Screenshots are one of the basic functions that users need every day, whether it's saving correspondence in the messenger, fixing an error in the application or copying a recipe, a screenshot on Xiaomi is taken in seconds, but the interface of the MIUI shell or HyperOS offers not one, but many ways to accomplish this task, which can confuse the beginner.
In this article, we’ll take a look at all the available methods, from classic buttons to advanced gestures and voice commands, learn how to customize handy combinations so you don’t search for them every time you create them, and learn how to edit the image immediately after you create it.
We will focus on the subtleties of working with long screenshots, which allow you to save entire pages of sites or long correspondence in one file, which greatly simplifies the work with documentation and web content on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones.
Standard Hot Keys and Their Features
The most obvious and common method for many is to use physical buttons on the body of a smartphone, which works on any model, regardless of the firmware version, and is the main one for most users, and to take a picture, you need to press the Volume down button and the Power button at the same time.
It's important to keep the synchronization: you don't press the buttons sequentially, but simultaneously, with minimal intervals. If you press them too slowly or with a delay, you can have a turn-off menu instead of a screenshot or just change the volume. Physical buttons remain the most reliable method if the touch screen is temporarily unresponsive.
☑️ Preparation check for the picture
There's an alternative combination for those who don't like reaching for the side edge, and some models that have Simplification enabled or have interior themes that combine Menu (three stripes) and Volume Down, but the classic Nutrition + Volume bundle is universal to the entire Android ecosystem.
Handling gestures: three fingers instead of buttons
The MIUI shell is famous for its clever gestures, and a three-finger screenshot is one of the most popular features. It allows you to take a picture with one hand just by swiping the screen. To activate this option, you need to go to the system settings.
Follow the Settings → Additional Features → Screenshot. Here you need to activate the "Three-finger screenshot" switch. Once turned on, just swipe three fingers from top to bottom on any part of the display to make a grab, which is especially convenient when the phone is lying on the table or holding in one hand.
It is worth noting that the gesture may not work in games or applications with full copy protection (for example, banking applications or Netflix), in which case the system blocks the creation of the image for data security. If the gesture stopped working suddenly, check if the mode is "Energy Savings", which sometimes limits the background processing of graphics.
⚠️ Attention: Touchscreen sensitivity may decrease when using a low-quality protective glass. If a three-finger gesture does not work, try increasing the force of pressing or calibrating the screen in the engineering menu.
Use of the notification panel and the menu "Multi-tasking"
It's not always convenient to reach for buttons or make complex gestures, and in these cases, the software interface comes to the rescue, and the quickest way is to open the Notification Curtain (top-down swipe) and find the Screenshot icon, which looks like a scissor or a rectangle.
If the icon is not on the first screen, click on the edit button (usually a pencil or three dots) and drag the screenshot icon to the active area. This will take a couple of seconds, but in the future it will save time. The method is ideal when the phone is in front of you on the table.
The second software method is through the open app menu, swipe from the bottom up (or click Menu if three-button navigation is enabled) to open a list of running programs, and the thumbnail of the desired application often shows the "More" button (three dots), where the image creation function is hidden.
Why did the screenshot icon disappear?
Voice control and Google Assistant
Xiaomi smartphones today are very good at voice commands, and if your hands are busy or dirty, just say, "OK, Google, take a screenshot." The assistant will immediately execute the command, and you need to have Google Assistant on and your recognition language set up.
You can also use the built-in voice assistant Xiao AI (relevant to global versions with support or Chinese firmware).The command can sound like "Take a screenshot" in Russian or English. This is a hands-free method that works even if the screen is locked (depending on the security settings).
To activate voice control, make sure that the Google Assistant settings include Voice Match, which will allow the phone to recognize your voice and execute commands without unlocking the device, which improves usability in everyday life.
Function "Long screenshot" and scrolling
One of the most useful features of MIUI is the ability to create long screenshots (scrollshots), which allows you to save web pages, long articles or WhatsApp correspondence in whole, not in parts, after you normally create a screenshot (by any method), a thumbnail will appear in the corner.
Click on the thumbnail, and the tool menu will appear at the bottom. Select the icon with the arrows down or the words "Scroll." The screen will automatically scroll down, capturing the content. To stop the process, tap the screen or press the stop button.
| Parameter | Description | Limitations |
|---|---|---|
| Maximum length | Up to 100% of the length of the page | Depends on the amount of memory |
| File format | JPG / PNG | Automatic choice |
| Permission | It fits the screen. | Does not lose quality with zoom |
| Editing | Available immediately. | Only after completion |
It's important to understand that not all apps support this feature, for example, on Instagram or some news feeds, scrolling may stop early because of the layout of the content, in which case you will have to take several regular pictures.
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A long screenshot automatically glues several frames into a single file, maintaining the original resolution across the width of the screen.
Editing and markup immediately after creation
Once you've created a screenshot, the system suggests editing the image, which is a powerful tool that eliminates the need to open a separate Photoshop, so you can cut the edges, add text, arrows, or paint over sensitive data with a marker.
The editor has a variety of tools, such as a brush, eraser, adding stickers, and even automatically improving color, and once you make changes, you can save the image to the original gallery or send it to the messenger immediately, bypassing the saving stage.
If you often take screenshots for work, look for the Watermark feature, so you can add a device model and time directly to the image in your camera settings or screenshots, which helps you organize the archive and know when a particular record was made.
⚠️ Note: When editing screenshots with confidential information (passwords, card codes), use the Blurring or Marker tool, not just black, which can be removed in the graphics editor.
Problem Solving: Why the Screenshot Doesn't Work
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the screenshot is not created, most often this is due to the protection of DRM in applications like Netflix, banking programs or Incognito mode in the browser, in which case the system simply ignores the command, and the screen may blink, but the file will not save.
Another reason is overflowing memory, and if the device runs out of space, there's no place to write the new file. Check the storage in Settings → Phone → Memory. There may also be problems with third-party launchers that conflict with MIUI system gestures.
If the screenshots stopped working after the firmware update, try resetting the interface. Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps → System interface and select Clear Data. This will return the standard button and gesture behavior without losing personal files.
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To quickly clean up your memory before a series of screenshots, use the built-in Security → Cleanup app, which will free up cache and speed up file retention.