Taking screenshots on Xiaomi smartphones has become standard, but device owners often look for more efficient ways than the standard keyboard combination. MIUI and the new HyperOS have many image capture tools that make it much easier to work with content. Understanding all the available methods saves time and takes screenshots instantly in any situation.
There are several basic ways to capture what's happening on your gadget's display: you can use physical buttons, special gestures, voice commands, or even functions in the notification menu, each method has its own advantages depending on what your hands are doing at a particular moment.
In this article, we will go into detail all the options, including hidden features that are not available to all users, and we will also discuss how to edit the images correctly and where to look for saved files after taking a screenshot.
The classic method: using buttons
The most common and reliable way to work on 100% of Redmi and Poco devices is to press the control buttons simultaneously, which requires no pre-setting and is available immediately after you turn on your smartphone, and is ideal for situations where the screen reacts to touch incorrectly or when you need to take a snapshot quickly.
To get a screen image, you need to press the volume down and lock button at the same time. It's important to be precise: you need to press the buttons synchronously, but not too hard so as not to damage the mechanisms. If you hear the characteristic click of the camera shutter, then the screenshot is successfully created.
Once you create a picture, a smaller copy of the image will appear in the top corner of the screen, and you can click on it to edit right away, or ignore it if you don't need edits, which is a visual indicator that confirms that the file is stored in the device's memory.
⚠️ Warning: Do not press the buttons too long, as prolonged holding of the volume and power buttons can trigger emergency call mode or reboot the device, depending on the system settings.
Many users prefer this method because of its tactile recoil and predictability. Unlike gestures that may not work when a screen is polluted, physical buttons are always at hand. However, on large smartphone models, reaching both buttons with one hand can be problematic.
Quick three-finger grip
One of the most convenient features in the MIUI shell is the ability to take a screenshot with a simple swipe of three fingers, which allows you to take pictures with one hand, which is especially true when using a smartphone in transport or on the go.
To enable the option, go to the settings section, select "More" and find the screenshots menu. Here you should activate the "Three-finger screenshot" switch, and then the system will respond to the corresponding gesture in any part of the interface.
The technique is simple: put three fingers on the top of the screen and quickly swipe them down. If done correctly, you'll see the animation of the screen compression and hear the shutter sound, which is particularly useful when browsing long web pages or documents.
- 📱 The gesture works in most applications, including browsers and a gallery.
- ⚙️ The sensitivity of the gesture can be adjusted in special accessibility settings.
- 🚫 The feature may not work in some banking applications due to security concerns.
- 🖐️ Make sure your fingers are dry, otherwise the sensor may not recognize the touch of three points at once.
Using gestures makes interaction with the interface smoother and more modern, you no longer need to reach for the buttons on the body, which reduces the risk of accidental fall of the device, but it is worth remembering that on the protective glasses of poor quality or in the presence of greasy traces (sensitivity) sensor can fall.
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Screenshot through the notification curtain
A third popular method is to use a control panel that is called from top to bottom by swipe, which is convenient because it doesn't require memorizing key combinations or performing complex gestures, and it also allows you to take screenshots if the volume buttons are faulty.
To use this method, unlock your smartphone and lower the notification curtain. In the array of quick access icons, find a button with a picture of scissors. If there is no such button in the first row, click on the edit icon (usually a pencil or gear) and add Screenshot to the panel.
Once you click on the icon, the system instantly creates a copy of the current image on the screen, which is especially useful when you hold the phone with one hand and you are uncomfortable with the other hand performing complex manipulations, and it eliminates the risk of random volume changes during the process.
In the new versions of HyperOS, the curtain functionality has been expanded, so that not only can the creation button appear, but also a thumbnail of the last screenshot taken, allowing you to quickly share or delete it, which speeds up the workflow and makes managing multimedia more intuitive.
☑️ Setting up the control panel
Voice control and assistant
Artificial intelligence technology allows you to control your smartphone without touching. Google Assistant or Xiao AI (in Chinese versions) can execute a voice-query screenshot command, ideal when your hands are busy or dirty.
To activate the function, you just need to say a trigger phrase, like, "OK, Google," and then you need to say, "Take a screenshot." The system recognizes the speech and performs the action. The accuracy of the recognition depends on the quality of the microphone and the absence of extraneous noise.
This method is also useful for people with disabilities who have difficulty using physical buttons or multi-touch gestures. Voice control opens up access to basic smartphone functions for a wide range of users.
It is worth noting that voice assistants require an active Internet connection to function; without a network, commands may not be recognized or executed with a delay; and in some system menus, voice commands may be blocked by developers.
Why doesn't the assistant understand the team?
Long screenshot: Capturing the entire page
Often, you have to save not just one screen, but an entire article, a messenger or a long table. A standard screenshot cuts the information, but Xiaomi has a Scrolling or Long Screenshot feature that allows you to stitch multiple images into one long picture.
Once you've created a normal screenshot (in any of the ways described above), you'll see a thumbnail in the corner, and underneath it'll be a button with two arrows down or a "Scroll" button, and you'll automatically scroll down to grab new areas when you click on it.
The process continues until you stop it manually or reach the end of the page, and the system controls the docking of images by removing repetitive elements (such as the site header) so that the final photo looks whole.
Long screenshots take up more memory space but retain the context of information, and are an indispensable tool for students, copywriters, and anyone who works with large amounts of data on mobile devices.
Below is a table comparing the main methods of creating screenshots by different parameters:
| Method | Speed. | Convenience with one hand | Requires customization |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buttons | Tall. | Low. | No. |
| Three fingers. | Very high. | High. | Yes. |
| Curtain. | Medium | Average. | No. |
| Voice. | Depends on the network. | Maximum. | No. |
Editing and storing of images
Once the image is created, the system offers basic editing tools, so you can cut the edges, add text, draw arrows, or smear sensitive information with a marker, and these tools are built right into the screenshot preview.
All images are automatically saved to the gallery, and a separate Screenshots folder (or Screenshots) is created for them, which syncs with the cloud if the corresponding feature is enabled, which allows accessing files from other devices of your account.
The default save format is JPG or PNG. PNG is preferred for text and graphics images, as it provides better quality without compression artifacts. In the camera settings, you can choose the priority format if this option is available in your firmware version.
⚠️ Note: When sending screenshots via messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram), the image quality may be reduced due to automatic compression. To transmit in the original quality, send the file as "Document».
Removing unnecessary screenshots helps to free up space in the smartphone memory, and it is recommended to periodically review the folder, removing temporary images that no longer carry information value, which also makes it easier to find the right files in the future.
💡
Regular cleaning of the folder of screenshots frees up to 15% of the space in the memory of the smartphone and speeds up the work of the gallery.