How to take a screenshot on Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite: all ways + secret chips

Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite is one of the most popular budget smartphones of the brand, released in 2018, but still actively used thanks to the program Android One. However, many users face difficulties when trying to take a screenshot: the combination of buttons does not work, gestures are not recognized, the menu of quick settings is hidden. In this article, we will discuss all possible ways to create screenshots on this model, including little-known chips for advanced users.

The Mi A2 Lite features two firmware versions: MIUI (for the Chinese market) and Android One (global), which not only affects the interface, but also the available screenshots, and we'll look at both, and the universal solutions that work independently of the firmware, and if your phone stops taking screenshots after the upgrade, here's the solution.

1. Classical method: button combination

The most reliable and versatile method that works on any firmware version is to simultaneously press physical buttons. On the Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite, you need to:

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 to 1.5 seconds until you hear the shutter sound or see the animation.

⚠️ Note: If you press buttons longer than 2 seconds, your smartphone may interpret this as an attempt to turn off or reboot. Also avoid pressing Volume Up, which will cause the voice assistant to activate.

After a successful screenshot, a thumbnail notification will appear at the top of the screen. Click on it to edit or share the image immediately. If the notification does not appear, check the Screenshots folder in the gallery or through the file manager along the way:

/storage/emulated/0/Pictures/Screenshots/

- The shutter sound (if not switched off)

- The top panel flashed a thumbnail.

- File saved in Screenshots folder

- File size ~1-3 MB (depending on screen resolution)-->

2.Gestural screenshots (MIUI only)

If your Mi A2 Lite runs on MIUI firmware (rather than Android One), you can use a three-toed gesture to quickly take screenshots, a method that is handy when physical buttons are hard to reach (e.g. when using a case).

To activate the function:

1. Go to Settings → Additional settings → Buttons and gestures → Screenshot gestures.
2. Turn on the swipe option with three fingers down.
3. Check the work: swipe down the screen with three fingers at the same time.

⚠️ Attention: The gesture may conflict with other features, such as scrolling the screen or fast access to apps. If a screenshot is not created, try it:

• 🔹 Disable other gestures in the settings.
• 🔹 Swipe your fingers vertically, without deviating to the sides.
• 🔹 Use the average speed of the swipe (too slow or fast may not work).

If the screenshot gesture option is not on the menu, your smartphone is running on Android One, where this feature is not supported, in which case use alternative methods from the following sections.

MIUI (Chinese/Global version)

Android One (Google program)

I don't know how to check.

Other firmware (castom)-->

3. Screenshot via notification panel (Android 10/11)

In firmware based on Android 10 and 11 (including Android One), there is a separate button for screenshots in the Quick Settings panel, which is convenient when you need to take a picture with one hand or the buttons of the smartphone are faulty.

Instructions:

1. Deploy the notification panel by swiping your finger from top to bottom across the screen.
2. Find a Screenshot icon (usually looks like a scissor or a serif rectangle) If it's not there, click on Edit (pencil icon) and add a button to the active ones.
3. Slip the icon – the smartphone will take a picture of the current screen.

🔹 Tip: If the screenshot button is missing even after editing, upgrade to the latest version. In older Android One builds (until June 2021), this option may not be available.

💡

Add the screenshot button to the first line of the notification panel – so it will always be at hand without unnecessary swipes.

4. Voice command (Google Assistant)

If you have Google Assistant on, you can take a voice screenshot, which is useful when your hands are busy or your smartphone buttons are not working.

1. Activate the voice assistant by saying OK, Google, or by pressing the Home button (if it’s physical).
2. Tell the command: Take a screenshot or take a picture of the screen.
3. Confirm the action if necessary.

⚠️ Attention: This method requires:

• 🔹 Internet connection (for voice command processing).
• 🔹 Google Screen Assistant enabled (resolution in settings Special features).
• 🔹 English or Russian in voice settings (not all regional dialects are supported).

If the command is not recognized, try alternative wording:

• 🔹 Take a screenshot.
• 🔹 Save the current screen.
• 🔹 Screenshot (simple pronunciation of the word)

5. Screenshot applications: when standard methods don't work

If none of these methods works (for example, a broken power button or gestures are not recognized), you can use third-party applications.

• 🔹 Scrolling Screenshots (Capture of Long Pages).
• 🔹 Postponed screenshot (timer 3-10 seconds).
• 🔹 Editing (shortcutting, blurring, adding text).

Top.-3 Proven applications for Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite:

⚠️ Note: When installing third-party apps for screenshots:

• 🔹 Turn off standard gestures in settings to avoid conflicts.
• 🔹 Check Permissions: The App must have access to Overlay over other windows and Warehouse.
• 🔹 Avoid programs with suspicious reviews or requesting access to SMS/contact.

💡

The app side is useful for advanced features, but standard methods are more reliable and secure for privacy.

6 Problems and Solutions: Why Screenshots Cannot Be Taken

If you don't get a screenshot, the reasons can be both software and hardware, and let's look at the typical situations and how to fix them.

🔧 Buttons don't respond.

If the combination Power + Volume reduction does not work:

• 🔹 Check if one of the buttons is stuck (clean from dust with an alcohol napkin).
• 🔹 Try pressing buttons with different strengths – sometimes contacts wear out and require sharper pressing.
• 🔹 Connect your smartphone to charging: with a discharged battery (less than 5%), some functions are blocked.

📱 Three-finger gesture doesn't work.

In MIUI firmware, the problem may be:

• 🔹 Disabled function: check settings → Additional settings → Buttons and gestures.
• 🔹 Conflict with other gestures (e.g., double touching to wake up).
• 🔹 Sensor malfunctions: Test the swipe in other applications (e.g., gallery).

🚫 Prohibited by the system

Some applications (banks, secure messengers, DRM games) block the creation of screenshots.

• 🔹 Use screen recording (built-in function in the MIUI application AZ Screen Recorder).
• 🔹 Connect your smartphone to your PC and take a screenshot through ADB (for advanced users).
• 🔹 Take a picture of the screen with another device (unless the information is confidential).

💡

If screenshots are blocked in the banking app, try to turn on the Developer Mode and disable the option to Disable Screenshots (if available).

7 Where screenshots are stored and how to manage them

By default, all screenshots on Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite are saved in the folder:

/storage/emulated/0/Pictures/Screenshots/

To make it easier to work with them:

• 🔹 Rename: Use a file manager (such as Mi File Explorer or Solid Explorer) to massively rename the template (such as Screenshot Date Time.png).
• 🔹 Sort: in the gallery create a separate album Screenshots and move all files there for quick access.
• 🔹 Cloud reservation: enable automatic download in Google Photos or Mi Cloud (setting up in Settings) → Accounts. → Synchronization).

🔹 Space saving tip: If screenshots take up a lot of memory, convert them to WebP format (weighs in the image). 2–3 less JPEG/PNG) Using apps like Squish or Photo & Picture Resizer.

To change the default save folder (for MIUI only):

1. Install a file manager with ROOT support (such as Root Explorer).
2. Move to the /system/build.prop and find a line. ro.miui.screenshot_path.
3. Change the path to the desired one (e.g. /storage/emulated/0/Download/Screenshots).
4. Save the file and restart the smartphone.

FAQ: Frequent questions about screenshots on Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite