How to take a screenshot on Xiaomi Redmi 5: the complete guide

Screenshots are one of the most basic but sought-after features in today's smartphone. Owners of the popular Redmi 5 often look for quick ways to capture an image on the display, whether it's messaging, a plane ticket or an important document. The standard procedure may vary depending on the version of the MIUI shell installed and the user's personal preferences.

In this article, we will take a detailed look at all the available screenshot techniques on the Xiaomi Redmi 5 device. You will learn to use not only physical buttons, but also advanced system features such as voice control and timer. This will allow you to take screenshots even in situations where your hands are busy or one of the buttons is damaged.

We'll also look at the built-in editor, which allows you to highlight important details or trim them immediately after you've created a picture, and understanding these nuances will make it much easier for you to use your smartphone every day and save time. Let's move from theory to practice.

The classic method with the help of buttons

The most common and reliable way to take a screenshot of the Xiaomi Redmi 5 is to use a physical keyboard combination, which works on all versions of the Android operating system and the MIUI shell, regardless of the year the device was released, and is ideal for those moments when you need an instant reaction.

To do this, you need to press the volume down and the power button at the same time. It is important to press them synchronously, but without long retention, since a long press can trigger the switch off menu or voice assistant. Successful photo creation is accompanied by the characteristic sound of the camera shutter and a visual flash of the screen.

• 📸 Press the Volume buttons and Power at the same time.
• ⚡ Hold them for less than a second.
• 🔔 Wait for the sound signal and the appearance of a miniature in the corner.
• 🖼️ Click on the thumbnail for quick editing.

If you don't get it the first time, try changing the rhythm of the pressing. Sometimes the system responds better to a short but clear click than to a long pressure. Also make sure that the case does not interfere with the full push of the buttons, as some accessories have too thick sides.

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If the buttons on the device are tight, try pressing the volume button first, and then a split second later, the power button, which will help synchronize the signal.

Use of control panel (Curtains)

For users who prefer software solutions or have difficulty with physical buttons, MIUI has provided a handy widget in the notification curtain, a technique that is especially relevant if the volume buttons on your Redmi 5 are sluggish or unstable.

To do this, just swipe from top to bottom to open the control center. Among the many icons, find a scissors icon. Clicking on it instantly creates a snapshot of the current content of the screen. You can also add this feature to the Quick Settings section for easier access.

⚠️ Warning: If you don’t see the scissors icon in the top row of icons, swipe your finger down the curtain to the left or press the edit button (usually three dots or a pencil) to add a “Screenshot” label to a prominent place.

This method completely eliminates the risk of accidentally turning on the alarm or locking the phone, which sometimes happens when using physical keys, and it allows you to take screenshots with one hand, which increases the ease of using the smartphone in transport or on the go.

Three-finger gesture

One of the most convenient features of the MIUI shell is to take a screenshot with a gesture, which is a modern and ergonomic way of doing it with three fingers down the screen, and it's quickly becoming commonplace, but by default, it can be disabled.

To activate, you need to go to the system settings. Find the section that is responsible for additional functions and turn on the option "Screenshot with three fingers." After that, just swipe three fingers across any part of the display to capture the image, the system immediately creates a file and will show a preview.

• 👐 Open Settings on the main screen.
• 🔍 Go to the Additional or Advanced Settings section.
• 🖐 Find the screenshot with three fingers and activate the switch.
• ✅ Conduct a test gesture on the desktop.

The gesture is particularly useful when browsing web pages or documents, when the hands are in the natural swipe position, and it is intuitive and does not require a distraction from finding buttons or interface elements.

Voice control and timer

Xiaomi’s technology allows you to control your smartphone with your voice, which is a great solution for people with disabilities or in situations where touching the screen is undesirable. You can just say a command and the device will perform the action.

To use voice control, make sure that the settings activate Google Assistant or the built-in voice assistant Mi AI (depending on the region). Say the phrase "Take a screenshot" or "Make a screenshot", and the system automatically saves the image of the current screen.

In addition, the standard Screenshots app or the desktop widget often has a timer feature that allows you to delay taking a picture for 3 or 10 seconds, which is indispensable if you need to capture a context menu, a pop-up notification or the application installation process that disappears when you touch.

Combining these methods gives Redmi 5 users complete freedom of action, and you can choose the option that seems most comfortable in a given situation, whether it is a quick fixation of an error or creating a complex composite image.

Editing and a long screenshot

Once you've created a picture, it offers you a built-in editor, a powerful tool that allows you to crop the image, add text, draw arrows or blur sensitive information, and all the changes are saved in the new copy, the original remains unchanged.

The Scrolling Screenshot feature, which allows you to take a picture of the entire web page or long correspondence, not just the visible part of the screen. After you create a normal screenshot, click the Scroll button (down arrow) in the menu that appears.

• 📜 Create a regular screenshot in any way.
• 🔽 Click on the Scroll or Scrolling button that appears.
• 👀 Follow the capture process and press Stop when you get to the end.
• 💾 Save the final long image in the gallery.

⚠️ Warning: The long screenshot feature may not work in some applications where content is dynamically loaded or copy-protected, such as banking applications or incognito mode.

Using the built-in editor eliminates the need to install third-party applications for image processing. You can immediately send the edited file to the messenger or save it to the desired folder, which greatly speeds up the workflow.

Where are the screenshots stored and how to find them

All images are automatically stored in the device's internal memory, and can be found through the standard Gallery app or file manager, and the system automatically sorts files by date and source, making it easier to search.

There's a separate album of Screenshots in the Gallery app, where all the screenshots get into. If you're using a file manager, the path to the folder is usually MIUI/screenshot or Pictures/Screenshots depending on the Android version. Knowing the path is useful when connecting your phone to your computer.

To free up space, you can use the built-in cleaning function, the system itself will suggest removing blurred, similar or old screenshots. Regular cleaning of this section helps keep the Xiaomi Redmi 5 running and frees up precious gigabytes of memory.

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Automatic sorting in the Gallery allows you to instantly find the right screenshots without manually combing through thousands of photos.

Solution and trouble

Sometimes users are faced with a situation where a screenshot is not created, which can be caused by a crowded RAM, a software failure or the limitations of a particular application, in most cases, a simple reboot of the device helps.

If the problem persists, check the permission settings for the Screenshots system application. Make sure it has access to the storage. It's also worth checking for system updates, as newer versions of MIUI often fix such bugs.

In rare cases, the malfunction may be due to physical damage to the button plume. If none of the software methods (curtain, gesture, timer) work, a diagnostic in a service center may be required. However, for Redmi 5, software methods usually bypass this problem.