How to take a screenshot on Xiaomi Mi A3: full instructions

The Android One, which Xiaomi Mi A3 belongs to, has a clean interface, but the usual MIUI features are implemented differently. The question of how to take a screenshot of the Xiaomi Mi A3 often arises for those who have switched from other models of the brand or first encountered a “naked” Android. Standard button combinations here work classically, but the system offers additional, more convenient methods of capturing images, which many owners do not even know.

In this article, we will take a closer look at all the available ways to capture screenshots, from basic to advanced, and look at the typical problems you may encounter in the process. Understanding these mechanisms will allow you to effectively manage content on your device without having to install third-party apps.

Classical method using physical buttons

The fastest and most reliable way that works on any Android device, regardless of the firmware version or the presence of damage to the touch screen. To take a picture, you need to simultaneously press the volume down and the lock button. You don't need to hold them for long enough — a short but clear press lasting about one second. If you press too long, the system can perceive this as a command to call the switch off menu or voice assistant.

Visual confirmation of success will be the characteristic sound of the camera shutter (if the sound of the system is on) and a brief flash of the screen. At the bottom of the display, a thumbnail of the image will appear, which in a few seconds will disappear, at which point the user has the ability to quickly move to edit or share a file without opening the gallery. Physical buttons remain the most stable method when touch control is temporarily unavailable.

⚠️ Attention: Press the buttons synchronously. If you press one and then the other, the screenshot will not work, and the device can simply change the volume or lock.

Note that on the Xiaomi Mi A3, the buttons are on the right side of the body, making it convenient for right-handers but requiring some skill for left-handers. Practice shows that after several dozen attempts, the fingers “remember” the desired distance and force of pressing, this method is guaranteed to work even in “Do Not Disturb” mode or when heavy games are running, where other methods can fail.

Three fingers function for quick capture

One of the most convenient features that came from the MIUI shell and integrated into Android One on Xiaomi devices is the ability to create a screenshot swipe. To activate this feature, you must pre-enable it in your system settings. Go to the Settings menu, select System, then go to the Gestures section and find the Screenshot option with three fingers. Activate the switch, and the function will be available for use.

The principle is simple: swipe three fingers down the screen any time you see content that you want to save. The system instantly responds to a gesture by taking a snapshot of the current state of the display. This is especially convenient when you hold the phone with one hand and flip through the tape or read the article with the other. Swipe with three fingers saves time and eliminates the need to reach for buttons on the edge of the case.

But there are limitations to this method: The gesture may not work if you swipe too slowly with your fingers, or if you have an app on the screen that intercepts swipes (such as some games or drawing apps), and on larger smartphones, it can be physically difficult to reach the diagonal with three fingers, although on a 6-inch Mi A3 screen it is done without problems.

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If the three-finger gesture stopped working after the system update, try restarting the device, often resetting the temporary errors of the touchscreen drivers.

Use of the recent app menu and control panel

Not everyone knows that the standard Android One interface has a software button built in to create screenshots. If you are in the menu of running apps (a list of all open windows called by a bottom-up swipe and hold or navigation button), there will be additional icons above each app window, among them an icon resembling a camera or scissors, clicking on it takes a picture of the screen of the selected application without using physical buttons.

The second software option is available through the Quick Settings Panel. Swipe top-down across the screen to open the notification curtain. Quick access icons (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, flashlight) often include a Screenshot button. If it's not on the first page, click on the edit icon (usually a pencil or three dots) to add this feature to the active set. Software techniques are ideal for those with broken volume or lock buttons.

The advantage of using the menu is that you can take a screenshot of even a screen that is not available when a phone is locked (although this is rare for Android One), but this method requires more action: you need to unlock the phone, open the menu, find a button. In situations where the count goes for seconds, it plays the combination of buttons.

Voice control of Google Assistant

Modern smartphones allow you to control a lot of voice functions, and the Xiaomi Mi A3 is no exception. If your hands are busy or you are in a situation where touching the screen is uncomfortable, you can use the voice assistant. Just say "Ok Google" or press the home button for a long time (if the navigation button is set up) to activate the assistant.

Once activated, clearly say "Take a screenshot" or "Screenshot." The system recognizes the command, emits an audible signal, and saves the image to the gallery. This method is especially useful for people with disabilities or when the phone is fixed in the car holder. Voice commands in Android One work stably and do not require an Internet connection for basic system functions, although networking is desirable for better speech recognition.

⚠️ Warning: The voice assistant may not work if loud audio is played in the background or if the microphone is occupied by another application, such as a voice recorder.

Consider that screenshots from Google Assistant often save images directly to the cloud or offer sharing options, which can be a step away if you just need to save a picture quickly.

Settings, formats and file management

Once a screenshot is created, it’s important to know where to look for it and what format it’s saved. By default, all screenshots on the Xiaomi Mi A3 are saved in PNG format, which provides high-quality image lossless, but takes up more space than JPG. Files automatically enter the Screenshots folder in the device’s internal memory.

To quickly find a picture, you can use the Gallery or Google Photos app. The screenshot gallery often creates a separate album, which makes navigation easier. If you use a file manager, the path to the file will look like Internal Memory/Pictures/Screenshots or Internal Memory/DCIM/Screenshots, depending on the version of Android.

Managing these files allows you to sort them, delete them, or send them via messengers. When memory is overflowing, this can be a problem, so cleaning Screenshots folder regularly is a good habit.

Advanced features: long screenshot and editing

One of the most popular features for smartphone users is the ability to create long screenshots (scrolls). On the Xiaomi Mi A3, this feature is also available. After you have taken a regular screenshot (in any of the ways described above), a thumbnail panel appears at the bottom of the screen for a few seconds.

The device will automatically scroll downwards, capturing content. It will stop when you touch the screen or reach the end of the page. It's perfect for storing long conversations in messengers, web pages or contact lists. A long screenshot is saved as a single image, which is very convenient for demonstrating context.

Once you've created a picture, the system offers basic editing tools, so you can cut the edges, draw arrows, add text, or highlight an important area with a marker, and these tools are built into the system and don't require any additional applications to be installed. You can edit instantly, and you can save the modified version on top of the original or as a new file.

⚠️ Warning: When taking a long screenshot, try not to touch the area of the screen where the scroll is happening, otherwise the process may interrupt prematurely.

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The long screenshot is a regular feature of Android One that is activated through the preview panel immediately after a normal screenshot.

Frequent problems and ways to solve them

Despite the stability of the system, users sometimes face a situation where screenshots are not created, most often due to Android security restrictions, for example, in banking applications, incognito browser mode or when viewing protected content (Netflix, online cinemas), the creation of screenshots is blocked at the system level, in which case you will see a black screen instead of an image or simply do not get a response to commands.

Another reason could be a lack of free memory: If the internal storage is full, the system will not be able to physically save the new file, in which case you need to clear the space by removing unnecessary videos or applications, and it is also worth checking the access rights of applications if you use third-party software to create screenshots - they may be denied access to the screen.

If physical buttons stop working, check if In-pocket mode or other security mechanisms that block random clicks are enabled. In rare cases, resetting special options in the Settings menu → System → Special features helps.

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If screenshots are no longer saved to the gallery, check for the.nomedia file in the Screenshots folder. Its presence hides the folder from the system's media scanner. Delete this file through the file manager.

Comparison of screen capture techniques

The choice of method depends on the specific situation and personal preferences of the user. Physical buttons are best for fast fixing information in a game or application; Scrolling mode is indispensable for creating instructions or saving long texts; Voice control is a salvation when hands are busy.

The table below compares the main characteristics of each method for ease of choice:

With all these techniques, you can make the most of your Xiaomi Mi A3. Don’t be afraid to experiment with settings to find the perfect balance between speed and ease of use.