How to Take a Screenshot on a Xiaomi Phone: All Ways (2026)

Creating screenshots on Xiaomi smartphones is a challenge that every user faces: whether it’s saving an important message, fixing an error in the application or just wanting to share interesting content, the ability to quickly take screenshots saves time. However, not everyone knows that on devices with a MIUI shell there are several ways to create screenshots at once, from classic to hidden features that the manufacturer does not always mention in the documentation.

In this article, we will discuss all the current methods for the Redmi, POCO and Xiaomi lineup (including the flagship Xiaomi 14 and the budget Redmi Note 13).We will focus on the nuances of working on the latest versions of MIUI 14/15 firmware, where the interface and layout of functions may differ from the old instructions, you will also learn how to edit screenshots immediately after creation, where they are saved and how to automate the process with gestures.

1. Classic method: power and volume buttons

The most versatile method that works on all Xiaomi models without exception is the combination of physical buttons. It does not depend on the version of MIUI or the presence of additional settings, so it is suitable even for devices with a damaged sensor (provided that the buttons are serviceable).

To take a screenshot:

1. Open the screen that you need to lock.
2. At the same time, press the power button (on/lock) and the volume down button.
3. Hold them for 1-2 seconds until you hear the sound of the camera shutter or see the animation of the screenshot.

On some models (such as the POCO F5 or Xiaomi 13T) the combination with the volume button may work, but this depends on the regional firmware settings. If the first option didn’t work, try the alternative.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 12 and older, when holding buttons for more than 3 seconds, emergency call mode may be activated. To avoid false positives, press the buttons sharply and release immediately after the animation appears.

Where to look for a ready screenshot? By default, files are saved in the folder:

/storage/emulated/0/Pictures/Screenshots/

Or through the gallery: open the Photos app → Screenshots album.

2. Three-finger gesture for quick screenshot

One of the most convenient ways is to use a three-finger gesture across the screen, which is available on all Xiaomi devices with MIUI 9 and newer, but it is disabled by default, to activate it:

1. Go to Settings → Additional functions → Gestures.
2. Select the screenshot with three fingers.
3. Turn on the switch and select the gesture direction (usually from top to bottom).

Now, just swipe three fingers across the screen (you don't have to touch all three at the same time) and you take a screenshot, and this is a particularly useful technique for:

• 🎮 Players – You can take a screenshot of the game without interrupting the process (for example, in Genshin Impact or in the game). PUBG Mobile).
• 📱 Users with faulty power/volume buttons.
• 👆 Those who often take screenshots with one hand (the gesture can be performed with the thumb, index and middle fingers).

If the gesture doesn't work, check:

• Is the mode for one hand turned on (it can block multi-touch gestures).
• Are there third-party launchers (like Nova Launcher) that can conflict with system gestures?
• Screen cleanliness – dirt or low sensitivity protective film can interfere with touch recognition.

3. Screenshot through the Quick Settings panel

A lesser known, but no less effective, way is to use the notification bar, which is useful when you need to take a late screenshot (for example, to have time to deploy a menu or show a hidden interface element).

Instructions:

1. Open the screen that you need to lock.
2. Swipe down from the top edge of the screen to open the notification bar.
3. Find a Screenshot icon (usually a scissors or a zipper rectangle) If it's not there, click Edit and add it to the panel.
4. Tap the icon – the screenshot will be taken instantly.

On some firmware (for example, MIUI 14 Global), a screenshot with scroll option is available in this panel - it allows you to capture a long page (for example, a chat in a Telegram or an article in a browser) in one file.

1. Take a regular screenshot through the panel.
2. Immediately after the thumbnail appears at the bottom of the screen, click on it.
3. Select Scrolling (or Long Screenshot) and wait for processing.

⚠️ Note: The long screenshot feature may not work in some apps (e.g. Instagram or banking programs) due to security limitations.

4.Voice Assistant and Google Assistant

If you need to take a screenshot without touching the screen (for example, when recording video or broken display), you can use voice commands, for this, both the built-in Xiaomi Assistant and Google Assistant will do.

Method 1: Xiaomi Assistant (Mi AI)

• Activate the assistant by saying OK, Google, or holding the Home button (if you have one on your model).
• Say, Take a screenshot or take a picture of the screen.
• Confirm the action (if required).

Method 2: Google Assistant

• Make sure that the Voice Option is enabled in Google settings (Settings → Google → Settings for Apps → Search, Assistant and Voice).
• Say, OK, Google, take a screenshot.
• If the command doesn’t work, check permissions for Google in Settings → Apps → Permissions Management.

This method is convenient for:

• 🎥 Bloggers who record screen videos and don’t want to interrupt the shoot.
• 👨‍🦽 Users with disabilities or temporary hand injuries.
• 🔊 Situations when hands are busy (for example, while cooking on the phone).

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If the voice assistant doesn’t recognize the command, try to pronounce it more clearly or switch the input language to English (sometimes the “Take a screenshot” command works more reliably).

5 Hidden Features: Screenshot via the power menu and Home button

Some Xiaomi models (especially older ones or custom firmware) offer alternative ways to create screenshots that few people know about.

Method 1: Menus of food

If you hold the power button longer than usual (3-5 seconds), you will see a menu with the options to turn off / reset. On some firmware (MIUI 10-12), there is a screenshot button in this menu.

1. Hold the power button until the menu appears.
2. If there is no screenshot button, tap More (or Additional).
3. Select Screenshot – the picture will be taken without additional confirmation.

Method 2: Home button (for models with a physical button)

On older devices (such as Xiaomi Mi 5 or Redmi 4 Pro) with a physical Home button, you can take a screenshot by holding it together with the Back button or Recent apps.

Hold Home + Back for 2 Seconds

These methods are relevant for:

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MIUI 13+ The food menu may not include screenshot options due to changes in security policy.

6 Automation: Screenshots on schedule or via ADB

For advanced users who need to take screenshots automatically (for example, to test apps or create guides), there are two ways: through ADB or third-party apps.

Method 1: ADB-team

If you have ADB Tools installed on your PC, you can take a screenshot remotely:

adb shell screencap -p /sdcard/screen.png

Once you run the command, the screen.png file will appear in the root folder of internal memory, and to automate the process, you can write a simple script in Python or Batch.

Method 2: Applications for automatic screenshots

Google Play has utilities that allow you to customize screenshots by timer or events:

• Screenshot Easy – Supports latency and serial shooting.
• Automate – allows you to create scripts (for example, take a screenshot when connecting to Wi-Fi).
• Tasker – for advanced users (you can link the screenshot to a gesture, time or geolocation).

Install ADB Tools on PC| Enable USB debugging on your phone | Connect the device via cable | Check the permissions in the developer settings

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Warning: Automatic screenshots may conflict with some applications (e.g., banking or online). DRM-In this case, the screen will be black in the resulting image.

7. Editing and managing screenshots

After you create a screenshot on Xiaomi, you immediately open a mini-editing panel.

• ✏️ Drawing - brushes, markers, eraser.
• 📝 Text - Adding inscriptions (you can choose font and color).
• 🖼️ Cutting – changing the boundaries of the image.
• 🔍 Blurring – Hiding confidential information.
• 📤 Sharing – fast sending to messengers or the cloud.

If you missed the editing panel, you can open the screenshot through the gallery and click Edit. On MIUI 14+, the text recognition (OCR) function is also available - just select the area in the screenshot, and the text will be copied to the clipboard.

Where are the screenshots stored?

• Default: /Pictures/Screenshots/
• In the cloud: If sync with Mi Cloud is enabled, screenshots are automatically uploaded to the Screenshots folder in your account.
• In Google Photos: If the autoboot is enabled, screenshots will be included in the Screenshots album.

8. Frequent problems and their solutions

Even on reliable devices like Xiaomi, screenshots can be difficult to get, and let's look at common bugs and how to fix them.

Problem 1: Screenshots are not saved

Possible causes and solutions:

• 📱 End of space on the device – check the free space in Settings → Warehouse.
• 🚫 No permissions – go to Settings → Annexes → gallery → Permits and enable access to storage.
• 🔄 System failure – restart your phone or clear the gallery cache.

Problem 2: Black screen in the screenshot

This is typical of screen protection applications (banks, Netflix, some games).

• 📸 Use an external camera (take a picture of the screen with another phone).
• 🎥 Enable screen recording and take a screenshot of the video (e.g. via Screen Recorder).
• 🔧 On some firmware helps disabling hardware acceleration in the developer settings (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — Press 7 times, then Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Disable hardware overlays).

Problem 3: Three finger gestures are not working

This is most often related to:

• ⚙️ Disabled function – check settings → Additional functions → Gestures.
• 👆 Conflict with other gestures – disable gestures in third-party launchers.
• 📱 Sensor malfunction – test the multi-touch in the engineering menu (#6484##).

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If none of these methods work, check firmware integrity through Settings → About Phone → System Update. Sometimes screenshot crashes are associated with corrupted system files after a failed update.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions