Owners of modern Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones often face the need to capture the contents of the display. Whether it is saving important correspondence, instructions for installing an app or just a fun moment from the game, the ability to quickly take a screenshot is a basic skill. In the shell of MIUI and the new HyperOS, this process is implemented as conveniently as possible, offering many options for different situations.
The traditional physical button method is familiar to anyone who has ever used Android devices, but manufacturers often change the layout of items or add software limitations that can be confusing, so itβs important to know not only the classic way, but also alternative methods that may be more useful in certain conditions.
In this article, we will take a closer look at all the available screenshot techniques, including hidden features that many users donβt even know about. Youβll learn to take long page shots, use voice commands, and configure automatic save to the desired folder. Understanding these mechanisms will allow you to work with a Xiaomi device at the level of an advanced user.
Using physical buttons to screenshot
The fastest and most common way to capture the current image on the display is by pressing two hardware keys simultaneously. Most Redmi and Xiaomi models require you to press the Power button and Volume Down button, which you need to hold for literally a fraction of a second until the characteristic click of the camera shutter sounds.
If you did everything right, the system instantly creates an image file and saves it to the gallery. In the upper right corner of the screen, a thumbnail of the shot will appear, which allows you to quickly move to edit or share the file. Physical buttons work even if the touch screen is temporarily unresponsive or the system experiences slight delays.
It's important to note that pressing buttons should be done simultaneously, but without fanaticism. Holding too long can trigger the off menu or activate the Google Assistant voice assistant instead of taking a snapshot. If you can't get it the first time, try changing the rhythm of pressing: a short and clear click works best.
βοΈ Checking readiness for screenshot
- πΈ Press the buttons at the same time and release them.
- π Wait for the confirmation beep.
- πΌοΈ Check the appearance of the thumbnail in the corner of the screen.
- πΎ The file will automatically be saved to the Screenshots folder".
Three-finger method and other gestures
MIUI is famous for its clever gestures that dramatically speed up interaction with your smartphone. One of the most convenient is to swipe three fingers from top to bottom across the screen. This feature can be disabled by default, so it needs to be activated in the system settings for maximum comfort.
To turn on this mode, go to Settings β Additional Features β Screenshots. You need to find the Three Finger Switch and activate it. After that, you can take one-touch shots by simply swiping your fingers through any area of the display where the content is displayed.
Gestures are especially useful when one hand is uncomfortable reaching for buttons, or if the hardware keys are too high on large smartphone models. In addition, this method eliminates the risk of accidental volume changes, which sometimes occurs when using buttons. Touch control in this case is instantaneous and does not require physical force.
π‘
If the three-finger gesture doesnβt work, make sure thereβs no screen protector thatβs too thick, or that the feature doesnβt conflict with the special feature settings.
- π Open "Settings" and find the "More" section".
- ποΈ Activate the option "Three fingers" in the screenshot menu.
- π Swipe three fingers from top to bottom across the screen.
- βοΈ Set the scope of the gesture if necessary.
Control panel and notification curtain
For those who prefer visual control, the system has a special button in the control center, and if you call the swipe notification curtain from top to bottom (or bottom to top, depending on the navigation settings), you will see many quick access icons, often including the screenshot icon or the Scissors icon.
Clicking on this icon captures the current screen in exactly the same way as the button combination. It is ideal for situations where the physical buttons of the smartphone are faulty, stuck, or when the device is in a special protected case that makes it difficult to access the side faces.
If you don't find the right icon in the front row, try flipping through the Control Center pages to the left or pressing the edit button (usually a pencil icon or three dots). In the editing menu, you can drag the Screenshot button into a prominent place for quick access in the future. This will take a couple of seconds, but save a lot of time later.
β οΈ Note: On some versions MIUI The button in the curtain may be called Screen Recording. Don't confuse it if you want a static shot, not a video of the action.
- π² Open the control center (curtain).
- π Find an icon with a picture of scissors or a camera.
- π±οΈ Click on it to create a screenshot.
- π Check the gallery for confirmation of conservation.
Voice control and assistants
Todayβs Xiaomi smartphones are equipped with powerful voice assistants that allow you to control the device without hands. You can just say a command and the phone will perform the action. This uses the built-in Google Assistant or proprietary XiaoAI solution (in Chinese versions of firmware).
To take a screenshot with your voice, activate the assistant with the phrase "OK, Google" or a long press of the assistant call button. Then clearly say the command "Take a screenshot" or "Photograph the screen." The system recognizes the request and instantly creates an image of the current scene.
This method is especially relevant when the user's hands are busy (like you're cooking with a prescription on your phone or holding the device in one hand), or when the phone is lying on the table.Voice control can also be a rescue if the touch screen temporarily stopped responding to touches due to a software glitch.
Why does the voice assistant not understand the command?
- π£οΈ Activate the voice assistant with a command or button.
- π’ Say the phrase "Take a screenshot".
- β³ Wait for confirmation of the action.
- πΈ Check the result in the image gallery.
Long screenshot and extended functions
One of the most popular features in the Xiaomi ecosystem is the ability to create long screenshots (scrollshots), which allows you to capture the entire page of the site, long correspondence in the messenger or the entire document, not just the visible part of the screen. After you create a regular screenshot (buttons or gestures) at the top of the thumbnail, an additional button with an arrow down will appear.
By pressing this button, the system will automatically scroll down, stitching the footage into one long tape, and you can stop the process at any time by touching the screen, or wait for the end of the page, and the maximum length of this image is limited by resolution and RAM, but it's usually enough for any task.
Some applications, such as Chrome or standard Explorer, may have a full page feature in the menu (share), but the standard thumbnail method works more universally across different apps. The advanced shell features allow you not only to save a picture, but also to edit it immediately, cropping extra or adding notes.
π‘
Long screenshots are an indispensable tool for saving articles and correspondence, but they donβt work in dynamic content download applications or DRM-protected video players.
- π Take a regular screenshot in any way.
- β¬οΈ Click on the "Scroll" button or the arrow in miniature.
- ποΈ Monitor the capture process and stop it if necessary.
- πΎ Save the final long image to the gallery.
Set up parameters and fix problems
The Settings menu β Additional Features β Screenshots hides a number of useful options. Here you can change the format of stored files (although PNG is the standard for quality), adjust the sound or vibration when you take a picture, and there is a switch to hide the toolbar after you create a picture.
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where screenshots are impossible to take, most often due to application security policy, banking applications, browser incognito modes and some streaming services block the ability to capture the screen by displaying a black square instead of an image, which is the normal behavior of Android systems to protect confidential data.
If the screenshots don't work anywhere, check for system updates or try to clear the Screenshots app cache through the application management menu. In rare cases, rebooting the device helps. Below is a table with the main parameters and their value for quick diagnosis.
| Parameter | Description | Recommended value |
|---|---|---|
| File format | Type of image preservation | PNG (lossless) |
| Shutter sound | Audio signal from the photo | Included (for control) |
| Vibration. | Tactical response | At the request of the user |
| Toolbar | Displaying the menu after the photo | Included (for editing) |
| Three-finger gesture | Swipe activation | Included (for convenience) |
β οΈ Warning: If you take a screenshot of protected content (Netflix movies, banking apps) you will get a black image.