Xiaomi's smartphone is a digital hub, and it's often necessary to save information from the display. Whether it's an important dialogue, a receipt for payment or a funny moment from correspondence, the screenshot feature becomes indispensable. However, given the diversity of the MIUI and HyperOS shells, as well as the different model range, the ways to create a picture may differ.
In this article, we will take a look at all the available methods, from classic keyboard combinations to automated scripts, learn how to set up a three-finger gesture, use voice control, and where to look for saved images if they are lost.
Classical method: button combination
The most common and reliable way, which works on 99% of devices, regardless of the firmware version or smartphone model, is to create a screenshot, you need to simultaneously press and briefly hold two buttons: Volume down and Power. It is important to press simultaneously, because at different latency times, you can start the switch-off menu or adjust the sound.
Once you've done the action, you'll hear the characteristic snap of the camera shutter, and you'll see a thumbnail in the upper right corner. If the device vibrates, you'll also feel a brief tactile response. This is universal for all Android smartphones and doesn't require any pre-tuning.
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Keep your finger on the buttons for no longer than one second. Prolonged clamping (more than 3 seconds) can activate the Google Assistant or emergency call menu.
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the screenshot is not taken, this may be due to a software failure or protection of content in certain applications, such as banking programs or incognito browser mode, in which case the system blocks the creation of a copy of the screen for data security purposes.
⚠️ Note: On some models with curved edges of the screen (edge-displays), pressing the volume button can be uncomfortable. In this case, try to press closer to the center of the edge so as not to lose the grip of the device.
Comfort in one touch: gesture with three fingers
MIUI and HyperOS are famous for their interface improvements, and one of the most popular is to take a gesture screenshot, which requires pre-activation in the settings, but when you turn it on, it becomes incredibly convenient. You don't have to look for buttons on the case, just swipe your finger across the screen.
To activate the function, go to the Settings menu, select the Additional (or Advanced Settings) section, then find Screenshot. Here you need to switch the slider to the On position for the Three Finger Screenshot option.
☑️ Tweaking the gesture with three fingers
Once activated, just swipe your three fingers from top to bottom over any area of the display, instantly detecting the gesture, making a sound, and storing the image, which is especially useful when the smartphone is lying on the table or in one hand, and it is inconvenient to reach the side keys.
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A three-finger gesture is the quickest way to take a screenshot if you hold the phone in one hand or it lies on a horizontal surface.
Control through the control center and curtain
If physical buttons are damaged or gestures seem difficult, you can use the interface software. At the top of the screen, in the notification and quick access areas, there is often a ready-made button to create a picture. In newer versions of HyperOS, it can be called a "screenshot" or have a scissor icon.
To access this tool, swipe from top to bottom to open the curtain. If the right button is not on the first screen, swipe left or click on the edit button (usually a pencil or three dots) to add the Screenshot widget to the quick access panel, which will allow you to create pictures in one tap.
In addition, in some use cases, such as floating windows or split screens, a screenshot button appears in the window control menu, allowing you to capture only the active application without cutting off the extra fields.
| Method | Speed. | Convenience | Requires customization |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buttons (Loudness + Power) | Tall. | Average. | No. |
| Three-finger gesture | Very high. | High. | Yes. |
| Notification curtain | Medium | High. | No. |
| Voice command | Low. | Average. | Yes. |
Voice control and assistants
In the age of smart assistants, voice control is becoming the standard, and Xiaomi devices can use the built-in Google Assistant or Mi AI (depending on the region and firmware version), just say “Ok Google” or unlock the phone with your voice, and then say “Take a screenshot”.
This is especially true in situations where hands are busy or dirty and you can't touch the screen, but it's important to remember that voice recognition requires a good Internet connection and clear diction, and in noisy rooms, the command may not be recognized the first time.
What to do if the voice is not heard?
In addition, some third-party apps from Google Play offer advanced voice-controlled screenshots, including automatically sending a picture to instant messengers. However, using such apps requires broad permissions, which can affect the privacy of your data.
⚠️ Note: When using voice commands, make sure that no sensitive information (passwords, SMS codes) is displayed on the screen at the time of shooting, as the screenshot can automatically sync with the cloud.
Long screenshot: Capturing the entire page
Often, a single screen is not enough to capture all the correspondence or article, in such cases, the function "Long screenshot" (or "Scrolling Screenshot") comes to the rescue. After you create a normal picture (by buttons or gesture), a thumbnail appears in the corner, press the down arrow button or the inscription "Scroll".
The device will automatically scroll down, taking a series of images and gluing them into one long picture. You can stop the process at any time by clicking on the screen. The maximum length of this image is limited to the resolution of the matrix and is usually several thousand pixels in height.
This feature is indispensable for saving web pages, long dialogs in messengers or contact lists, but it is worth remembering that when you create a long screenshot, a file can take up significantly more memory space than a normal image.
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When taking a long screenshot, try not to touch the screen while scrolling to avoid lubricating the image or stopping the process prematurely.
Where to look and how to edit pictures
Once you have created a screenshot, the system offers you to edit the image immediately: crop the extra, add text, drawings or blur sensitive data. To do this, click on the thumbnail that appears. If you missed this moment, you can find the file in the standard Gallery application in the Screenshots album or in the file manager on the DCIM/Screenshots path.
Xiaomi's built-in editor provides powerful tools. You can add time stamps, resize an image, or even use Magic Erase to remove extra objects in a photo. All changes are saved either on top of the original or as a new copy, so you don't lose the source.
To quickly transfer screenshots between Xiaomi devices, Mi Share technology is used. It allows you to send files to other smartphones or laptops without compressing the quality and cost of mobile traffic. Just select a screenshot in the gallery, click "Send" and select the device nearby.