Xiaomi’s current smartphones, including the popular Redmi Note lineup, allow you to instantly save an image from the screen for later use, which may be necessary to save important correspondence, fix an error in the application or simply create a bright meme. However, users often face difficulties when trying to capture the contents of the display due to the features of the MIUI shell or HyperOS.
In this article, we will take a look at all the existing methods of creating screenshots, from classic buttons to advanced gestures. You will learn not only to take basic screenshots, but also to create long panoramic images, as well as adjust automatic saving. Understanding these features will greatly simplify your daily work with the device.
Classical method using physical buttons
The most common and time-tested way to capture a screenshot on any Android device is by pressing the power and volume control buttons simultaneously. On Redmi Notes, this method works flawlessly, regardless of the firmware version. You need to press the on button (on the right side) and the volume down button (on the lower side) simultaneously.
It's important to keep the sequence and duration of the pressing right. Don't hold the buttons too long, because it can trigger a shutdown menu or activate the voice assistant. Just a brief but confident tap of about one second is enough. If done correctly, you'll hear the characteristic sound of the camera shutter, and in the top corner of the screen will appear a thumbnail of the shot taken.
- 📱 Press the Enable and Volume button at the same time.
- ⏱ Hold them for about 1 second until visual effects appear.
- 🔊 Check for shutter or vibration sound to confirm.
- 🖼 The screenshot will appear in the upper right corner of the display.
This is particularly useful in situations where the screen reacts to late touches or when the interface of the system is frozen. Physical buttons allow you to bypass software failures and guarantee the preservation of the image. However, when used with one hand, this method may not be the most comfortable because of the location of the keys on opposite sides of the case.
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If the screenshot does not work the first time, try to press the volume button first, and after a split second add the power button, without releasing the first.
Using a three-finger gesture for quick shooting
The MIUI shell and the new HyperOS offer a more ergonomic way to create screenshots that do not require the use of physical buttons. The Three-Finger Shot feature allows you to capture the screen with a simple swipe. To activate this mode, you need to go to the settings, find the "Additional Features" or "Extended Settings" section and select "Screenshot".
Once you turn on the option, you just swipe three fingers from top to bottom over any area of the screen, and the system instantly recognizes the gesture and creates an image, which is especially useful when browsing the web or reading documents when your hands are busy holding your smartphone. The gesture works in almost all applications, except for some secure banking programs.
⚠️ Attention: Touchscreen sensitivity may decrease when using low-quality protective glass or when there is moisture on the screen, making it difficult for three fingers to recognize the gesture.
The gesture settings menu often provides additional options, such as selecting a screenshot area or creating a long shot immediately after you swipe your fingers, so you can adjust the system behavior so that the edit menu automatically opens after the gesture, allowing you to immediately trim the extra edges or make the necessary notes.
Configure and use the control panel (Storks)
A third popular method that is often ignored by beginners is to use a special shortcut in the control center. When you are on any screen, swipe from top to bottom (usually you need a swipe from the top right corner where the network and battery indicators are located) to open the notification panel and quick settings. Among the many icons, find a button called "Screenshot" or a corresponding image of scissors.
This method is ideal when physical buttons are busy or damaged and gesture use is inconvenient for some reason. The shortcut can be moved to the top row of commonly used tools for quick access. To do this, click on a pencil or edit button in the corner of the control panel and drag the screenshot icon to the active area.
In addition, some firmware versions offer a screenshot through the sidebar of the toolbar, and by activating the Sidebar in the settings, you can swipe screenshot menus from the edge of the screen in any app, creating an additional layer of convenience for users who are constantly working with multiple windows.
☑️ Checking the screenshot settings
Creating long screenshots (scrolling)
One of the most useful features in Xiaomi smartphones is the ability to create long screenshots, or “scrolls.” This feature is indispensable when you need to save long correspondence in the messenger, an article in the browser or a feed of social networks that do not fit on a single screen. After creating a regular screenshot (any of the ways described above), a thumbnail appears in the upper corner.
This thumbnail will have a button with two arrows down or the words "Scroll." When you click on it, the system will automatically start scrolling the contents of the screen down, stitching new areas of the image into a single file. The process continues until you hit the stop button or reach the end of the page.
Consider that the quality of the final image may depend on the resolution of the original content. When creating very long panoramas, the file can take up a significant amount of memory, and the function may not work in applications where the content is loaded dynamically as you scroll, or in secure video players.
| Method | Speed. | Convenience | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buttons | Tall. | Average. | Always. |
| 3 finger gesture | Very high. | High. | Adjustment required |
| Curtain. | Medium | High. | Always. |
| Voice. | Low. | Low. | Internet is required |
Voice control and assistants
For users who prefer voice control, Xiaomi provides the ability to take screenshots through the voice assistant. You can use the built-in Google Assistant or Mi AI. Just say the command "OK, Google, take a screenshot" or "Take a screenshot" and the system will perform the action, this method is especially relevant in situations where the hands are full or dirty.
Voice control requires a stable Internet connection to process a request if a cloud assistant is used. Local commands can work faster, but their set is limited. In addition, in noisy environments, the smartphone may not recognize the command the first time, which reduces the effectiveness of the method compared to tactile methods.
In the voice assistant settings, you can activate the action confirmation so that the screenshot is not created accidentally in the background conversations, a useful security feature that prevents you from keeping confidential information without your knowledge. Despite its technologically advanced, this method remains the least popular because of the need to say commands aloud.
Secret function of screenshot menu
Where to look for saved images and how to edit them
Once a screenshot is successfully created, the file is automatically saved to the device gallery. The standard path to the folder looks like Internal Memory → DCIM → Screenshots. In the Gallery app, these images are usually collected into a separate album called Screenshots, which makes it easier to search for them among personal photos.
Once you create a picture, you can click on the thumbnail for quick editing. The built-in MIUI editor offers a wide range of features: cropping, overlaying, marker drawing, adding stickers and blurring sensitive data. All changes are saved either as a new file or on top of the original, depending on the selected save option.
It's also convenient to use the Explorer app to manage files, so you can sort screenshots by date, size, or name. If you take a lot of screenshots to work with, it's recommended that you periodically clean that folder or transfer important files to the cloud so you don't overflow your internal memory.
⚠️ Note: When you delete screenshots through a standard gallery, they end up in a basket where they are stored for 30 days.
Solution and additional settings
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the screenshot is not created or is obtained in black, most often due to security restrictions Android. applications of the banking sector, incognito modes in browsers and some streaming services block the ability to capture the screen to protect your data from fraud, in such cases, the screenshot is either not taken at all or is saved in a black rectangle.
It's also worth checking if there's free storage space in the device. If the internal storage is crowded, the system won't be able to save the new file. Cleaning the cache or removing unnecessary apps will solve this problem. In rare cases, a smartphone reboot is required to reset the temporary errors of the image capture system.
The latest generation of Redmi Note models can also use the “Second Space” feature, which means that screenshots taken in one profile will not be visible in another, which provides additional data isolation.
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If the screenshot is black in a particular application, it is not a phone breakdown, but a full-time privacy protection implemented by the developers of the application or the operating system.