How to take a screenshot on a Xiaomi laptop: the complete guide

Xiaomi device owners often wonder how to capture the contents of their laptop screen quickly and efficiently. Whether it’s an important system bug, an interesting moment in the game or a work document, the need to save visual information arises regularly. Unlike smartphones, where the process is often automated, there are many nuances on Mi Notebook and RedmiBook laptops, depending on the operating system and the drivers installed.

Modern laptops of the Chinese brand running Windows offer a wide range of tools for creating screenshots. Screenshots can be done both with standard OS tools and with the help of specialized software preinstalled by the manufacturer. Understanding these differences saves time and avoid unnecessary actions when working with the file system.

In this article, we will discuss all available methods, from classic keyboard combinations to advanced cloud functions, touchpad features, keyboard specific settings and ways to solve typical problems when an image is not saved, and this information will be useful for both beginners and experienced users who want to optimize their workflow.

Use of the Print Screen Hot Keys and Keys

The fastest and most time-tested way to create a screenshot is to use function keys. On Xiaomi and Redmi laptops, the keyboard often has a compact layout, so the location of the PrtSc (Print Screen) button can vary. Most models have it in the top row, sometimes combined with other functions, which requires the use of an Fn modifier.

Just tapping PrtSc copies the entire screen image to the clipboard. You won't see the file on the disk, but the picture is ready to be pasted. To do this, open any editor, such as Paint or Word, and press Ctrl + V. However, if your goal is to save the file instantly, the key combination should be different.

To automatically save a screenshot to the Images folder, you need to pinch the Win + PrtSc combination. The screen can go out for a moment, which signals the successful execution of the command. The file will immediately appear in the Image → Screenshots directory. This is the most reliable method for creating an archive of screenshots without unnecessary actions.

⚠️ Note: On some Xiaomi laptops, the PrtSc key function can be reassigned via the Mi Assistant utility. If the standard combinations don't work, check the keyboard settings in the system software.

There is also a variation using the Alt key. The Alt + PrtSc combination allows you to take a snapshot of only the active window, ignoring the taskbar and background applications. This is especially convenient when working with sensitive data or when you need to highlight a particular application. The result is also sent to the clipboard and requires subsequent insertion.

• 📸 PrtSc – Copying the entire screen into the clipboard.
• 💾 Win + PrtSc – saving a screenshot file to disk.
• 🖼️ Alt + PrtSc – Only copy the active window.
• 🎮 Win + G – Calling the game panel to take pictures in games.

Scissors Tool and Screen Fragmentation

Windows offers a more flexible tool called the Snipping Tool. Unlike just copying the entire screen, this method allows you to select arbitrary areas. To start, press Win + Shift + S or search for the application. The screen will darken and the cursor will turn into a cross ready to highlight the area.

Once you've selected the area, the screenshot is copied to the buffer, and a notification appears in the lower right corner, and you click on it, and you're taken to an editor where you can annotate, crop it, or add text, which is an indispensable tool for creating instructions or highlighting details in a screenshot before you send it to colleagues.

In the latest versions of Windows, the Scissors tool was combined with Screen Sketch, now supports handwriting recognition and has an improved interface, and you can choose between rectangular shape, arbitrary shape, window highlighting, or full-screen shots.

⚠️ Note: If the hot keys are Win + Shift + S doesn't activate the tool, check the notification settings. Notifications from the system should be enabled so you can quickly move on to editing the shot taken.

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Use the "Arbitrary Shape" mode in Scissors to highlight an object of complex geometry, such as a round diagram or logo, without capturing an unnecessary background.

For those who often work with text highlighting, the function of extracting text from images is useful. Although it is more typical for mobile devices, OCR is also available in desktop versions of Microsoft tools. This allows you to copy text from a screenshot and paste it into a text editor, saving the formatting.

Specialized software and utilities Xiaomi

Mi Notebooks often come with pre-installed software that extends the functionality of the device. Mi Assistant or Xiaomi Service may contain its own settings for managing media and screenshots. In some regions, devices are equipped with trial versions of antivirus or office packages, which also have their own hotkeys.

The ecosystem is particularly important, and if you have a Xiaomi or Redmi smartphone, you can use the Mi Share feature or third-party sync apps, and if you take a screenshot on your laptop, you can instantly send it to your phone for quick processing or social media posting.

Many users prefer to install third-party software for more advanced image management, such as Lightshot, Snagit or Greenshot, which allows not only screenshots, but also uploads them to the cloud immediately, receiving a link, which speeds up the exchange of information in instant messengers and work chats.

The Xbox gamebar built into Windows 10 and 11 is also a powerful tool. By pressing Win + G, you access the widgets. There's a camera button that takes a snapshot of the current state of the game or app. The feature is that the screenshots are saved to a separate Video → Clips folder without mixing with the usual snapshots.

• 🛠️ Mi Assistant - a proprietary utility for setting up the system.
• ☁️ Cloud Services – Automatic Download to OneDrive or Google Drive.
• 🎮 Xbox Game Bar – built-in tool for gamers.
• 📷 Third-party software - Lightshot, Snagit for advanced functionality.

Comparison of methods of creating screenshots

The choice of how to create a screenshot depends on the specific task: to quickly fix the error, simply copy it to the buffer; if you want to create an instruction or report, you should use editable tools. Below is a table comparing the main methods in speed and functionality.

And as you look at the table, Win + Shift + S is the most versatile method for everyday tasks, it combines speed and field selection, but for automated reports where speed is important, Win + PrtSc is unparalleled, because it doesn't require user confirmation.

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For maximum efficiency, combine methods: use Scissors for communication and Win+PrtSc for archiving the full state of the system.

If Xiaomi laptops are in high load mode, some heavy screenshot utilities may be delayed, and in such cases, standard Windows system tools respond faster because they take priority in handling interrupts.

Set up and save screenshots to the cloud

Modern workflow is rarely without cloud technology. Windows saves screenshots locally by default, but this behavior can be changed. For example, OneDrive, which is often pre-installed on laptops, can intercept the PrtSc button. In OneDrive settings, you can activate the option “Automatically save screenshots I take with Print Screen”.

This allows you to instantly sync your screenshots to all your devices, and if you take a screenshot on a RedmiBook laptop, you can see it on a tablet or phone in a few seconds, which is especially convenient for users working in the Microsoft and Xiaomi ecosystem.

To set up, open OneDrive, go to Backup or AutoSave, make sure it's activated. Now, when you press PrtSc, the file will fly to the cloud, not just copy to the buffer, which reduces the risk of data loss if programs are accidentally shut down or system crashes.

⚠️ Warning: When turning on autosave in the cloud, keep an eye out for vault space.High-resolution screenshots can quickly fill the free rate quota.

Also worth mentioning is the setting of save paths. If you use standard save via Win + PrtSc, you can change the destination folder. To do this, find the Screenshots folder in Documents or Images, right-click, select Properties → Location, and specify a new path. This is useful for organizing the workspace.

Solutions (Frequent problems)

Sometimes users are faced with a situation where screenshots are no longer created or saved. A common reason on Xiaomi laptops is a software conflict or disabled services. Check whether antivirus does not block access to the clipboard or create files in system folders.

Another problem is with keyboard drivers: If the PrtSc key doesn't respond, try updating drivers through Device Manager or installing original software from the manufacturer's website. In rare cases, simply restarting the Buffer service via the command line helps.

If screenshots are saved but turn out to be black (especially in browsers or protected content), this may be due to hardware acceleration. Try turning off hardware acceleration in your browser or graphics driver settings. Also make sure there is free space on the drive.

For advanced users, diagnostics through the registry is available. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer It contains parameters that affect the behavior of the system. However, the intervention in the registry requires caution.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions