Xiaomi’s current smartphones, which use MIUI and HyperOS, offer users a wide range of content experiences, and one of the most popular features is to create screenshots that capture not just one screen but an entire page, especially when saving correspondence, browser articles or long lists of products in online stores.
Unlike standard screenshots, which capture only the visible area of the display, a long screenshot automatically scrolls through the content and glues it into a single image. Many users do not suspect that this feature is built into the system by default and does not require the installation of additional software.
In this article, we will discuss in detail all the available ways to create scrolling shots on Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones. We will look at both classic methods using buttons and hidden menu features, and also pay attention to solving typical problems that arise when trying to save a long image.
Standard method through key combination
The fastest and most common way for most Android smartphone owners is to use a physical lock button and volume reduction key. On Xiaomi devices, this method is also the main trigger for starting the scroll function. After you take a normal screenshot, a thumbnail of the shot will appear in the upper right or left corner (depending on the version of MIUI).
Right under or next to this thumbnail, there's a button that says "Scroll" or a down arrow icon, and that interface element is responsible for activating the long screenshot mode, and if you press that button, the system automatically scrolls down the screen contents, capturing new areas.
The process can be stopped at any time by pressing the button again, or automatically when the content runs out. It is important to note that for this method to work properly, an application or page must support scrolling. Static images or short pages will not allow this feature to be activated, and the corresponding button may be inactive or absent.
☑️ Ready to take a screenshot
Using the “Troika” menu to create scrollshots
Owners of MIUI devices often use the "Troika" gesture, which allows you to take screenshots with three fingers across the screen, and this method can be adapted to create long shots if you adjust the gesture settings correctly, and you need to go to advanced system settings, where you hide additional control options.
In the gesture settings menu, you can select Scrolling Screenshot instead of a screenshot, in which case, with three fingers, you immediately start the process of capturing a long page, bypassing the stage of creating a normal screenshot and waiting for the confirmation button to appear, which saves you a lot of time if you need to save large amounts of information regularly.
However, it is worth considering that the sensitivity of the touchscreen can differ between Redmi and Poco models. If the triple swipe does not work the first time, try changing the speed of your fingers or the force of pressing. Also make sure that there are no protective films on the screen that can distort multi-touch input.
⚠️ Attention: The Troika gesture function may conflict with other apps that use three-finger swipes, such as some launchers or screenshot programs. If the feature stops working, check the exception list in the gesture settings.
Setting up and using the side menu
MIUI and HyperOS offer another handy tool, a side menu (or tool curtain), which can be used to create screenshots, which is especially convenient on large screens where reaching for volume buttons can be difficult, and to activate this feature, you need to go to the settings and find the section responsible for additional features or special functions.
Once the side menu is activated, when you swipe from the edge of the screen (usually on top or side, depending on the settings), you will leave a panel with shortcuts. You will need to find the Screenshot tool among them. When you click on it, the system will prompt you to select an area or immediately take a picture. To create a long screenshot in some versions of the firmware, you need to select the Scrollingshot option right in this menu.
The advantage of this method is that you can adjust the hot zones and the size of the panel. You can place the menu in any part of the screen, which makes the process of creating screenshots more ergonomic. In addition, the same menu often provides tools for recording the screen with sound, making it a universal center for multimedia management.
Hidden Settings of the Side Menu
Comparison of methods of creating screenshots on Xiaomi
To choose the most suitable method for you, it is worth comparing their main characteristics. Each method has its advantages depending on the situation: whether you hold the phone with one hand, use a protective case or work with gloves.
| Method | Speed of access | Convenience with one hand | Dependence on the MIUI version |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buttons (Loudness + Power) | Tall. | Low. | No. |
| The "Troika" gesture | Very high. | Medium | Low. |
| Side menu | Medium | Tall. | Medium |
| Voice control | Low. | Maximum | Tall. |
As you can see from the table, physical buttons remain the most versatile method, even in safe mode. However, gestures and side menus provide a more modern experience with the interface of Xiaomi.
Voice control and assistants
For users who prefer voice commands or are busy with other things, Xiaomi offers the ability to create screenshots through a voice assistant. This can be a built-in Google Assistant or its own voice assistant Xiao AI (in Chinese versions of firmware).
To use this method, you need to activate voice control in the system settings. Once activated, just say "Take a screenshot" or "Screenshot" command. The system recognizes the command and creates a screenshot. Unfortunately, at this point, standard voice commands rarely support a long screenshot at once, but they allow you to quickly capture the current state of the screen, after which you can manually start scrolling.
This method is especially useful when the phone is lying on a desk or connected to an external display and physical access to the buttons is difficult.
💡
To activate Google Assistant hands-free, use the phrase “Ok Google” or “Hey Google.” Make sure the assistant settings allow commands to be executed when the screen is locked if required.
Third-party applications for complex cases
Despite the rich functionality of the system, in some cases, the built-in tools may not be able to cope with the task, for example, if you want to take a long screenshot in an application that blocks standard screen capture, or if the MIUI interface is unstable, in such cases, specialized applications from Google Play come to the rescue.
One popular solution is LongShot or Stitch & Share, which uses accessibility services to automatically scroll and glue frames, and allows you to create panoramic images of any length and even edit them by adding blur between joints or removing unnecessary interface elements.
When using third-party software, you need to be careful about permissions, applications will need access to screen and storage, and it is also worth remembering that such programs can consume more battery power, since they actively use the processor for processing images in real time.
⚠️ Note: When installing screenshot applications from unknown sources, carefully check the permissions you request. Some programs may require access to contacts or locations that are not necessary for their primary function.
Frequent problems and ways to solve them
Even on modern Xiaomi smartphones, users can face problems with taking long screenshots, most often due to the limitations of the apps themselves, such as banking applications or secure content services (DRM) blocking any screenshots for security reasons.
In such cases, the Scrolling button will be inactive or absent, and problems can occur with a low amount of free RAM. If the phone is lacking resources, it may not have time to process sequential frames for gluing, which will lead to an error or cropped image.
Another reason could be that the screen resolution is not compatible with the format of the file being saved. If you're trying to take a screenshot of a very long page, the final file may be too large to be handled by the gallery, in which case it's recommended to take multiple screenshots piece by piece.
💡
If the scroll button doesn’t appear, it’s likely that the app will block screenshots or there’s no scrollable content on the page.
Editing and saving long screenshots
After a long screenshot is taken, the system will suggest editing the image before saving. Xiaomi's built-in editor allows you to trim extra edges, add text, pictures, or blur sensitive information. This is an important step, since long screenshots often contain redundant information.
The default save format is PNG, which provides high quality without losing detail but takes up more space. If the file size is critical, you can convert the image to JPG through the gallery. It's also worth considering that very long images may not display correctly in some instant messengers that compress pictures.
For easy storage of such files, it is recommended to create separate albums in the gallery or use cloud services. Long screenshots can weigh several megabytes, and their accumulation can quickly exhaust the free space on the device.