Users of Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones often face an unpleasant surprise: the screenshot taken on the screen of the device looks clear and bright, but when sent to messengers or viewed on a computer turns into a blurred stain with artifacts. This is not due to a matrix defect, but due to aggressive compression algorithms, features of the MIUI or HyperOS shell, and the wrong settings of the system. To get the image at maximum resolution, you need to understand how the operating system processes the captured image.
In most cases, the problem lies in the standard JPG save format, which compresses data to save space, irretrievably losing details. In addition, the system interface can scale, creating the illusion of high resolution where it is not. In modern versions of MIUI 14 and HyperOS, the standard screenshot utility enforces compression even when choosing the “original” quality in the gallery.
Causes of Quality Loss When Keeping Screen
The main enemy of detail is the compression algorithm. When you take a screenshot, the system instantly encodes an array of pixels into a graphics file. If the camera or system settings prioritize speed or space saving, the image bitrate decreases, especially on gradient backgrounds or fine-stroke texts where "noise" and color distortions appear.
Another reason could be interface scaling. If you change the size of the font or interface elements (DPI) in your Android settings, the system can render the image in a lower resolution buffer and then stretch it. You get an interpolated picture instead of the native resolution of the matrix. Hardware acceleration also affects: on budget models, the processor may not be able to cope with fast PNG encoding, switching to a lighter JPG.
⚠️ Note: Using third-party screenshot apps requires broad screen access permissions.Trust only proven open source software or from well-known developers to avoid passing personal data on to third parties.
There is also a problem with HDR-If the screen is displayed HDR-video or game with extended dynamic range, a standard screenshotr may incorrectly convert colors to standard SDR (sRGB, making the picture fade or overlit, and understanding these mechanisms allows you to choose the right method of fighting for quality.
Configure the save format: PNG vs JPG
The first and most important step is to abandon the JPG format in favor of PNG. The JPG format uses lossy compression, which means removing some visual information that the eye may not notice immediately, but which is critical for clarity of text and fine detail. The PNG format uses lossless compression, keeping each pixel exactly as it was on the screen.
In the standard Xiaomi gallery, there is often no direct format switch button before the image, but you can change the behavior of the system. In some versions of the shell, this option is hidden in the screenshot editor menu. However, a more reliable way is to use third-party applications that allow you to specify the format of the save rigidly. When you switch to PNG, the file size can increase by 3-5 times, but the detail will become a reference one.
- 📸 JPG: Low file weight, fast download in messengers, loss of details with each save.
- 💾 PNG: Perfect clarity, transparency support, large file size, longer processed by the processor.
- 🌐 WebP: Modern format from Google, good quality with less weight, but may not be supported by older devices.
If you use screenshots to create instructions or blog posts, the choice should be unequivocal in favor of PNG. For fast correspondence in messengers, where quality is secondary, you can leave JPG, but remember that Telegram and WhatsApp additionally compress images when sending them normally.
💡
To quickly check the quality, take a screenshot of the menu with fine text, send it to your favorites without compression and zoom in. If the letters "float" or around them you see a colored halo, you use aggressive compression JPG.
Using Developer Mode to Increase DPI
One of the most effective but little-known ways to improve visual clarity of screenshots is to increase pixel density (DPI) through a developer menu. The standard MIUI interface can use zoom that doesn't use the full power of the matrix. By increasing the DPI, you force the system to render interface elements in higher resolution, which directly affects the quality of the final shot.
To access these settings, you need to activate the hidden menu. Find the About Phone option in the settings and quickly click 7-10 times on either MIUI Version or OS Version. After the notification "You've become a developer" appears, go to the "Additional" section and select "Developers" here we're interested in the Less Wide (or Min Wideness) option.
Recommended DPI = (Native width resolution / 360) * 400Change the value gradually. The standard value for most smartphones is 360 or 392 dp. Increasing to 450-500 dp will make fonts and elements smaller but much clearer. It is not recommended to set values above 600-700 dp unnecessarily, as the interface can become unreadable, and some applications may start to work incorrectly or fly out.
| Parameter | Standard value | Optimized value | Impact on quality |
|---|---|---|---|
| Least width (DPI) | 360 - 392 dp | 420 - 480 dp | Increases the detail of fonts and UI |
| Scale of animation | 1x | 0.5x | Accelerates response, reduces lubrication |
| Shutdown HW-superimposition | Off | On (experiment) | Can remove the rendering artifacts |
⚠️ Note: Write down the initial value DPI If you accidentally set a value too high, the interface can become unusable, and it will be difficult to get it back without resetting the settings.
Application of third-party applications for screenshots
Xiaomi’s regular tools are often limited in functionality. To obtain professional quality, it is recommended to use specialized software. Applications like Screen Master, LongShot or Super Screenshot allow you to bypass standard compression algorithms and save the image in a “raw” form.
These programs often have built-in tools to improve the image: sharpening, removing noise, color correction. They also allow you to take screenshots without roots (Root rights) using the availability services of Android. This allows you to create long screenshots (scroll the page) while maintaining high quality, which the regular feature “Scroll” does not always perfectly.
- 🛠 Screen Master: Powerful editor, support RAW-Formats, removal of watermarks.
- 📜 LongShot: The Best Solution for Creating Long Screenshots of Websites and Correspondences.
- 🎨 Screenshot Easy: Minimalist interface, the ability to record the screen in high bitrate.
When using third-party software, it is important to configure the permissions correctly. When you first start up, Android will ask for permission to "display on top of other applications" and "access to storage." Without these rights, the program will not be able to intercept the image from the screen buffer. Also, in the settings of the application itself, make sure that the quality is set to "Maximum" or "Original".
☑️ Checking the settings of the third-party application
The specifics of screenshots in games and HDR-content
Gamers often notice that screenshots from games look worse than the game itself, because when the frame is captured, the system can reduce rendering to maintain performance. In games with support for HDR (High Dynamic Range), the problem is even more acute: a standard screenshotr downconversions colors, and the picture becomes gray.
To solve the problem in games, use Xiaomi’s built-in Game Turbo accelerators. The Game Turbo floating window settings often have a custom screenshot button that can work bypassing the standard path by saving a frame directly from the game’s video stream.
If you take screenshots for reviews or streams, consider using Screen Recording with the subsequent retrieval of the frame. Screen recording at 1080p and 20 Mbps bitrate often gives a cleaner frame when exported to the editor than a direct screenshot, since the video stream is encoded differently than a static image.
Why does a YouTube screenshot look black?
Processing and improving screenshots after creation
Even the perfect source can be spoiled when you process it. If you need to send a screenshot but keep the quality, use the File feature on Telegram or the No Compression feature on WhatsApp. Social networks like Instagram or VK automatically compress images when uploaded to the feed. Use web versions of sites or special services for bloggers for publications.
To edit, use layer-based applications that do not destroy the original data, such as Snapseed or Lightroom Mobile. Avoid resaving multiple times in JPG. If you crop the screenshot, save the result in PNG. It is also useful to use light sharpening to compensate for blurring when scaling.
It is important to consider the color scheme. AMOLED-screens with saturated colors, on the usual LCD-When preparing screenshots for publication on a PC, it is worthwhile to reduce the saturation and contrast slightly to make the image look realistic on different devices.
💡
Golden Rule: Always save the original screenshot to the cloud or PC before any processing or sending. DPI never.