Xiaomi smartphone owners, including Redmi and POCO, often face the need to quickly save an image from the screen. Whether it’s an important document, instant messaging or an interesting shot from the game, the ability to properly use the screenshot feature is a basic skill. However, the MIUI shell and the new HyperOS offer significantly more features than the standard button combination known to many on other Android devices.
The company's system algorithms allow you to take screenshots in a variety of ways, from classic physical buttons to smart gestures or voice commands. Understanding the nuances of Galery and the system menu will help you not only save pictures, but also instantly edit them, highlight text or record what is happening on video. In this article, we will discuss all the available methods in detail.
Special attention should be paid to the interface settings, as by default some convenient functions can be disabled.We will consider how to activate gesture control, adjust the selection area and use additional tools to improve productivity with a smartphone. This guide is relevant for most modern models running on current versions of firmware.
Classic method: combination of volume and power buttons
The most versatile and familiar way for most Android users to create screenshots on Xiaomi is by simultaneously pressing physical keys. The method works on all models, regardless of the version of the shell or the presence of the hardware home button. To implement this action, you need to press the volume down and the on button (lock) simultaneously.
The key here is synchrony. You don't need to press sequentially, but you need to press it in a single moment, with a light but clear motion. If you press the power button too hard or hold it for longer than a second, your smartphone might take that as a command to call the emergency menu or turn off the device, so a short and accurate touch is key to success.
Once you've done the action, you'll hear the characteristic shutter sound of the camera (if the sound is on), and a save notification will appear at the top of the screen, at which point a thumbnail of the image taken may pop up in the corner, allowing you to immediately edit or share the file. This method remains the most reliable if the touch layer is temporarily incorrect.
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If you have a big smartphone, it's hard to press two buttons with one hand, so try putting your thumb on the volume button and your index finger on the power button and squeezing your hand.
It is worth noting that on some custom firmware or in certain modes of operation (for example, in games), the system can block the creation of screenshots through buttons for security or content protection reasons. In such cases, a pop-up notification may not appear, and the gallery will remain a message about the ban, then alternative methods come to the rescue, which will be discussed below.
Gesture control: three fingers for instant snapshot
MIUI is famous for its advanced control features, and one of the most useful is to take a three-finger swipe screenshot, which is much faster than a button combination and is especially convenient when the smartphone is lying on the table or holding in one hand.
The path to enabling the function is usually as follows: go to Settings, select the Additional Features (or Advanced Settings), then find the Screenshots option. Here you need to activate the Three Finger Swipe switch. Once you turn on this option, just swipe three fingers from top to bottom across the screen at any time you use the interface.
- 📱 Swipe Down – Create a Normal Screenshot of the Whole Screen.
- ✏️ Swipe down with stop – Open the area highlight menu (if supported by the version).
- 🎥 Double swipe or long-press – in some versions of the firmware starts recording the screen.
- ⚙️ Reaction settings – in the gesture menu you can choose what will happen when carrying out with your fingers.
Using gestures requires some habit, as you need to touch the screen with three fingers at the same time without touching the edges of the display where the system navigation elements are located. If the gesture does not work the first time, try changing the speed of movement or the force of pressing. The system is calibrated to the user, and after several attempts you will find the perfect rhythm.
In such situations, the system can prioritize the application, and the screenshot is not taken, in which case it is better to switch to the physical method or use the notification curtain.
Use the Quick Settings Menu and Notification Curtains
A third popular way that users often ignore is using the standard control menu (curtains), which is ideal when you are in the settings menu or in an application where physical buttons are locked, or when you can not reach the edges of the case with one hand.
In the expanded icon menu, find an icon called Screenshot (usually looks like scissors against a rectangle background). If no such icon is on the front page, scroll right or click the edit button (often looks like a pencil or three dots) to add this shortcut to quick access. This will take a couple of seconds, but save you a lot of time in the future.
The advantage of this method is that it is visually understandable and does not risk accidentally turning off the phone. In addition, through this menu you can often immediately choose the type of save: full screen or dedicated area. Once you click the icon, the system instantly creates a file and offers standard actions: edit, send or delete.
Secret screenshot menu
It's worth mentioning that on smartphones with a cutout in the screen (" bangs") or a hole under the camera, the screenshot icon in the curtain may not be very convenient. However, this is a small fee for functionality. This method is especially relevant for users with large smartphones in the Redmi Note or Mi Mix series, where reaching the volume buttons can be problematic.
Voice Control and Google Assent
Modern technology allows you to control your smartphone without touching, and taking screenshots is no exception. If your hands are busy (for example, you are cooking with a prescription on your phone or holding a heavy object), you can just ask for a voice assistant. On Xiaomi devices, Google Assistant is most often used, although Xiao AI can also be found in Chinese versions of firmware.
To activate, say "OK, Google" (or press and hold the power/home button if set up) and say "Take a screenshot" or "Creeenshot." The assistant will recognize the command and perform the action, then show a preview of the image, which is one of the most "magical" ways that impresses others.
Voice control, however, has its limitations: it requires an active Internet connection to process a request (although basic commands can work offline), and may not work in a noisy room, and in some secure applications (banks, incognito modes), the assistant will refuse to take a screenshot for security reasons.
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Voice control is ideal for people with motor disabilities or in situations where the user’s hands are full.
To keep this feature running smoothly, make sure that Google Assistant settings include support for Russian and activate Voice Match to recognize your voice, which will improve the accuracy of command execution and reduce the number of false positives to extraneous sounds.
Long screenshot and page scrolling
One of the most sought-after features in Xiaomi’s ecosystem is the ability to create “long screenshots” – an indispensable tool for saving instant messenger correspondence, long articles in the browser or lists of products in online stores that do not fit on one screen.
The process of creating this image begins as usual: you take a screenshot in any convenient way (buttons or gestures), immediately after that, in the upper right corner of the thumbnail that appears, a special icon in the form of two arrows pointing down, or a button with the text "Scroll", clicking on it triggers automatic scrolling of the page down.
The system will flip through content and glue images into one long tape, so you can stop the process at any time by touching the screen, or wait until the page is over, and then the result is stored as a single image file that is conveniently viewed vertically.
☑️ How to Take the Perfect Long Screenshot
There are limits on the length of this image. Usually, the system allows you to scroll up to 10-50 screens depending on the version of MIUI. If the content is too long, the system will suggest breaking it into several parts or simply crop it at the end of the maximum possible length. For web pages, there is also a built-in Full Page feature in the Mi Browser or Chrome browser, which works similarly.
Screen recording: video screenshots for complex actions
Sometimes static images are not enough, and you need to capture video of what is happening on the screen. In Xiaomi, this feature is natively built in and does not require installing third-party applications, you can find it in the notification curtain (the Screen Recorder icon or Screen Recorder icon) or through a search by settings.
When you first start up, the system will offer you to adjust the recording settings. You can choose the resolution (low to 1080p and above), frame rate (usually 30 or 60 FPS), and most importantly, the sound source. There are options: "No sound", "Microphone" (will record your comments), or "System sound" (will record what is heard in the speakers).
When you record, you have a floating control panel that allows you to pause, take screenshots in the process, draw on the screen (pencil function) and end the session, making it a powerful tool for creating learning materials or fixing bugs.
| Setup parameter | Description of function | Recommended value |
|---|---|---|
| Permission | Quality of the final video | 1080p (quality and place balance) |
| Frequency of personnel | Smoothness of movement | 60 FPS (for games and animation) |
| Sound source | Where to get audio? | System sound (for tutorials) |
| Show touch | Visualization of pressing | VL (for training videos) |
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When recording system sound on some models (especially Snapdragon processors), you may need to confirm access rights every time you run a record.
Record files are saved to a separate ScreenRecorder folder in the gallery. Note that recording a screen in high resolution quickly consumes battery power and takes up space in memory. It is not recommended to record in the background for long periods without connecting to a power source.
Where to look and how to edit saved screenshots
All images created are saved by default in the Gallery app, and it has a separate album called Screenshots (or Screenshots), where files are sorted by date of creation, making it easier to find the desired image among the thousands of photos taken by the camera.
The built-in Xiaomi Gallery Editor offers powerful tools. Immediately after you create a screenshot, if you click on the thumbnail, you can:
- ✂️ Cut the image to the desired size.
- 🖍 Draw by hand, add text or arrows.
- 📝 Use the function "Text recognition» (OCR) picture-letter.
- 🎨 Use filters or blur confidential data.
The Documents feature deserves special attention. If you took a screenshot of a document or check, the system can automatically suggest scanning it, aligning the perspective and improving the readability of the text, turning a normal screen photo into a quality PDF or JPG file.
⚠️ Warning: When sending screenshots of personal correspondence or card data via instant messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp), always check if extra notifications or sensitive information are in the frame. Use the blur tool in the editor before sending it.
The file system stores the originals in a folder /MIUI/screen_shot/ or /Pictures/Screenshots/ And when you connect your phone to your computer, you can find them that way, and periodically cleaning up that folder helps to free up space, because screenshots are often digital garbage that you only need once.
Frequent problems and ways to solve them
Despite the system's fine-tuning, users sometimes face situations where screenshots are not created, most often due to security restrictions in specific applications (banks, incognito browsers), in which cases the system simply ignores the command, and this is not a malfunction.
Another common problem is sensor dead zones or button sticking. If the volume buttons stop responding, try cleaning the connector or restarting the device, and software-based cleaning of the Gallery system app cache or resetting interface settings helps.
If screenshots are saved but have a black screen instead of an image, check the Gallery app's access rights to storage. With newer versions of Android (11, 12, 13, 14), permission management has become more stringent, and after a firmware update, some rights could be reset.
⚠️ Note: If screenshots are no longer saved due to memory shortage, the system will usually issue a notification. 100-200 MB of space so that the function works correctly again.
In rare cases, the problem may be in third-party launchers or themes that conflict with system services. If nothing helps, try temporarily switching to a standard Classic theme or standard launcher to see if the bug will disappear.