Modern Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones have powerful built-in functionality that allows you to do without third-party software for most tasks. One of the most popular features is a screencast or recording of what is happening on the display, which is necessary for gamers to save epic moments, bloggers to create training videos or ordinary users who want to capture a bug in the application.
Unlike the earlier versions of the MIUI shell, which required third-party applications to be installed, the current versions of MIUI 12, 13, 14 and the new HyperOS integrate the tool deep into the system. It is hidden in the notification curtain and has flexible settings to manage the sound sources and quality of the final file.
In this article, we will discuss in detail where to look for settings, how to avoid common audio errors and what parameters should be changed to get the best picture quality, you will learn how to manage recording without unnecessary touches of the screen, which is especially important when playing mobile games.
How to find and activate a standard recorder
The first step to get started is activating the corresponding module in the control panel. On Xiaomi smartphones, this tool is called Screen Recording, and by default it can be hidden from the user's eyes in the basic configuration of the curtain. To output it, you need to unlock the device and swipe from top to bottom to open the control center.
If you don't see a video camera icon in the icons, click on the edit button, which usually looks like three horizontal bars or a gear in the top right corner of the menu. In the list of available widgets, find "Screen Record" and drag it to the active zone, and then the function will be available in one click.
It's a simple click on an icon, and it's important to note that in some regions or firmware versions, when you first start, the system may ask permission to access the microphone or storage, and without these permissions, the screencast won't work because it needs to store the video stream somewhere.
⚠️ Note: When you activate the recording in horizontal mode (landscape), the control panel may not appear as a familiar swipe, in which case try swiping from the corner of the screen or use the three-finger gesture if it is configured in special features.
Once you start, you'll see a floating control panel, which contains a timer, a pause and a stop button, and if you roll that panel, you'll continue recording in the background, and you'll only have a barely visible indicator on the screen so you don't interfere with your viewing while you're playing or watching a video.
☑️ Pre-launch check
Configuring quality parameters and codecs
To make the final video look clear and not take up the entire memory of the device, you need to adjust the coding settings correctly. Xiaomi’s standard settings are often focused on the balance between quality and size, but for professional content, you need to change them. To do this, you need to start the recording, and then on the panel that appears, click on the gear or three points to enter the settings menu.
The key here is resolution. The default is 1080p, which is the standard for most modern displays. However, if your smartphone supports 2K or 4K, and you plan to edit YouTube videos, it makes sense to set the maximum value available. Remember, the higher the resolution, the more CPU load and the faster the drive fills up.
The second important parameter is frame rate (FPS). For static instructions or displaying application interfaces, 30 frames per second is enough. But if you're recording dynamic games like PUBG, Call of Duty Mobile or Genshin Impact, you need to switch to 60 FPS, which will ensure that the picture is smooth and there is no jerks when you quickly turn the camera.
You should also pay attention to bitrate. In advanced MIUI settings, you can choose the bitrate: low, medium, high. For archiving or sending via messengers, medium will suit, and for publishing on video hosting, choose high to avoid compression artifacts and “squares” in dark scenes.
The table below shows the recommended settings for different use cases:
| Use case scenario | Permission | Frame rate (FPS) | Bitreit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Instructions for the annex | 1080p | 30 | Medium. |
| Gaming (shooters, races) | 1080p / 2K | 60 | High-pitched |
| Video call recording | 720p | 30 | Low. |
| Professional review | 4K (if available) | 60 | High-pitched |
The Impact of H.265 on Quality
Audio track configuration: microphone and system sound
One of the most common problems when recording screens on Android is the absence of sound or recording only external noises instead of internal audio.In the shell of MIUI and HyperOS implemented a flexible audio management system that allows you to choose the source of sound before or during recording.
When you start the function, the system will ask you to choose the source of sound. There are three main modes available here. The first is "No Sound", which completely turns off the audio track. The second is "Microphone", which records only what is happening around the phone (your voice, sounds in the room), but does not transmit sounds from the game or video. The third is "System Sound", which captures the internal audio device with high quality.
To record gameplay or video sound, always choose System Sound mode, which ensures that the viewer hears exactly what you hear through the speaker or headphones, without echoing or extraneous noises. If you create a video comment where you overlay your voice over the game, select Microphone or Both mode (if your Android version and region allow).
It is worth considering that in some regions (for example, in China or India), due to legal restrictions, the recording of system sound can be blocked at the firmware level, in which case the phone will automatically switch to the microphone, even if the other mode is chosen, and this can only be checked by experience.
Functional during recording: drawing and pause
Xiaomi’s built-in tool not only provides capture, but also the ability to interact with content in real time, which is especially useful for creating training materials where you need to focus the viewer’s attention on specific buttons or interface elements.
When you're actively recording on a floating bar, you have a button that allows you to draw on the screen, and you can click on it, you can highlight areas around, you can set arrows or you can emphasize text, and it's important to understand that all of these graphic elements will be sewn into the final video, so you need to draw carefully and in time.
A pause function is also available, where if you're distracted during the recording process or need to hide sensitive information (such as a notification with a code from a bank), you can pause the recording. Unlike stopping, this does not create a new file, but only pauses the timer, allowing you to continue recording from the same place later.
Another useful option is to hide the control panel, so once you start recording, you can roll it up to a minimum point or hide it completely so that it doesn't overlap the game interface, usually by swiping back from the edge of the screen or re-clicking on a hidden indicator.
⚠️ Note: When using the drawing function on the screen, make sure you don’t touch important game buttons.The graphic layer is overlaid on top of the interface and may interfere with control in shooters or MOBA-play-off.
Where do files are saved and how to manage them?
Once you've finished recording, the file is automatically saved to the device's gallery. In Xiaomi's standard Gallery app, a separate album is created for screencasters, called Screen Recording or Screen Recorder, which allows you to quickly find the right videos among thousands of photos.
The physical path to files in a file system is usually as follows: → DCIM → screen_recorder. Knowing this path, you can quickly transfer video to your computer through the USB-cable or find it through a file manager for editing in third-party applications.
File management is also possible right from the record menu. In the list of recent records (which is swiped to the right on the control panel), you can quickly delete the unsuccessful take, rename the file or immediately share it through the messenger. 4K-Files can be sent over standard communication channels for a long time.
If the phone's memory is full, the recording may interrupt automatically or not start at all.The MIUI system usually warns of a shortage of space, but it's best to keep an eye on this yourself, especially if you're planning a long session of recording in high resolution.
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To save space on the device immediately after recording, convert long videos to a smaller bitrate format or trim the extra parts with a built-in video editor in the gallery before saving a copy to the cloud.
Solving Frequent Problems and Limitations
Despite the advanced functionality, users may face a number of limitations, the most common problem is a black screen instead of an image when trying to record protected content.+ or banking applications that block screen recording at the Android security level (DRM-defence).
Another common complaint is the low volume of the recorded video, which may be due to the limitations of a specific codec or the settings of a Bluetooth headset. If you use wireless headphones, try switching to the phone speaker before recording to see if the volume level changes.
Also worth mentioning is heat. Simultaneous processor operation, graphics rendering (in games) and high-resolution video coding create a serious load. A smartphone can get noticeably hot and the screen brightness can automatically decrease to protect components. In such cases, it is recommended to reduce quality settings or close background applications.
⚠️ Note: Do not cover your phone with a blanket or cover with poor heat transfer during a long recording in the phone. 4K. Overheating can lead to trottling (decreased performance) and jerks in the video, and in rare cases - to emergency shutdown of the device.
If the standard feature doesn’t meet your requirements (for example, you need to record a face from the front camera on top of the screen), you will have to use third-party apps from Google Play, since the built-in Xiaomi tool does not yet support Picture-in-Picture for the camera.
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Embedded screen recording on Xiaomi is completely free, has no watermarks and time limits, which makes it a better choice for most users compared to paid counterparts.