How to take a screenshot on the phone Xiaomi Poco: all ways + hidden features

Taking screenshots on Xiaomi Poco smartphones seems like a simple task — until you encounter unexpected nuances. Depending on the model (Poco F1, X3 Pro, F3 GT or the latest Poco X5/F5) and the MIUI version (12, 13 or 14), the methods may differ, and some features are hidden in the settings. This article will not just list the standard keyboard combinations, but also reveal unique MIUI chips for working with screenshots, which even the official instructions are silent about.

You'll learn how to take screenshots with one hand, save long pages in scrolling screen format, edit screenshots right after you've created, and even automate the process with gestures. We'll focus on the typical issues of why screenshots don't save, how to change the file format (PNG/JPEG), and where to find the hidden folder of the images. If you're a Poco user with custom firmware or root rights, there's some useful information for you, too.

1. Standard method: button combination

The classic method works on all Xiaomi Poco models regardless of the MIUI version. It is versatile and does not require any pre-setting.

1. Open the screen you want to lock (application, web page, settings).
2. Press two buttons at the same time: 🔘 Power button (right) 📱 Volume reduction button (left)

Hold them for 1-2 seconds until you hear the shutter sound and see the screenshot animation.

On the Poco F1 and older models, the sound may be absent — instead, a notification will appear in the top panel. On the Poco X5 Pro and later, a tactile vibration is triggered.

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If the combination doesn't work, check if the physical buttons are locked. Try pressing them individually, they should respond with a clear click.

Where to look for a ready screenshot? By default, files are saved in the folder:

/storage/emulated/0/Pictures/Screenshots/

Or through the gallery: open the Photos app → Screenshots album. MIUI 14 adds automatic sorting by date and application from which the image was taken.

2. Three-finger gesture - quick screenshot without buttons

A MIUI feature that eliminates the need to press buttons, and is available on all Pocos starting with the X3 NFC (2020), but is disabled by default.

1. Go to Settings → Additional → Special features → Three finger gesture.
2. Turn on the screenshot switch (may be called a screenshot).
3. Select the action for the gesture: swipe down with three fingers across the screen (not necessarily touching at the same time).

On the Poco F3 GT and F4 GT with 120Hz refresh rate, the gesture can be triggered with a delay. Solution: reduce sensitivity in gesture settings or use an alternative method.

⚠️ Note: On some custom firmware (e.g. Pixel Experience), the three-finger gesture conflicts with Swift Switcher for multitasking.

3. Scrolling Screen: How to Take a Long Page Photo

If you want to save the entire web page, Telegram correspondence or an in-app list, a standard screenshot is not suitable. MIUI has a built-in Scrolling Screenshot feature, but it does not work in all applications.

1. Take a regular screenshot in any way (buttons or gestures).
2. Immediately after the thumbnail appears in the lower right corner, click on it.
3. In the editor that opens, tap the Scrolling icon (two arrows down) ↓↓).
4. Wait until the system automatically scrolls through the page and connects the parts into a single file.

Limitations of function:

• ❌ It doesn’t work in Google Chrome (only in Google Chrome). MIUI Browser or Xiaomi Mint Browser).
• ❌ Instagram and TikTok only capture visible areas (due to content protection).
• ✅ It works on Telegram, WhatsApp, VK, 2GIS and most system menus.

On the Poco X5 Pro and later, Smart Scrolling has been introduced, which automatically defines content boundaries (e.g., does not capture empty areas at the bottom of the page).

Settings → Applications → Application settings → Screenshots → Smart scrolling

4.Voice Assistant and Google Assistant

If the buttons or sensor don't work (for example, if the screen is damaged), you can take a voice screenshot, which is suitable for both the built-in XiaoAI (Chinese assistant) and Google Assistant.

Method 1: XiaoAI (for Chinese firmware)

1. Activate the assistant with your voice: Say Hey XiaoAI or hold the home button (if you have one).
2. Say it in Chinese: (bāng wǒ jiétú — «take a screenshot»).
3. Or in English: Take a screenshot.

Method 2: Google Assistant (for global firmware)

1. Press the Home button (if physical) or swipe from the corner of the screen to the center to call the Assistant.
2. Say, Take a screenshot or Take a screenshot.

On the Poco F5 with MIUI 14, voice commands work even when the screen is locked (if voice unlock is enabled in the security settings).

⚠️ Note: On some models (Poco) M3, M4 Pro) Voice screenshots may conflict with the Up to unlock function. If screenshots are not taken, turn them off in Settings → Lock screen.

5. Screenshot via notification panel (quick settings)

A little-known method that works on all Pocos with MIUI 12+ is useful if the physical buttons are broken or it is uncomfortable to pinch them.

1. Swipe your finger down from the top of the screen to open the notification bar.
2. Swipe down again to deploy quick settings.
3. Find the Screenshot icon (scissors) ✂️). If it is not, then put it on the Edit (pencil). ✏️) And add it to the active tiles.
4. Click on the icon – the screenshot will be taken instantly.

The advantage of this method is that you can assign a screenshot to double-touch the tiles.

1. Press the screenshot icon in the notification panel.
2. Select the tile settings → Double touch.
3. Specify action: Screenshot.

Now it is enough to tap the tile twice to take a picture - convenient for single actions.

Screenshot icon added to quick settings | Notification panel deployed in full | No active restrictions (e.g., in banking apps) | Screen not blocked-->

6 Problems and Solutions: Why Screenshots Don't Work

Even on the new Poco X6 Pro, users are faced with screenshot bugs. Let's look at common bugs and how to fix them.

If screenshots are saved in low resolution (e.g. 720p instead of 1080p), check the display settings:

Settings → Screen → Screen resolution

On the Poco F3 and X3 Pro, when activated, the screenshots can be saved in compressed format. Turn it off in Settings → Battery.

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On Poco with a Snapdragon 8 Gen 1/2 processor (e.g., F4 GT, F5), screenshots in games may be lagging due to active performance mode. Before shooting, switch to a balanced profile in Settings → Battery → Performance modes.

7. Additional chips: editing, automatic sending and cloud storage

MIUI offers tools to work with screenshots as soon as they're created, and here's what you can do with the thumbnail that appears in the bottom right corner:

• ✏️ Edit: crop, add text, draw arrows or blur part of the image.
• 📤 Share: instantly send to Telegram, WhatsApp or mail.
• 🖼️ Scrolling Screen: Expand the picture (as described in Section 3).
• 🔍 Recognise text: extract text from the image (function) OCR, requires an internet connection).

On the Poco X5 Pro and later, the Cloud Screenshot feature is added, which automatically uploads images to Xiaomi Cloud and is available on other devices.

Settings → Applications → Application settings → Screenshots → Autoboot to the cloud

To automate the process, you can configure quick actions through the Automation application (pre-installed in MIUI):

1. Open Automation (Icon with a Cog) ⚙️).
2. Create a new automation → Screenshot.
3. Specify the condition (for example, when connecting headphones) and the action (take a screenshot).

This is useful for streamers or those who often lock the screen on a timer.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions