How to take a screenshot on Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite: all working ways

Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite is one of the brand’s most popular smartphones with pure Android One, which is still in active use. Despite the simplicity of the interface, many users are wondering how to take a screenshot on this model. Unlike devices with a MIUI shell, there are no trademark chips like “three-finger swipe”, but universal Android methods work.

In this article, we will look at all the current ways to create screenshots, from the classic button combination to hidden functions in the menu. We will focus on the nuances of the Mi A2 Lite: where screenshots are saved, how to edit them, and why sometimes the methods do not work. If you just switched from an iPhone or another Xiaomi to Android One, this guide will help you avoid common mistakes.

1. Classic method: power buttons + volume

The most reliable and versatile method that works on all Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite smartphones regardless of the firmware version.

1. Open on the screen what you want to capture (for example, correspondence in WhatsApp or a page in the browser).
2. At the same time, press the Power button (right) and the Volume Down button (left).
3. Hold them for 1-2 seconds until you hear the characteristic shutter sound of the camera and see the animation of the save.

⚠️ Attention: On Mi A2 Lite buttons are located on different sides of the case, so first of all, practice pressing them synchronously. If you pinch the Power longer than Volume, the smartphone can lock or open the shutdown menu.

The screen is unlocked and the content is active.|Fingers do not close important elements.|The sound is not turned off (to hear confirmation)|The buttons are not stuck and pressed clearly.-->

If the screenshot didn’t work the first time, try:

• 🔄 Press buttons not strictly at the same time, but with a minimum interval (first Volume, then Power).
• 🧹 Clean the buttons of dust – sometimes they don’t work well due to pollution.
• 🔋 Make sure the battery is above 5% (at a critical level, some functions are blocked).

2. Screenshot via the notification menu (if buttons don't work)

If the physical buttons on your Mi A2 Lite are damaged or unresponsive, you can take a screenshot through the software menu, which is also suitable for those who are used to MIUI, where there is a separate button for screenshots.

Instructions:

1. Turn the notification bar around by swiping your finger from the top edge of the screen down.
2. Find the Screenshot icon (usually hidden behind the Edit or More button).
3. Slip on it – the smartphone will immediately take a picture of the current screen.

💡 Useful tip: If there is no icon, add it manually:

1. Open the notification bar and click Edit (pencil icon).
2. In the Other Settings section, find the Screenshot and drag it to the active area.

3.Gestural and alternative methods (including ADB)

The Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite with Android One doesn’t feature MIUI signature gestures, but you can activate hidden features via ADB or third-party apps.

Method 1: Three fingers down gesture (requires ADB)

This method only works after manual activation via a computer.

• 💻 PC with installed drivers ADB and Fastboot.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
• 📱 Included debugging by USB on a smartphone (Settings) → The phone. → Build Number – tap 7 times, then return to Settings → System system → For developers → Debugging by USB).

The command to activate the gesture:

adb shell settings put secure sysui_screenshot_service com.android.systemui/.takeScreenshotService

After completing the command, swipe three fingers from top to bottom across the screen - a screenshot should appear. ⚠️ Note: On some firmware, this method may conflict with other gestures (e.g., a swipe to return to the back).

Method 2: Third-party applications

If you don’t want to mess with ADB, install one of the proven apps:

⚠️ Note: When using third-party apps, they may request permission to access notifications or overlay over other windows!

Power buttons + volume|Notification menu|Gestures/ADB|Third-party annexes|Another option-->

4 Where screenshots are saved and how to find them

By default, all screenshots on the Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite are saved in the Pictures/Screenshots folder.

• 📁 Through the Gallery: Open the Photos app, select the Screenshots album.
• 🔍 Through Explorer: Go to Internal Drive → Pictures → Screenshots.
• 🖥️ Through PC: Connect the phone to USB, Turn on file transfer mode and find the folder manually.

On the Mi A2 Lite with firmware older than Android 9, screenshots can be saved in the DCIM/Screenshots folder - this is not a bug, but a feature of older versions.

If the screenshots are not displayed:

1. Check if they are hidden in the gallery (the Photos app settings may have a filter by file type).
2. Use a file manager (such as Solid Explorer) to search by name Screenshot_*.png.
3. Restart your smartphone – sometimes the media scanner doesn’t update the database right away.

5. How to edit and share screenshots

After you take a screenshot of the Mi A2 Lite, you see a thumbnail in the bottom right corner of the screen.

• ✏️ Edit: crop, add text or figure.
• 📤 Share: send to the messenger or social network.
• 🗑️ Delete if the photo is not needed.

If the thumbnail is gone, open the screenshot through the gallery and click Edit. Android One's built-in editor lets you:

• 🎨 Add filters and adjust brightness.
• 📝 Apply text (5 fonts available).
• 🖌️ Draw with a brush or marker (3 colors) + eraser).

💡 Use Snapseed or Photoshop Express for advanced editing (like blurring personal data) – they’re free and support layers.

6. Common Problems and Their Solutions

Even on a reliable smartphone like the Mi A2 Lite, there can be errors in screenshots, and we'll look at the typical cases and how to fix them.

⚠️ Note: If screenshots are no longer saved after the firmware update, reset the Photos app settings (Settings) → Annexes → Photo Photo → Warehouse → Clear the data. That'll bring back the standard ways of saving.

💡

The Mi A2 Lite cannot be screenshotd in DRM-protected applications (e.g. banking programs or streaming services) and this is a limitation of Android, not a smartphone.

7. Alternative methods: screen recording and cloud services

If you need to record a process (such as gameplay or instructions) rather than just lock the screen, use the built-in screen recording feature:

1. Deploy the notification bar and find the Screen Record icon (if not, add via Edit).
2. Click on it and confirm the start of the recording.
3. When you finish, click Stop and the video will be saved to the Movies/ScreenRecords folder.

To automatically upload screenshots to the cloud:

• 🌥️ Set up Google Photos: Open the app → Settings → Backup and synchronization.
• 📱 Use Mi Cloud (if installed): Settings → Accounts. → Mi Cloud → Synchronization of media files.

💡 Useful advice: If you share screenshots often, set up IFTTT Tasker to automatically send new photos to Telegram or Discord.

FAQ: Frequent questions about screenshots on Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite