How to take a screenshot on the smartphone Xiaomi Redmi: all ways + life hacks

Why screenshots on Xiaomi Redmi are not as easy as it seems

Have you ever tried to take a screenshot on Xiaomi Redmi, but instead of a saved shot, you get a random screenshot of the lock screen or a notification of a failed attempt? This is a typical problem for users of MIUI, Xiaomi's proprietary shell, where standard key combinations sometimes conflict with control gestures. Even experienced owners of Redmi Note 12 or POCO X5 can find that the usual way stops working after a system update.

In this article, we’ll look at all the current ways to create screenshots on Xiaomi Redmi smartphones, from classic hotkeys to hidden MIUI features that aren’t covered in the official instructions, learn how to take screenshots with one hand, save long pages (scrollshots), edit snapshots immediately after you’ve created and even automate the process with Quick Ball.

We warn you in advance that some methods may differ depending on the version of MIUI (for example, MIUI 14 changed the location of the "Screenshot" item in the notification curtain). Therefore, we have provided current data for all versions of MIUI from 12 to 15, and separately highlighted features for popular models - Redmi Note 11/12/13, POCO F4/F5 and Redmi 10C/12C.

Method 1: Classic button combination (works on 100% of devices)

It is a universal method that works on all Xiaomi Redmi smartphones, regardless of the model and version of MIUI.

Open the screen you want to capture (like a WhatsApp dialog or a page in Chrome).
Press the power button (on/off) and the volume button at the same time.
Hold them for 1-2 seconds until you hear the sound of the camera shutter and see the save animation.

⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Redmi) 9A or POCO M4 Pro) Holding the buttons too long may cause the phone to turn off or the voice assistant to be activated. Optimal pressing time is 1.5 seconds.

Check if the buttons are locked in Settings → Special features → Buttons

Make sure there are no active low battery notifications on the screen (they block screenshots)

Restart your phone – sometimes system failures interfere with the correct operation of the hot keys

Update. MIUI Up to the latest version (old versions had bugs with simultaneous press recognition)-->

If nothing happens after clicking, check to see if No Sound is activated, in which case the save animation will be without audio accompaniment, and some firmware (such as MIUI Global) may also have a thumbnail screenshot in the lower right corner, which can be edited or shared immediately.

Method 2: Three finger gesture (the fastest way to use one hand)

The three-finger screenshot is a MIUI gesture that allows you to take screenshots with one hand without pressing a button, especially for owners of large smartphones like the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ or POCO F5 Pro, where it is physically difficult to reach the volume and power buttons at the same time.

How to turn on and use:

Go to Settings → Additional → Special features → Screenshot gesture.
Activate the switch "Screenshot with three fingers".
Test: swipe down the screen with three fingers (no matter what – you can large, index and middle).

🔹 Lifehack: If the gesture is triggered by accident (for example, when scrolling the tape in TikTok), reduce sensitivity in the same settings or turn off the feature for specific applications through Settings → Annexes → Permits → Special access → Gestures.

How to take a scrolling shot (long screenshot) with a gesture

After you create a regular screenshot, tap the thumbnail at the bottom of the screen → select Scrolling → MIUI will automatically scroll down and combine the images into one long file. Works in Chrome, Telegram, Instagram and other scroll apps.

⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Redmi) 10A or POCO M5) The gesture may conflict with the Swipe for Return function (guest navigation). If screenshots do not work, temporarily turn off navigation with gestures in Settings → System system → Gestures → System navigation.

Method 3: Screenshot button in notification panel

If you don't feel comfortable remembering keyboards or gestures, the most reliable way is to use a quick settings panel, which works even on locked or damaged screens (if the sensor is partially functional).

Instructions:

Pull the notification curtain down with two fingers (to open the full panel).
Find the screenshot icon (usually a scissors or a rectangle with a curved angle). If it's not, tap it. ⚙️ Edit and add it to active buttons.
Click on the icon – the picture will be taken instantly.

📌 Important: On some firmware (for example, MIUI Europa) the screenshot button may be missing by default:

🔧 Go to Settings. → Notification panel and manually add widget.
🔄 Restart your phone – sometimes the button appears after the reboot.
📥 Update. MIUI Up to the latest version (old versions had an error with widgets displaying).

📊 What kind of screenshot do you use most often?

Button combination

Three-finger gesture

The button in the notification curtain

Voice assistant

Another way.

Method 4: Voice command (for those who like to control voice)

If your Xiaomi Redmi supports Xiaomi's voice assistant (or Google Assistant), you can take screenshots with your voice, which is convenient when your hands are busy or the screen is dirty.

For Google Assistant:

Activate the assistant with your voice (OK, Google) or hold the Home button.
Say, “Take a screenshot” (English: “Take a screenshot”).
Confirm the action if necessary.

For the Xiaomi voice assistant (only works on Chinese firmware or in regions with support):

Activate the assistant by saying “Xiao Ai, Xiao Ai” (on Chinese firmware).
Say: "(in Chinese means "screenshot").

⚠️ Warning: Voice screenshots don’t work in banking apps, secure messengers (like WhatsApp in incognito mode) and games due to security restrictions MIUI. The assistant may also not work if:

🔇 The microphone is off. Google/Xiaomi privacy settings.
📶 No Internet connection (some teams require cloud computing).
🔋 Activated mode of energy saving (limits the background work of assistants).

Method 5: Quick Ball (Floating Ball for Quick Access)

Quick Ball is a hidden MIUI feature that adds a floating round widget to the screen with quick access to screenshots, screen recordings and other activities, especially useful for users who often take screenshots in games or social networks.

How to set up:

Go to Settings → Special Options → Quick Ball.
Turn on the switch and adjust the appearance (size, transparency).
In the “Functions” section, add the “Screenshot” action (scissors icon).
Now tap Quick Ball on the screen and select Screenshot** from the menu.

🔧 Additional settings:

🎨 You can change the color and shape of the widgets in Quick Ball settings → Appearance.
🖥️ The function works even in full-screen applications (for example, in the PUBG Mobile or Genshin Impact).
🔒 For security, you can block access to Quick Ball on the lock screen.

💡

If Quick Ball interferes with games, set up application-specific exceptions in Quick Ball Settings → Ignore Apps.

Where are screenshots stored and how to edit them

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

Internal Memory → Pictures → Screenshots

or (on some firmware):

Internal memory → DCIM → Screenshot

📂 How to Change the Retention Place:

Install a file manager (e.g., Mi File Manager or Solid Explorer).
Move the Screenshots folder to SD-Map or cloud (e.g. Google Drive).
Use the Screenshot Easy app from Google Play to assign a new default folder.

🖌️ Editing screenshots:

🎨 Immediately after creating a screenshot, tap the thumbnail at the bottom of the screen - the built-in editor will open. MIUI with tools for cutting, drawing and adding text.
📝 For advanced editing, use Adobe Photoshop Express or Snapseed.
🔍 To find text in a screenshot, use Google Lens (built into Google Photos).

💡

Screenshots in MIUI are automatically optimized to save space – their weight is 20-30% less than that of images taken on the “naked” Android.

What to do if screenshots are not saved

Sometimes screenshots are taken but don't appear in the gallery or saved in unexpected folders.

Problem.	Reason.	Decision
Screenshots are not saved at all.	There is no space in the internal memory.	Clear the cache or transfer the files to SD-map
Pictures are saved but not displayed in the gallery	Screenshots folder removed from media scan	Restart your phone or manually add a folder to Google Photos
Screenshots are taken with a delay	Activated mode of energy saving	Turn off energy saving in Settings → Battery
The images are saved in.png format, not.jpg.	This is how MIUI works by default (without loss of quality).	Use third-party conversion applications
Screenshots are not taken in games	Prohibited by the system due to cheat protection	Use Quick Ball or Screen Recording

⚠️ Note: If screenshots are saved in black or with artifacts, this may be due to the:

🖥️ GPU malfunction (especially on older models like the Redmi 5 Plus).
🔄 shell conflict (try switching to Lawnchair or another launcher).
🛠️ Damage to the firmware (will help reset to factory settings).

FAQ: Frequent questions about screenshots on Xiaomi Redmi

Can I take a screenshot on the Xiaomi Redmi turned off?

No, it's impossible. To take a screenshot, the phone must be on and unlocked (unless you use a button in the notification bar on a locked screen). If the screen doesn't respond to touch, try connecting the phone to your PC and using ADB to create a snapshot: adb shell screencap -p /sdcard/screen.png

Why are the screenshots on my Redmi Note 11 still in poor quality?

MIUI compresses screenshots to screen resolution by default (e.g. 1080×2400 for Redmi Note 11). To maintain original quality: Use the Screenshot Touch app from Google Play. Turn off optimization in Settings → Storage → Free up space → Image Optimization.

How to take a screenshot with the S-Pen on the Redmi Note 10 Pro?

The Redmi Note 10 Pro does not support the S-Pen (this is an accessory for the Samsung Galaxy Note), but you can use any capacitive pen (such as Xiaomi's Active Pen) and take screenshots: Three finger gesture (if the pen supports multi-touch).

Can I automatically upload screenshots to Google Photos?

Yes, for this: Open the Google Photos app. Go to Settings → Backup and sync. Enable backup for Screenshots folder. ⚠️ Please note: screenshots containing sensitive information (passwords, bank details) are not recommended to be uploaded to the cloud.

Why do I take screenshots with a 2-3 second delay on my POCO X3 Pro?

This is a well-known POCO X3 Pro problem on MIUI 12.5 and below, related to the optimization of the Snapdragon 860 processor. Solutions: Upgrade to MIUI 13/14 (latency disappears). Turn off Windows animation in Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → Additional → Animation. Use Quick Ball - it works without delay.