How to take a screenshot on Xiaomi: 7 ways for any model

Taking screenshots on Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones seems like a simple task — until you encounter unusual situations. The classic combination of the buttons Loud down + Power does not always work: on some models it conflicts with a call to Google Assistant, and in games or applications with a lock interface may not work at all. In addition, MIUI 14/15 has new gestures and functions that are not known to all users.

In this article, we’ll look at all the current ways to take a screenshot on Xiaomi, from standard to hidden, including methods for devices with broken physical buttons or a broken sensor. You’ll also learn how to edit screenshots right after you’ve created, where they’re saved, and why screens are sometimes saved in.png format, and sometimes in.jpg. Instructions are suitable for all models released after 2018, including the Xiaomi 13/14 Series, Redmi Note 12/13 Pro and Poco F5/X5.

1. Standard method: Volume and power buttons

This is the most versatile method, working on all Xiaomi smartphones regardless of the version of MIUI.

• 📱 Simultaneously press the Volume Down button (bottom of the sidebar) and the Power button.
• 🔍 Hold them for 1-2 seconds until you hear the camera shutter sound and see the save animation.
• 📂 The screenshot will automatically be saved in the folder. DCIM/Screenshots or Pictures/Screenshots.

⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 12T or Redmi K50) This default combination calls Google Assistant. If you have this problem, go to Settings. → Annexes → By default. → Assistant and voice input and disable the assistant call through the buttons.

Make sure the buttons are not stuck or damaged.|

Turn off the case if it blocks access to the buttons |

Check if the Do Not Disturb mode is activated (it can block the shutter sound)|

Hold the buttons strictly at the same time – no sooner or later.

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If the screenshot is not created, try:

1. Press the buttons with greater force (sometimes the sensors only respond to a clear press).
2. Change the order of pressing: first Power, then Volume down.
3. Reboot your smartphone – sometimes system lags block the creation of screens.

2. Three finger gesture (the fastest way)

The MIUI feature is the ability to take a screenshot with one motion across the screen, which works even in games or applications where buttons are locked (for example, in PUBG Mobile or Genshin Impact).

How to turn on:

1. Open Settings → Additional functions → Gestures.
2. Select a screenshot with three fingers.
3. Activate the switch and read the motion hint.

How to use:

• 👆 Swipe down the screen with three fingers at the same time (no matter what – you can large, index and medium).
• 🎨 If you hold and hold your finger after the gesture, the screen scroll menu will open (for long screens).
• 🔄 To cancel the screen, immediately swipe in the opposite direction (bottom up).

⚠️ Note: On some models (e.g. Poco) F4 GT) The default three-finger gesture is disabled due to a conflict with the game triggers, in which case it must be manually activated as described above.

3. Screenshot via notification panel

If the physical buttons are broken or you prefer not to use gestures, you can take a screenshot through quick settings, which works on all versions of MIUI starting with the 10th.

Instructions:

1. Deploy the notification bar with a full swipe (top-down twice or one hold motion).
2. Find the Screenshot icon (usually a scissor or screen thumbnail) and if it's not there, click Edit (pencil in the top right corner) and add it to the active tiles.
3. Slip the icon - the screenshot will be saved automatically.

Advantages of the method:

• ⚡ It works even with faulty buttons.
• 🔧 Allows you to quickly edit a screenshot after creating (trimming, drawing, adding text).
• 📱 It does not conflict with other functions (unlike button combinations).

⚠️ Note: On some firmware (for example, MIUI Global Stable for European Region) The screenshot icon can be hidden by default. If you don't see it, check the list of all tiles in the edit section.

4. Voice assistant (for users with disabilities)

If you don't have a button or a sensor, you can take a screenshot using voice commands, both the built-in Google Assistant and the branded XiaoAI (available on Chinese firmware).

Method 1: Google Assistant

1. Activate the assistant with your voice (OK, Google) or hold the Home button (if physical).
2. Say, “Take a screenshot” or “Photograph the screen.”
3. Confirm the action (if required).

Method 2: via XiaoAI (Chinese firmware only)

• 🎤 Say "" (XiaoAI, take a screenshot).
• 📲 Or press and hold the Home button, then select the screenshot icon from the assistant menu.

1. Internet connection (some commands require cloud processing).

2. language settings - the assistant must be configured in Russian or English.

3. permissions for assistant in Settings → Appendices → permissions.

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⚠️ Attention: On models with MIUI For the global market (e.g. Redmi Note 12) 5G Global) XiaoAI is disabled by default, and can only be activated by changing the region to China in the Mi Account settings, but this will result in loss of warranty and possible problems with Google services.

5 Scrolling screen (long screenshot)

If you want to save an entire web page, chat or list (such as your Telegram history or Instagram feed), use the Scrolling feature, which is available in MIUI 12 and later.

How to take a long screenshot:

1. First, create a regular screenshot in any of the ways described above.
2. Immediately after the screen thumbnail appears in the lower right corner of the screen, 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.
5. Press Ready to save the result.

Limitations of function:

⚠️ Note: Long screenshots are saved in.png format and can take up significantly more space than normal screenshots (up to a maximum of two hours). 10–20 If the phone memory is full, we recommend to clean the folder beforehand. DCIM/Screenshots.

6. Screenshot via ADB (for developers)

If all standard methods fail (for example, because of a screen or button breakage), you can take a screenshot through the command line using Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which requires a connection to a PC, but is guaranteed to work even on a locked device.

Instructions:

1. Install ADB Tools on your computer.
2. Connect your smartphone via USB and activate Debugging via USB in Settings → About Phone → MIUI version (tap 7 times on version number, then go back to Settings → For Developers).
3. Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) and type:

adb devices


adb shell screencap -p /sdcard/screen.png




adb pull /sdcard/screen.png C:\Users\Your name\Desktop

Where:

• Screencap -p is the screencap command.
• /sdcard/screen.png is the way to save your phone.
• C:\Users\... is the path on your PC (replace it with the current one).

⚠️ Note: On some models (e.g. Xiaomi 13 Ultra), the system may block screencap due to security policy:

adb exec-out screencap -p > screen.png

7 Where screenshots are stored and how to manage them

By default, all screenshots are saved in the folder:

• 📁 /storage/emulated/0/Pictures/Screenshots (mainland).
• 📁 /storage/emulated/0/DCIM/Screenshots (Alternative path on some models).

To simplify the work with screens:

• 🔍 Use the built-in image viewer (Gallery or Google Photos) – there is a folder filter.
• 🗑️ For quick cleaning: Press your finger on any screen in the gallery and select Remove or Remove.
• 📤 To automatically upload screens to the cloud, enable sync in Google Photos or Mi Cloud.

If the screenshots are Suddenly disappeared, check:

1. Recycle Bin folder in the gallery (sometimes files are moved there incorrectly).
2. Mi Cloud settings – it is possible that files have been synced and deleted from the device.
3. App permissions: open Settings → Apps → Permissions → Storage and check access for Gallery.

MIUI 12 and newer: default.png (no loss of quality).

MIUI 11 and older:.jpg (loss compression)

To change the format, use third-party apps like Screenshot Easy or Screen Master.

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FAQ: Frequent questions about screenshots on Xiaomi