How to take a high-quality screenshot of the screen on Xiaomi

Xiaomi’s modern smartphones have become an integral part of the digital space of millions of users thanks to their excellent price-to-function ratio. One of the basic but critical features we use every day is the ability to capture the current state of the screen. Whether it’s saving correspondence, a travel map or an interesting moment in the game, the ability to take screenshots correctly significantly improves the efficiency of interaction with the device.

However, many owners of Redmi and POCO devices still use only one method: pressing buttons simultaneously, without even knowing the existence of more convenient tools. Android operating system with the MIUI shell or the new HyperOS has many hidden features that allow you to automate the process and expand the functionality of the standard image capture function.

In this article, you'll find comprehensive information on how to configure one-handed control, use voice commands, and even automatically remove unnecessary interface elements in screenshots. Properly configuring these settings will save you time and nerves in the future. Let's move on to a detailed look at each method.

Classic method and button combinations

The most common and versatile way, which works on 99% of Android smartphones, including all Xiaomi models, is to use physical control buttons. To get a picture, you need to simultaneously press and briefly hold the Power and Volume Down button.

It's important to remember the right sequence and the duration of the press. If you press the buttons too hard or hold them for a long time, instead of a screenshot, you can start the shutdown menu or the Google Assistant voice assistant. Pressing should be confident, but fast, almost impact-like. On models with a side fingerprint scanner that is combined with the power button, this method works unchanged.

When you create an image, you have a thumbnail with a countdown timer in the top right corner of the screen, and then you have the basic steps you can take: cropping, drawing, or sending it to the messenger immediately, and if you ignore the pop-up, the file will automatically be saved to the gallery.

⚠️ Note: Some models with curved screens or specific button locations may not be comfortable with mechanical pressing, so it is better to use software methods to avoid damaging the body elements or touching adjacent touch areas.

There is also an alternative combination that is disabled by default, but can be activated in settings: it is the simultaneous pressing of the buttons "Loud Up" and "Loud Down" and this method is convenient because the hands are in a natural position when viewing the content, and you do not need to reach for the lock button.

Hand gestures and one hand control

The MIUI ecosystem is famous for its flexibility in interface configuration, and gesture management comes first. For those who prefer to minimize the use of physical keys, developers have implemented a handy swipe across the screen. To activate this feature, you need to go to the settings menu, select option option, then Screenshots, and enable the option Swipe with three fingers.

Once activated, the process of creating a picture becomes a matter of a second: just swipe three fingers down on any area of the display, especially for owners of large smartphones, where reaching the top buttons is physically difficult, the system instantly responds to touch, taking a high-quality picture of current content.

You can also set up post-swipe behavior in the same menu, and you can choose whether the editor will open immediately or the image will simply be saved, and you can also use Stop Scrolling, which allows you to take long screenshots of pages without having to manually flip through.

For users who often work with one hand, there is another useful life hack: In the quick action menu (notification curtain), you can take a screenshot button. You just swipe from top to bottom twice to open the full list of widgets, and find the scissors icon there. One touch, and the screen is saved.

Image quality and format settings

The quality of the resulting image depends on the resolution of the screen of your device and the compression settings in the system. By default, Xiaomi saves screenshots in PNG format, which provides a loss of quality during compression, which is ideal for texts and diagrams.

In some versions of the shell, you can choose the format of the save. Switching to the JPG format can significantly reduce the weight of the file, which is true when there is a lack of free memory, but it can create compression artifacts at contrasting boundaries. For ordinary users, the difference may not be noticeable, but for designers or developers it is critical.

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If you take screenshots for printing or professional layout, always choose the PNG format in the settings, even if the file weighs more, which will keep the fonts and small details clear.

If you have Enlarged Text or Rescaled Interface (DPI) enabled on your device, the screenshot will be taken in the current render resolution. To obtain native matrix resolution, such as 2400×1080 or 3200×1440, it is recommended to return the interface scale to the default value before fixing the image.

It is worth noting that with the included function HDR-Screenshots (available on flagship models with AMOLED-The dynamic range of the image is kept as wide as possible, allowing more detail to be transmitted in light and dark areas, but requires support from the application from which the image is taken.

The function of a long screenshot (scroll)

One of the most popular features in the MIUI shell is the ability to create panoramic images, or "longreads," which is an indispensable tool for saving correspondence in messengers, browser articles or news feeds. The standard screen is physically limited, but software scrolling allows you to combine many frames into one vertical file.

To activate the scroll mode, first take a regular screenshot in any convenient way. Immediately after that, a floating menu will appear in the upper right corner, and you will press the button with an icon that resembles a scroll or a down arrow (Scroll).

You can manually stop the process at any time by touching the screen or pressing the completion button. The system will automatically glue the resulting frames, killing the junction line to make the transition look smooth. However, it is worth considering that when you scroll through dynamic content (for example, video or animations), artifacts can arise.

⚠️ Note: Long screenshot may not work properly in content protection applications (DRM), In such cases, the scroll area may be black or the feature simply does not activate.

For web browsers like Chrome or the built-in MIUI browser, there is native support for full pages. Unlike standard scrolling, which just flicks through the screen, the browser can render the entire page, even the part that has not yet been loaded or is outside of view, this gives a clearer result, since the text does not blur when scrolling.

Automation and third-party tools

While Xiaomi’s built-in functionality is broad enough, it may require third-party solutions for specific tasks. Apps like Stitch & Share or Tailor can automatically stitch multiple regular screenshots into one long one, analyzing repetitive image elements, which is useful if the standard scrolling function is unstable in a particular application.

And for advanced users, automation scripts are available through Tasker or the built-in Xiaomi Assistant, and you can customize a screenshot that is taken with a clap in your hands, a shaking phone, or a schedule, which opens up the possibility of creating automatic reports or diaries of smartphone use.

And the Google Assistant voice assistant, which says, "Ok Google, take a screenshot," works very well, and allows you to lock the screen when your hands are busy, and you need to have permissions to control your device in your Google account settings.

There are also modules for the Xposed Framework that allow you to add watermarks, automatically hide sensitive data (passwords, card numbers) before saving, or change the default save folder, which is the customization level for enthusiasts.

Where to look and how to manage saved files

All images that are created are automatically saved to the system folder, and you can find them through the standard Screenshot Gallery app, and they are sorted by date of creation, and for more in-depth work with files, for example, to rename or move, it is more convenient to use the File Manager Explorer.

The default path to the folder is: Internal Memory → DCIM → Screenshots. Sometimes, depending on the Android version, the path may change to Internal Memory → Pictures → Screenshots. Knowing the exact path is necessary when connecting your phone to your computer via USB to process files in bulk.

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The system folder of screenshots syncs with the Google Photo cloud if the appropriate backup option is enabled, which ensures the safety of data even if the device is lost.

Storage management is an important aspect. Screenshots often take up significant space, especially if you take them in high resolution. Periodically check the folder and delete temporary files. The built-in Cleanup tool in the Security app can find similar images and suggest removing duplicates.

If you want to change the default save path, you can't do it with root rights, but you can use the Symbolic Link function through the standard system. ADB-commands by redirecting system requests to another folder or SD-map, if it is supported.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)