Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro remains one of the most popular devices in its class, and questions about basic functionality do not lose relevance. Often users need to quickly save the screen image, whether it is a correspondence in the messenger, a route map or an interesting moment in the game. Android operating system, adapted by the shell of MIUI, has several effective ways to solve this problem. The choice of the specific method depends on your habits and the situation in which the gadget finds itself.
Unlike some other manufacturers, Xiaomi engineers have implemented many use cases, including one-handed control and voice commands. Understanding all the options available will allow you to significantly speed up your device. In this article, we will examine in detail every method, from classic buttons to advanced screen recording functions with a sound that is often overlooked. You will learn not just to save a picture, but also immediately edit or send it.
The MIUI 11 and newer versions that are relevant to this model offer flexible settings. You can change the behavior of buttons or assign new gestures for maximum comfort. Let's look at the basic options for creating screenshots so you can choose the most convenient for yourself.
Classical method with physical buttons
The most common and reliable way that works on any Android device is through a combination of mechanical keys. On the Redmi Note 8 Pro, power and volume buttons are responsible for this. This is ideal when the screen is slow or when you need to take a picture in a game where the touchscreen is busy controlling the character.
To take a screenshot, you need to simultaneously press and briefly hold the on button (on the right) and the volume down button (on the left side). It is important not to pinch them too long, otherwise the off menu or voice assistant may activate. A split second is enough, successful saving will be confirmed by the characteristic sound of the camera shutter and visual animation of the window folding.
⚠️ Warning: If you press the buttons too hard or hold them for longer than a second, instead of a screenshot, an emergency call or phone shutdown menu may appear.
Once you create the image, you'll see a thumbnail in the upper right corner, and if you click on it, you'll be taken to an editor where you can cut it off or draw it, and if you don't do anything, the screenshot will automatically be saved to the gallery, which is the basic method, and it works even in safe mode.
☑️ Checking the correctness of actions
Use of control panel (Curtains)
For those who prefer interface control, MIUI has a special icon in the notification center, which is especially convenient when physical buttons are busy or damaged. You don't have to reach for the edges of the device, just one touch of the display is enough. This is also a great option if you're holding the phone in a dock or on a stand.
To use this method, swipe your finger from the top edge of the screen down to open the control center. In the icon grid, find an icon called Screenshot (usually looks like scissors on the background of the screen). Click on it and the system instantly snaps a snapshot of the current content. If the icon is not visible, expand the full list of switches.
- 📱 Open the notification curtain with a swipe from top to bottom.
- ✂️ Find and click the Screenshot icon.
- 🖼️ Check the result in the gallery or through a pop-up window.
If you don't find the button, it's probably hidden. Click on the three dots or the pencil icon in the corner of the curtain to edit the quick command list. Just drag the Screenshot icon to the active zone. It'll take a couple of seconds, but it'll save you a lot of time in the future. This approach makes the interface more personalized.
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Add the screenshot icon to the very first five positions of the notification curtain so you can access it without revealing the full switch menu.
Customization and use of gestures (Three fingers)
MIUI is famous for its advanced gesture features that make one-handed control much more convenient. The Redmi Note 8 Pro has a great option to take a screenshot with three fingers across the screen, which looks spectacular and is performed very quickly, but by default this feature can be disabled, so it needs to be activated in the settings.
To enable, go to the Settings menu, then select the Additional section and find the Screenshot. Here, check the box against the Three Finger option. Once activated, just swipe three fingers from top to bottom over any part of the screen. The system recognizes the gesture and saves the image. This is especially useful when the phone is on the table.
In the same settings menu, you can change the gesture action, instead of a standard snapshot, you can assign a long screenshot (scrollable page) or run an edit menu, which gives the user flexibility to manage. The gesture works in most applications, but may not be available in some games or secure sections of banking applications.
Screenshots via voice assistant
Modern smartphones allow you to control many functions with voice, and Xiaomi is no exception. You can ask the built-in Google Assistant or MI AI to take a screenshot. This is ideal when your hands are busy, dirty or your phone is far away but connected to your headset. Voice control opens up new opportunities for people with disabilities.
To do this, just say, "OK, Google, take a screenshot," or activate the assistant with a button and say, "Screenshot." The device will execute a command without physically touching. Make sure the assistant settings allow control of the system, which works even when the touchscreen is temporarily unresponsive due to a software failure.
Voice control also allows you to send back the image immediately, and after you say "Take a screenshot and send it to Telegram," the phone will create an image and open the contact selection window, which is a powerful tool for productive work, but in noisy places or when used in a quiet library, this method may be less convenient.
⚠️ Warning: Voice commands may not work in high-security applications such as bank clients or incognito browser mode.The system blocks the creation of screenshots at the kernel level to protect your data.
The function of a long screenshot (scroll)
One of the most popular features in MIUI is the ability to create long screenshots, which is essential for saving WhatsApp messages, browser articles, or long lists of products, instead of taking ten separate pictures, you get one continuous tape, which saves memory and makes it easier to read information.
First, take a regular screenshot in any convenient way (buttons or gestures). Immediately after that, a thumbnail will appear in the upper right corner. Click on it, and at the bottom of the screen a tool menu will appear. Select an icon that resembles a scroll or arrow down (Scroll).
You can stop scrolling at any time by touching the screen, and the system will stop when it reaches the end of the page, and once it's finished, the long screenshot will be saved as a single image, and if the page is very long, the quality can be reduced to optimize the file size.
| Method | Speed. | Convenience | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buttons | Tall. | Average. | It always works. |
| Curtain. | Medium | High. | It requires two hands. |
| Gesture (3 fingers) | Very high. | Maximum. | You gotta get used to it. |
| Voice. | Low. | Situational | Depends on the noise. |
Why can a long screenshot be cut off?
Screen recording: video instead of photo
Sometimes a static image isn't enough, and you need to capture a dynamic process, whether it's leveling in a game, whether it's an app or a video lesson. The Redmi Note 8 Pro has a built-in Screen Recording feature that allows you to capture what's happening on the display in high resolution, often with sound, and it's a full-fledged content creation tool.
You can find this feature in the notification curtain (camera icon) or through a search in the settings. Before you start recording, you can select the sound source: microphone (for your comment), system sounds (game sound), or all together. You can also adjust the video quality and frame rate, and after you turn on, you will start countdown.
When you record, you have a floating control panel that you can use to pause the recording, take a normal screenshot in the process, or complete the shooting, and you save the file in a gallery in a separate Screen Recorder folder, a powerful tool that replaces third-party applications.
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The built-in screen recording on the Redmi Note 8 Pro supports the capture of the system’s internal sound, which is rare for standard Android tools without root rights.
Where to store and how to edit pictures
All images that are created automatically enter the Gallery's system app, and they are sorted by date and are in the Screenshots album, which makes it easier to find the right file among thousands of photos, and you can immediately go from the gallery to editing, cropping or sending the file via instant messengers.
The built-in MIUI editor allows you not only to fraternize an image, but also to apply text, draw arrows, blur sensitive data (such as card numbers) and add stickers. The Magic tool can automatically improve colors. The processed file can be saved as a copy or replaced with the original.
To clean up the space quickly, make it a habit to delete old screenshots. They often contain temporary information (checks, codes, maps) that quickly loses value. Regularly cleaning the Screenshots folder will help keep the storage in order. Use the Cleanup function in the Security app to automatically search for duplicates.