADB (for developers)

This method is suitable for advanced users who want to automate screenshots or take them on a schedule. ADB-Drivers and Included Debugging USB phone-on.

Step-by-step:

1. Enable Developer Mode on Mi A1: Go to Settings. → About phone 7 times tap on Assembly Number Return to Settings → System system → For developers, activate debugging by USB

Connect your phone to your PC through USB-cable (original!

adb devices

The name of your device should appear.

adb exec-out screencap -p > screenshot.png

The file will be saved in the folder from where the team was launched.

Advanced ADB capabilities:

• 📅 Automation: You can create a script for screenshots on a schedule (e.g. every 5 minutes)
• 🔄 Package processing: take a series of screenshots to create a gif
• 🖥️ Remote management: Get screenshots on your PC without physical access to your phone

Warnings:

⚠️ Attention: Enabling the Developer Mode and Use ADB It can reset some security settings, such as restrictions on installing applications from unknown sources. USB.

⚠️ Attention: Mi A1 command-loader ADB They can be delayed by a modified kernel. --timeout 5 team-wise.

Where to look for saved screenshots and how to manage them

By default, all screenshots on Xiaomi Mi A1 stored in a folder:

/storage/emulated/0/Pictures/Screenshots/


or




/DCIM/Screenshots/

How to find and organize files:

1. Open the Gallery or Files app
2. In the Albums section, find the Screenshots folder (can be called Screenshots).
3. For sorting: 📅 By date: tap three dots in upper right corner → Sorting → By date. 🏷️ By name: Use a file manager (e.g. Solid Explorer)

Challenges and solutions:

Management advice:

• 🔄 To quickly share a screenshot, swipe down the notification bar and tap on Share in the notification of the new screenshot.
• 🗑️ For mass deletion, use a file manager with multiple selection (e.g. Files by Google).
• 🔒 To hide sensitive screenshots, transfer them to the.nomedia folder (created through the file manager).

Frequent mistakes and their solutions

Even with a simple procedure for creating screenshots, Mi users A1 And we're going to look at the typical scenarios and how to fix them.

1.The buttons do not respond to pressing

• 🔋 Check the battery power – at a level below 3%, the system blocks the creation of screenshots.
• 🧹 Clean the buttons of dirt (use a soft brush or compressed air).
• 🔄 Reboot your phone – sometimes helps with temporary button drivers crashes.

2.A screenshot is taken but not saved

• 📁 Check the space: you need a minimum of 50 MB on the internal drive.
• 🛠️ Reset permissions for the Warehouse app: Settings → Annexes → gallery → Permits
• 🔧 Update the system application Google Photos – it is responsible for processing screenshots on Android One.

3.The screen is flashing, but no screenshot is being created.

• 🚫 Perhaps the Do Not Disturb mode or the Game blocking screenshots is enabled.
• 🔒 Check if you have administrator rights for applications like Clean Master, which can block system functions.
• 📱 If the problem appears after the update, roll back to the previous firmware version via Fastboot.

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If none of these methods work, check the integrity of system files through the adb shell sfu check command. Damaged files can block the screenshot function.

4. Screenshots are made in black.

• 🌑 This is a typical problem when trying to take a screenshot in Safe Mode or in apps with a screenshot. DRM-Security (Netflix, banking applications).
• 🎬 To record the screen in such applications, use an external camera or specialized software like AZ Screen Recorder.

5 Voice assistant is not working

• 🎤 Check the microphone settings: Settings → System system → Language and input → Voice search.
• 🌐 Make sure your phone is connected to the internet (Google Assistant requires cloud recognition).
• 🔄 Reinstall updates for Google app in Play Market.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions