How to take a screenshot on Xiaomi 12: all ways + secret MIUI chips

Xiaomi 12 — flagship AMOLED-screen and refresh rate 120 Hz, but even on such an advanced device, users are sometimes lost when you need to quickly save the contents of the screen. MIUI 13/14 There are a few alternative methods that are not widely known, and this article is a look at all the ways that we can use, including gestures, voice commands, and even long screenshots of the pages we scrolle.

Xiaomi 12 (and its 12 Pro/12 Ultra variants) feature hardware acceleration when creating screenshots, which speeds up the process by 30% compared to the brand’s budget models. However, some features (such as recording a screen with sound) may conflict with privacy settings, and we’ll show you how to avoid typical bugs and customize the system to suit your needs.

Method 1: Classic button combination (the most reliable method)

The basic way that works on all Xiaomi smartphones is to press physical buttons simultaneously. On Xiaomi 12, it's a combination:

Power button (right) + Volume down (left)

Important: You need to hold the buttons at the same time and hold 0.5-1 seconds until the screenshot animation appears. If you press too quickly, only the volume will work, and if too long, Google Assistant can activate.

• ✅ It works always, even if the touch screen is locked (but not in Fastboot mode)
• ⚠️ On Xiaomi 12 Ultra with an extra camera button, avoid accidentally tapping it – it’s located next to you.
• 🔄 If the screenshot is not saved, check the permissions for the Screenshots app in Settings → Annexes → Permits

⚠️ Note: On devices with damaged buttons (e.g., after a fall), this method may not work.

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If you have a case with a magnetic lock (such as the official Xiaomi Smart Cover), remove it before you take a screenshot – the magnet can block the sensors and interrupt the process.

Method 2: Three finger gesture (fastest)

MIUI's signature feature is to take a screenshot with three fingers wired across the screen, which is 40 percent faster than the classic one, but requires pre-tuning:

1. Open Settings → Additional → Special Features → Gestures
2. Activate the switch Screenshot with three fingers
3. Choose the direction of the gesture: Top down (recommended) or bottom up

Once activated, just swipe across the screen with three fingers (without pauses between touches). On the Xiaomi 12 Pro with a curved display, it is better to gesture closer to the center to avoid false positives from accidental touches on the edges.

Method 3: Notification panel (for long screenshots)

If you want to capture not only the visible part of the screen, but also the scrollable content (for example, a chat in Telegram or a page in the browser), use the built-in feature of the long screenshot:

1. Take a regular screenshot of any of the above methods
2. Immediately tap the thumbnail in the lower right corner of the screen.
3. In the editor that opens, click Scrolling (the icon with two arrows)
4. Wait for the automatic scroll of the page and click Ready

On Xiaomi 12 with MIUI 14, long screenshots support PDF saving, which is convenient for sending documents. Maximum capture length is 10 screens (system restriction).

⚠️ Note: When you create a long screenshot in Google Chrome or Mi Browser, some elements of the page may disappear (for example, pop-ups or animations). PDF via browser menu.

Method 4: Voice command (for Google Assistant users)

If you have Google Assistant on (or XiaoAI for Chinese firmware), you can take a voice screenshot, which is convenient when your hands are busy or the power buttons are faulty.

Algorithm of action:

1. Activate Voice Assistant: For Google Assistant: Say OK, Google or hold the Home button for XiaoAI: Twice press the power button (on Chinese firmware)

• Take a screenshot (Russian language)
• Take a screenshot (English)
• (for XiaoAI)

The screenshot will be saved in PNG format with a resolution of 2400×1080 (for Xiaomi 12), which also allows you to take a picture without notice (useful for hidden monitoring).

⚠️ Attention: Use ADB on someone else’s device without the consent of the owner may violate privacy laws (for example, article 137 of the criminal code of the Russian Federation “Infringement of privacy.

Where screenshots are stored and how to manage them

By default, all screenshots on Xiaomi 12 are saved in the folder:

/storage/emulated/0/Pictures/Screenshots/

But depending on the way of creating and firmware, the path may differ:

To manage screenshots:

• 🗑️ Delete: Use the Gallery app or any file manager (e.g. Mi File Manager)
• 📤 Transfer: Send directly from the notification bar (click on the screenshot thumbnail) → Share)
• ✏️ Editing: Built-in editor supports cropping, blurring, and adding text
• 🔒 Protection: Transfer the screenshots to the Secure folder (available in the Gallery) → Albums. → Secure folder)

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Screenshots take up space in memory! On Xiaomi 12, one screenshot weighs ~1.5–3 MB. When used actively, clean the Screenshots folder every 1-2 months to avoid filling up storage.

Typical problems and their solutions

Even on flagship devices like Xiaomi 12, users are experiencing screenshot errors, and let’s look at the most common cases and how to fix them.

Problem 1: Screenshot is not saved (animation appears, but file is not in the gallery).

• 🔧 Solution: Check the permissions for the Screenshots app in Settings → Annexes → Application management → Screenshots → Permits. Make sure Warehouse and Show over other windows are enabled.
• 🔄 Restart the device – sometimes it helps to reset the system cache.

Problem 2: The three-finger gesture doesn't work.

• ⚙️ Solution: Go to Settings → Additionally. → Special facilities → Gesture and re-activate the function. If the option is missing, update it. MIUI last-minute.
• 👆 Make sure you touch the screen with three fingers at the same time (not two or four).

Problem 3: Long screenshots are cut off at half a page.

• 📱 Solution: Turn off the Traffic Saving option in your browser settings (it can block page elements from loading). For Chrome: Settings → Light mode.
• 🔍 Check if Reader Mode is enabled – it removes some content.

Problem 4: Screenshots are black or with artifacts.

• 🖥️ Solution: This is typical for screenshot-protected applications (e.g. SberBank Online or SberBank Online). VK Use alternative methods: Take a screen picture with another device Use Google Assistant with Take a picture of the screen (not always working)

FAQ: Frequent questions about screenshots on Xiaomi 12