How to take a screenshot on Xiaomi Mi 8: all the ways (including hidden)

Xiaomi Mi 8 is still a popular smartphone due to the powerful “iron” and support for current versions MIUI. But even experienced users sometimes forget how to take a screenshot quickly — especially if you are used to other brands. In this article, we will analyze all available methods, including little-known chips for the Mi 8, as well as explain where the screenshots are saved and how to edit them directly on the phone.

Important: the instructions are relevant for all versions of the Mi 8 (Mi 8) SE, Mi 8 Pro, Mi 8 Explorer Edition on any firmware version MIUI 9 MIUI 14.If you have custom firmware (like LineageOS), some methods may not work – we’ll mention that too.

Before you go to the instructions, check if your system gestures or buttons are disabled. → Additionally. → Buttons and gestures and make sure that the Screenshot and Trifine gesture options are active.

1. Classic method: power buttons + volume

It’s a versatile method that works on all Android smartphones, including the Xiaomi Mi 8.

1. Open the screen you want to capture (app, web page, settings).
2. At the same time, press the power button (right) and the volume reduction button (left).
3. Hold them no longer than 1 second - until the characteristic sound of the shutter or the screen blinks.

⚠️ Note: if you press the buttons too long (more than 2 seconds), you will be forced to restart or call Google Assistant. on the Mi 8 this is especially true because of the sensitive sensors.

Advantages of the method:

• 🔹 It works even on a locked phone (if Screenshots from the lock screen are enabled in the security settings).
• 🔹 No need to unlock gestures or additional settings.
• 🔹 Compatible with any shell (including Pixel Experience or Havoc) OS).

If the screenshot does not work, check:

• 🔸 Are other buttons clamped (for example, increasing volume).
• 🔸 Do not disturb – it can block the sound of the shutter.
• 🔸 Is there any third-party button management software installed (e.g. Button Mapper).

2. Three finger gesture: fast and convenient

Xiaomi added to MIUI A unique gesture for screenshots is to swipe three fingers across the screen, which is especially useful if you have a broken power button or you often take screenshots.

How to turn on and use:

1. Open Settings → Additional → Buttons and gestures → Screenshot.
2. Activate the Three-Finger Screenshot Switch.
3. Swipe down the screen with three fingers (no pause!).

💡 Useful advice: if the gesture doesn’t work, try it:

• 📱 Slow down a little bit, the system should record the movement of all three fingers.
• 🖐️ Use three fingers (two or four will not work).
• 🔄 Reboot your phone – sometimes gestures “hang” after prolonged use.

⚠️ Note: on some custom firmware, this gesture may conflict with other features (e.g. Swift Actions in Havoc). OS). In that case, you'll have to choose one thing.

The advantages of a three-finger gesture:

• ⚡ Faster than pressing buttons (especially if the phone is on the table).
• 🎯 Accuracy – you can take a screenshot of a specific moment in a video or game.
• 🛠️ It works even with faulty physical buttons.

3. Screenshot via notification panel

If you're uncomfortable remembering button combinations or gestures, you can take a screenshot through quick settings, which is suitable for those who prefer a visual interface.

Instructions:

1. Swipe your finger down to open the notification panel.
2. Swipe again to open the full panel (with all icons).
3. Find the Screenshot icon (usually it looks like a scissor or a rectangle with lightning).
4. Slip on it – the screenshot will be taken instantly.

🔧 If the screenshot icon is not in the panel:

• 🔧 Click on Edit (pencil in upper right corner).
• 🔧 Find a screenshot in the list and drag it to the active area.
• 🔧 Save the changes.

This method is convenient when:

• 🧱 Your hands are busy (you can press the panel with your nose or elbow in an emergency).
• 🎮 You play a game where both hands are involved (for example, you play a game where both hands are involved, PUBG Mobile or Genshin Impact).
• 🔋 The battery is dead and you’re afraid to press the buttons too long.

⚠️ Note: on some versions MIUI 12 and below, the notification bar may not open in full-screen applications (such as games or videos.

💡

If the notification bar doesn’t open in the game, try swiping with two fingers from the top edge of the screen – this will work in most cases.

4. Advanced features: long screenshot and screen recording

The Xiaomi Mi 8 supports not only regular screenshots, but also scrolling (long) screenshots, as well as recording video from the display. These features are hidden in the menu after the screenshot is created.

How to take a long screenshot:

1. Take a regular screenshot of any of the above methods.
2. Immediately after the preview appears in the lower right corner, tap it on it.
3. In the editor that opens, select Scroll (an icon with two arrows down).
4. Wait until the screen automatically scrolls to the end, or stop the process manually.

📜 Where a long screenshot will be useful:

• 📄 Saving all correspondence in messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp).
• 📊 Fixing long web pages (such as articles or price lists).
• 📋 Archiving lists (playlists, tasks, search results).

⚠️ Note: Scrolling doesn’t work in all apps, like Instagram or TikTok, it can get blocked because of content protection, and long screenshots take up more space — up to 5-10 MB vs. 0.5-2 MB in regular apps.

🎥 Screen recording is activated in a similar manner:

1. Take a screenshot and tap it for the preview.
2. Select Screen Recording (Icon with Recording Mug).
3. Set up the parameters (resolution, sound, whether to show touches).
4. Press Start – the recording will start in 3 seconds.

🔊 Important: When you record the screen, the microphone's sound is turned on by default. To turn it off, tap on Settings before you start and uncheck the Record Sound box.

5 Where are the screenshots saved and how to find them

By default, all screenshots on Xiaomi Mi 8 file Pictures/Screenshots (or DCIM/Screenshots Some firmwares, you can access them in a number of ways:

🔍 If screenshots are not saved:

• 📁 Check if your phone is full (needs at least 100-200 MB of free space).
• 🔧 Make sure that the Gallery app has storage access rights (Settings) → Annexes → Permits).
• 🔄 Restart your phone – sometimes the system “forgets” the save path.

📌 Tip: to prevent screenshots from getting lost, set up automatic upload to Google Photos or Mi Cloud:

1. Open your Settings → Accounts → Mi Cloud
2. Turn on the gallery sync.
3. Select Download only over Wi-Fi so you don’t waste mobile traffic.

💡

Screenshots from Xiaomi Mi 8 preserved in format PNG with the resolution corresponding to the current screen resolution (usually) 2248×1080 pixel).

6.Editing and sharing screenshots

Once you take a screenshot of the Mi 8, you get a thumbnail in the bottom right corner, and you tap it, and you get into the built-in editor, where you can:

• ✏️ Cut or rotate the image.
• 🎨 Add text, drawings, stickers.
• 🔍 Blurring part of the screen (useful for hiding personal data).
• 📤 Share a screenshot directly from the editor.

📱 How to share a screenshot:

1. Open the screenshot at the Gallery.
2. Slip on the icon Share (arrow up).
3. Select the app (Telegram, WhatsApp, Mail, etc.).
4. If necessary, compress the image (the option to compress will appear automatically).

⚠️ Attention: when you send screenshots through messengers, they are often compressed to maintain original quality:

• 📎 Use Google Drive or Telegram (send as a file, not as a photo).
• 📧 Send by email as an attachment.
• 🔗 Generate a link via Mi Cloud (if synchronization is enabled).

🛠️ Third-party editors: if there are few built-in tools, install:

• 🎨 Snapseed – for professional processing.
• 🖌️ PicsArt – to add effects and collages.
• 🔍 Markup Hero – for markup and annotations.

7. Screenshot problems and their solution

Sometimes users of Xiaomi Mi 8 face errors when creating screenshots. Let's consider the most common and ways to fix them.

🔧 If nothing helps:

• 🔄 Restart your phone in Safe Mode (press the power button) → Safe Mode. If screenshots work, the problem is with third-party software.
• 📲 Reset button and gesture settings to standard (Settings) → Additionally. → Resetting settings).
• 🔧 Update the firmware to the latest version MIUI (The bug may have been fixed in new versions).

💡 The secret way: if you have root access, you can take a screenshot through ADB:

adb shell screencap -p /sdcard/screen.png

The file will be saved in the root folder of the storage under the name screen.png.

FAQ: Frequent questions about screenshots on Xiaomi Mi 8