How to take screenshots on Xiaomi Redmi: all the ways from standard to hidden

Taking a screenshot on Xiaomi Redmi seems like an easy task β€” until you encounter unexpected problems. Now the buttons do not respond to simultaneous clicking, then the picture is saved to an unknown folder, then nothing happens at all. Meanwhile, MIUI has 5 ways to create screenshots at once, and half of them users do not even suspect!

This article will not just list the standard keyboard shortcuts, but will go through all the methods available, from classic to exotic (including gestures and voice commands), explain why screenshots sometimes don’t save, and show you how to automate the process with Quick Ball and Google Assistant, and at the end you will find a table of ways to work with different Redmi models and answers to frequent questions.

Method 1: Classic button combination (works on 100% of devices)

The most reliable method, which is guaranteed to work even on older models of Redmi 4X or Redmi Note 5.

  1. Open the screen you want to capture (app, web page, settings).
  2. Press the power button (on/off) and the volume button at the same time.
  3. Hold them for 1-2 seconds until you hear the characteristic shutter sound of the camera and see the animation of the save.

⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Redmi) 9A) If you don't get a screenshot the first time, try pressing them at a minimum interval rather than at the same time (power first, volume 0.3 seconds).

Make sure the screen is not locked.

Close the pop-up notifications (they will be taken in the picture)

Check the space in memory (minimum 50 MB)

Turn off Do Not Disturb (it can block shutter sound)-->

Where to look for a ready screenshot? By default, files are saved to the DCIM β†’ Screenshots or Pictures β†’ Screenshots folder. On new versions of MIUI 14+, the path may be different - check the gallery in the Screenshots album.

Method 2: Three-finger gesture (fastest, but requires adjustment)

The Three-Finger Screenshot feature was introduced in MIUI 10 and has since become a favorite tool for users, allowing you to take a screenshot in one motion β€” swipe top-down the display with three fingers at once β€” but by default the gesture is turned off!

To activate it:

  1. Go to Settings β†’ Additional functions β†’ Gestures.
  2. Find the option "Screenshot with three fingers" and turn it on.
  3. Test the gesture on any screen (except lock).

πŸ’‘ Useful advice: If the gesture doesn’t work, try it:

  • 🧹 Clean the screen of moisture or fat (touch sensor may not recognize fingers).
  • πŸ”„ Reboot the phone – sometimes the touch layer β€œhangs".
  • πŸ“± Check the sensitivity of the screen in Settings β†’ Display. β†’ Sensitivity of touch.
What if the gesture is in conflict with other functions?
If you have other gestures enabled (e.g., swipe back), they can block the screenshot. Turn off conflicting options in Settings β†’ System β†’ Gestures or reconfigure priority in Additional Features β†’ Function Lab.

Important: On curved screen models (such as the Redmi K50 Pro), the gesture may not work smoothly due to false touches on the sides of the display, in which case use alternative methods.

Method 3: Quick settings panel (for those who don't like to remember combinations)

If you are uncomfortable pressing buttons or making gestures, use the notification bar.This method works on all devices with MIUI 11 and later:

  1. Swipe down from the top edge of the screen to open the notification bar.
  2. Find the screenshot icon (usually hidden under the Edit button).
  3. Slip it on it - the picture will be taken instantly.

⚠️ Note: Some firmware (e.g., the global version for the Redmi Note 10 Pro) does not have the screenshot icon by default:

  1. Open the notification bar and click "Edit" (pencil icon).
  2. Find the "Screenshot" list and drag it to the active area.
  3. Save the changes.

Keyboard combination |Three-finger gesture |Notification panel |Voice assistant |Another way-->

The advantage of this method is that you can take a screenshot with one hand without having to lock the screen with your fingers, which is especially useful for video or game shots, where every second counts.

Method 4: Quick Ball – a floating ball for screenshots (hidden MIUI function)

Quick Ball is a little-known MIUI tool that allows you to create a virtual button on the screen for quick access to features, including screenshots.

  1. Go to Settings β†’ Additional features β†’ Quick Ball.
  2. Turn on the switch and adjust the appearance of the ball (size, transparency).
  3. In the Quick Action menu, add the Screenshot option.

Now to take a picture:

  1. Then, put the squirt on the right (the right side).
  2. Select "Screenshot" in the menu that appears.

πŸ”Ή The Pros of Quick Ball:

  • ⚑ It works in any application, even in games.
  • 🎯 You can adjust the position of the ball (left/right).
  • πŸ”„ Supports additional actions (e.g. screen recording).

⚠️ Note: On some models (Redmi) 9C, Redmi A1) Quick Ball can conflict with navigational gestures. If the ball goes missing, turn off full-screen gestures in Settings β†’ Display. β†’ Full-screen display.

Method 5: Voice commands (for those who like to control voice)

If your Xiaomi Redmi supports Google Assistant or Yandex’s Alice, you can take screenshots with your voice, which is especially handy when your hands are busy or the screen is dirty.

πŸ“Œ With Google Assistant:

  1. Activate the assistant by voice (OK, Google) or holding the Home button.
  2. Say, "Take a screenshot" or "Photograph the screen."

πŸ“Œ With Alice from Yandex:

  1. Open the Yandex app with Alice or activate her voice.
  2. Say, "Alice, take a screenshot."

❗ Limitations:

  • 🚫 Does not work in some banking applications and games (due to security restrictions).
  • πŸ”‡ Requires Internet connection to recognize voice.
  • πŸ“± On older models (Redmi 6, Redmi 7) voice commands may not be supported.

πŸ’‘

If the voice assistant doesn't recognize the command, try to pronounce it more clearly or paraphrase it. For example, instead of "screenshot," say "screenshot."

Comparison of methods: which one to choose for your Redmi model

Not all methods work equally well across devices, and the table below shows how well they are compatible with popular Xiaomi Redmi models (2018-2026):

ModelButtons3 finger gestureQuick BallVoice.Notification panel
Redmi 9/9A/9Cβœ…βœ… (starting MIUI 12)βœ…βŒ (Google Assistant is not available)βœ…
Redmi Note 10/10 Proβœ…βœ…βœ…βœ…βœ…
Redmi K40/K50βœ…βœ… (may conflict with gestures)βœ…βœ…βœ…
Redmi A1/A2βœ…βŒ (no firmware)βœ…βŒβœ…
Redmi Note 12/13βœ…βœ…βœ…βœ…βœ…

πŸ” Conclusion: For older models (Redmi) 6-8) It's more reliable to use buttons or notification bars. 11+) All methods are available, but Quick Ball and three-finger gesture are the most convenient.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even with simple actions like screenshots, users are struggling.

1. Screenshot not saved

  • πŸ“ Check the folder. DCIM/Screenshots β€” Sometimes the pictures are in Download or Pictures.
  • πŸ—‘οΈ Clear the gallery cache: Settings β†’ Annexes β†’ gallery β†’ Warehouse β†’ Clear the cache.
  • πŸ”„ Reboot your phone – it will reset temporary system errors.

2.The buttons do not respond to pressing

  • πŸ”‹ Check if the battery is discharged (at the charge level) <15% some functions are turned off).
  • πŸ› οΈ Update the firmware: Settings β†’ The phone. β†’ Updating the system.
  • πŸ”§ Reset button settings: Settings β†’ System system β†’ Buttons and gestures β†’ Drop it.

3. The screenshot turns out black.

This is a typical problem when trying to take a picture in banking applications (Sberbank, Tinkoff) or DRM-Protected Services (Netflix, Disney)+). Security system MIUI It blocks the screen capture in these cases:

  • πŸ“Έ Take a picture of the screen with another phone (unless it is critical information).
  • πŸ”„ Use the Screen Record function and then take a screenshot of the video.

πŸ’‘

If screenshots stopped saving after the MIUI update, try rolling back the gallery version through Settings β†’ Apps β†’ Gallery β†’ Remove updates.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions

Can I take a screenshot on a locked screen?
No, MIUI has disabled this feature for security reasons, and the only workaround is to use developer mode and enable USB Debugging, but that requires a PC connection and special ADB commands.
How to take a long (scrollable) screenshot?
After you create a normal screenshot, a thumbnail with the "Scroll" button will appear at the bottom. Press it, and the system will automatically capture all the scrollable content (works in the browser, messengers, but not in all applications).
Why are screenshots kept in low quality?
It's a feature. MIUI β€” It compresses the images to save space. To get the original resolution, use the ADB-Adb shell settings put global screenshot_compress_disabled 1 After that, screenshots will be saved without compression (but will take up more space).
Can you change the format of saving screenshots (from PNG to JPEG)?
By default, Xiaomi saves screenshots in PNG. To change the format to JPEG, Install a third-party app like Screenshot Easy or use it. ADB: adb shell settings put global screenshot_format jpeg ⚠️ After that, the quality may deteriorate due to compression. JPEG.
How to turn off the shutter sound when screenshot?
There are two ways to remove the sound: Turn on silent mode (but that will turn off all sounds); Delete the system sound through the sound. ADB: adb shell rm /system/media/audio/ui/camera_click.ogg ⚠️ The second method requires an unlocked bootloader and can cause crashes!