Screenshots are one of the basic features that smartphone users need every day: Whether it’s saving important correspondence, fixing an in-app bug, or just wanting to share an interesting moment from a game, being able to quickly take a screenshot is a necessary skill. Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi, and POCO devices often find that standard methods can differ depending on the version of the MIUI or HyperOS shell, as well as the model of the gadget.
In this article, we will take a look at all the ways you can create screenshots, from classic button combinations to advanced features like long scrolling. You will learn how to customize the MIUI shell for maximum convenience and what hidden features exist that even experienced users do not know about. Understanding these nuances will allow you to save time and manage content more efficiently on your device.
Modern smartphones from a Chinese manufacturer offer many tools for working with images. However, if you switch from a different brand or just bought a new phone, the interface may seem unusual, we will help you figure out where the buttons are located and how to activate gesture control to take screenshots with a single touch or even tapping on the body.
Use of physical buttons
The most versatile and time-tested method that works on 99% of Android devices, including Xiaomi, requires no presetting and is available immediately after the phone is turned on. To implement this method, you need to simultaneously press two buttons: Volume down and Power. It is important to press them synchronously, almost at one moment, otherwise instead of taking a screenshot, you can simply turn down the volume or turn off the menu.
Once the combination is successfully performed, you will hear the characteristic shutter sound of the camera (if the sound is on), and a notification of the image created will appear at the top of the screen. In some models, such as the Redmi Note series, flash animation can appear for a split second. This method is ideal for those cases where the screen responds to touch normally and you have physical access to the side faces of the device.
⚠️ Warning: Don't pinch buttons too long. Prolonged holding of power and volume key down on some firmware MIUI It can run a screenshot-creating mode or call a voice assistant instead of taking a regular shot.
There is also a variation of this method for devices with physical control buttons, so if you have an old smartphone or a model with a home button at the bottom of the screen, you can take a screenshot by simultaneously pressing the Home and Menu buttons (or Back, depending on the model), but in modern bezel-free devices, this method is almost never used, giving way to more ergonomic solutions.
Three-finger gesture control
One of the most convenient features in the MIUI shell is the ability to create a screenshot by swiping three fingers across the screen. This method is especially relevant when the phone is lying on the table or when it is difficult to reach the volume buttons with one hand. To activate this option, you need to go to the system settings. Go to Settings → Additional features → Screenshots (or Settings → Advanced settings → Buttons and gestures depending on the version).
In the menu that opens, find "Three-finger screenshot" and turn the switch to the active position. Now, swipe three fingers from top to bottom on any part of the display, you'll instantly get a snapshot. This feature works in almost all applications except those that have no security policy, such as banking applications or incognito browser mode.
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To improve the accuracy of the gesture, hold your fingers tightly pressed against the screen, but without strong pressure. The movement should be fast and short, covering the center of the display.
The advantage of this method is speed. You don't have to aim at small buttons or look for combinations. However, it's worth considering that on large smartphones like the Xiaomi 14 Ultra or Redmi Note 13 Pro+, performing this gesture with one hand can be difficult, in such cases it is more convenient to use other methods or activate one-hand control through settings.
Control panel and notification curtain
If the physical buttons are busy or the screen is not responding, a software interface comes to the rescue. In the control center (the curtain) that is called by the top-down swipe (right or left, depending on the navigation settings), there is always a special icon. It is called "Screenshot." Pressing this icon instantly captures the current content of the screen.
This is often overlooked as less convenient, but it's extremely useful when using the phone horizontally (landscape orientation). When you're watching videos or playing, reaching for volume buttons is uncomfortable, and swiping with three fingers can interrupt the gameplay, so just brush the curtain and tap the icon.
In addition, some versions of HyperOS firmware have the ability to add a screenshot widget to your desktop or floating window, which allows you to take pictures without interrupting the current task. You can set up quick access to this feature through the Quick Commands menu, which is called by long pressing the power button (unless this feature is reassigned to the Google Assistant call).
Long screenshot (scroll)
Often you need to save not one frame, but an entire page of text, an article in the browser or a long correspondence in the messenger. A standard screenshot will crop up the information, but Xiaomi has a built-in “Scroll” feature. Once you take a regular shot (in any of the ways described above), an additional button with a down arrow or an “More” icon will appear in the upper right corner of the thumbnail.
By pressing this button, the system automatically starts to scroll down the screen, stitching the frames into one long image. You can stop the process at any time by touching the screen, or wait for the content to stop automatically when the content is over. It's an indispensable tool for saving checks, instructions or news feeds.
☑️ Checklist for the perfect long screenshot
It's worth noting that the long screenshot feature doesn't work in all apps, for example, on YouTube or when you watch videos in a gallery, you can't scroll through content because it's dynamic, and you can also have problems with apps that use non-standard scrolling controls, and in such cases, the system will tell you that you can't continue the screenshot.
Settings and additional functions
The MIUI shell and the new HyperOS provide a wide range of screenshot settings. Going to Settings → Additional Features → Screenshots, you can not only enable gesture control, but also adjust the behavior of the device after you create a snapshot, for example, you can choose what to do after you take a picture: show the edit menu, save or send immediately.
One of the interesting features is the ability to take screenshots using the Home button (if virtual) or through double tapping on the screen (depending on the model). Also, in the settings menu, you can find the option "Delete interface elements." If you activate this item, when you create a screenshot, the system will try to automatically remove the top status bar (time, battery) and the bottom navigation bar, making the image cleaner.
| Function | Where to find out. | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Three fingers. | Additional functions/Gesturals | Swipe with three fingers from top to bottom |
| Long screenshot. | Av. After the photo. | Automation and scrolling of the image |
| Removal of frameworks | Screenshot settings | Hiding the Status Line and Navigation |
| Shutter sound | Sounds and vibrations | On/off sound when creating a picture |
Another useful setting is the save format. By default, screenshots are saved in PNG or JPG format. In some cases, especially for text documents, the PNG format provides better quality and readability, whereas JPG takes up less space. You can change the priority format in the advanced system settings, although the standard Xiaomi gallery usually chooses the best option.
Hidden screenshot menu function
Screenshots in games and applications with protection
Players often want to capture their achievements or highlights in games. In Xiaomi, there is a special Game Turbo acceleration for this. When you start a game from the side, a toolbar appears. If you open it, there is a screenshot button, which is convenient because it does not require separation of hands from control and does not block the gameplay.
But there are situations where it's not technically possible to take a screenshot, and that's where the high-security apps are: bank clients, Chrome incognito mode, some messaging apps that disappear, and if you try to take a picture in those apps, you'll either hear a ban warning, or you'll see a black square instead of an image in the gallery.
⚠️ Note: Attempts to circumvent screenshot protection in banking applications with third-party software may result in the account being blocked by the bank's security service.
A screen recording feature is also available for games, which is often bundled with screenshots, and screen recording can be useful if there is not enough static image, and is also activated through the game panel or through the control center, where you need to select the Screen Record icon.
Where to look for saved images
Once you've taken a picture, it automatically saves to the gallery. The standard Gallery app in Xiaomi has a special album called Screenshots, which you can find in the Albums section, which eliminates the need to search for images among the thousands of photos taken by the camera.
If you use a file manager, the physical path to files is usually as follows: → DCIM → Screenshots or internal memory → MIUI → gallery_cloud → Screenshots (if synchronization is enabled) Knowing the path is useful if you connect your phone to your computer via a computer. USB You want to quickly find the right files to transfer.
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All screenshots are synced by default to Xiaomi Cloud or Google Photos if the appropriate option is enabled, ensuring that you do not lose important information even if you lose your phone.
The gallery also has an automatic sorting feature, which recognizes that the image has text, and can suggest scanning or translating it, which is especially useful for screenshots of documents, tickets or instructions in a foreign language, just open the image and click on the icon "More" or "Google Lens".
Frequent problems and their solution
Sometimes users are faced with the fact that screenshots are not created or saved, the most common reason is overcrowded memory of the device, if there is no free space on the phone, the system will not be able to save a new file, in which case you need to clear the cache or delete unnecessary files.
Another possible problem is a failure in the system process "Media Storage" or the shell MIUI. If the buttons do not respond and gestures do not work, try to restart the device. In rare cases, it helps to reset the screen specification or update the system to the latest version, as Xiaomi regularly releases patches that fix such bugs.
If screenshots are created but appear black or distorted, check to see if Color Inversion or other special features are enabled for people with disabilities who may be in conflict with image rendering. Also make sure that the screen is not pasted with a low-quality protective film that can interfere with the correct operation of the sensor when using gestures.