Xiaomi smartphones today have powerful cameras, but sometimes users need to capture exactly what’s happening on the screen, whether it’s saving important correspondence, app instructions, or just a beautiful widget on the desktop. Many newcomers to the MIUI ecosystem are faced with the question of how to capture the current image without using third-party hardware.
Unlike older push-button phones, which required complex combinations, modern gadgets offer many intuitive methods: you can use physical buttons, finger gestures or even voice commands. The fastest way on all current Redmi and Poco models is to simultaneously squeeze the volume and power buttons. Understanding all the options available will save you time and make the process of using your smartphone more comfortable.
We’ll go into detail on each method, including hidden system settings that can be useful to owners of different versions of the shell. Regardless of which model you have – the flagship Mi 13 or the budget Redmi Note – the algorithms of actions will be similar, but may have small nuances in the layout of the menu.
Using physical buttons to create a screenshot
The most common and reliable method, which works on 99% of Android devices, including Xiaomi smartphones, requires finding the side of the case, and is usually where the volume and lock buttons are located, and requires no pre-setting and is available immediately after the device is turned on.
To take a picture, you have to press two buttons at once. It's about the volume down key and the on/lock button. The press has to be short-lived but clear. If you press them too long, the phone can perceive this as a command to force a reboot or call the emergency menu, so practice on light touches.
- 📸 Find the Volume Down button (Vol -) on the side of the face.
- 🔒 Place your finger on the power button.
- ⚡ Press both keys at the same time and release them immediately.
- 🔔 Hear the characteristic shutter click and see the screen flash.
Once you've done the work, you'll see a thumbnail of the image you've taken at the top of the display, and you'll be able to click on it and you'll be able to edit, crop it, or send it to messengers, and if the thumbnail doesn't show up, check if the device's memory is full, because the screenshots are in storage.
Screenshots with three fingers: gestures in MIUI
MIUI is known for its convenience and additional control features, and one of the most popular features is to take a screenshot by swiping three fingers across the screen, which is especially useful when the phone is on the table or when the other hand is busy, but by default, this feature can be disabled.
To activate, you need to go to the system settings. Find the section that is responsible for additional functions or special features. Depending on the firmware version, the path may differ slightly, but the logic remains the same. You need to find the "Three-finger screenshot" item and move the switch to the active position.
⚠️ Note: The function may not work if a low-quality protective glass is too thick on the screen, which reduces the sensitivity of the touchscreen to multi-touch gestures.
Once you turn on the option, just swipe your three fingers from top to bottom over any area of the screen, and the system instantly recognizes the gesture and saves the image, which can be done with one hand if the device is not too large, or with two hands holding the phone on weight, and the response rate to the gesture is usually higher than to search for physical buttons.
Control through notification curtain and menu
If the physical buttons are busy or damaged and the gestures don't work, a software menu comes to the rescue. There's a notification curtain at the top of the screen of any Xiaomi smartphone. Swiping down from the top edge, you're taken to the Quick Settings Control Center.
Among the many icons (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, flashlight) you need to find an icon with a picture of scissors or a rectangle, which is called a "screenshot." Pressing this button takes a picture of the current screen. If the right icon is not in the first row, try swiping left or clicking on the menu edit button (usually three dots or a pencil) to add a shortcut to a prominent place.
This technique also allows you to take a late-shot or select a region. In some versions of MIUI, when you click on the icon in the curtain, you open an additional menu where you can choose Full Screen or Selected Area mode, which is extremely useful if you want to save only part of the information, hiding unnecessary details.
| Method | Speed. | Convenience | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buttons | Tall. | Average. | Always. |
| Three fingers. | Very high. | High. | Requires customization |
| Curtain. | Low. | Low. | Always. |
| Voice. | Medium | High. | Demands the Internet. |
Voice control and Google Assistant
In the age of artificial intelligence, voice control is becoming the standard, and Xiaomi owners can use the built-in Google Assistant or Mi Assistant to execute the "Take a Screenshot" command, especially when hands are dirty or busy with other things.
To use this method, make sure the voice assistant is activated and configured in Russian. Say an activator phrase (for example, "OK, Google" or "Hello, Mi"), wait for the answer and clearly say "Take a screenshot." The system will execute the command and save the image to the gallery.
Voice control works even on a locked screen in some configurations, allowing you to quickly capture the notification that has arrived without unlocking the device completely. However, it is worth considering that Google Assistant often requires an active Internet connection to work, while the local assistant can work offline, but with less functionality.
Long screenshot and page scrolling
Often, one desktop photo is not enough, especially if you need to save a long correspondence in Telegram, an article in a browser or a list of products in an online store. MIUI There is a “Long Screenshot” or “Scroll” function».
Once you've taken a normal screenshot of any of the ways I've described, the top corner will have a preview, and underneath it will be a button with a down arrow or a "Scroll" button, and you press it and you automatically scroll down, capturing new areas of the image.
- 📱 Take a regular screenshot with buttons or gestures.
- 🔽 Click on the “Scroll” button in the menu that appears.
- 👁️ Watch the capture process and stop it when needed.
- 💾 Save the final long file in the gallery.
You can stop the process at any time by touching the screen or waiting for the end of the page. The final image will be a single long picture. It is important to understand that images that are too long may not be supported by some messengers when they are sent, so sometimes they have to be cut.
⚠️ Attention: When creating long screenshots on lazy loading sites (when content loads as you scroll) there may be breaks or white bars. pause if the page loads slowly.
Where to look for saved pictures and how to edit them
Once a screenshot is created, the system automatically stores it in internal memory, and you can find the file through the standard Gallery or Files app, usually a separate folder called Screenshots or Screenshots is created for screenshots, making it easier to search among thousands of photos.
The built-in image editor in Xiaomi allows you to perform basic processing immediately after creation. You can cut the extra edges, draw arrows, add text or blot out sensitive information (such as card numbers or passwords). The Magic tool automatically aligns the horizon and improves colors.
For more advanced users, text recognition (OCR) is available. If there is text in a screenshot, the system can suggest copying or translating it. This eliminates the need to manually reprint information from the image. Files are stored until you decide to delete them or move them to the cloud.