Screenshots are one of the basic features that smartphone owners use every day. In Xiaomi’s ecosystem, powered by MIUI shells or the new HyperOS, the process is as flexible as possible and offers many options for different use cases.
Whether you need to save correspondence, capture an error in the application or share an interesting moment from the game, the system will offer several ways to solve the problem. Understanding all the available methods will allow you to significantly speed up the workflow and not waste time finding the right combination in a stressful situation.
In this article, we will take a closer look at every way you create screenshots, from classic buttons to advanced image editor features, and learn how to customize handy gestures and automate the process to make your smartphone even more comfortable.
Classical method using physical buttons
The most common and reliable way, which works on all smartphone models, including the budget Redmi series and Xiaomi’s flagship.The mechanics of action are simple and independent of the version of the operating system, making this method versatile.
To get a picture, you need to simultaneously press two buttons: Loudness down and Power. You don't need to hold them for long, you just need a short confident press lasting about 0.5 seconds. The system will instantly respond with the characteristic sound of the camera shutter and vibration, and at the top of the screen there will be a miniature of the created image.
If you're having trouble getting to the right moment, try changing the rhythm a little bit. Sometimes older models with mechanical buttons require a little bit more press, whereas newer touch models require synchrony.
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If the screenshot doesn’t work the first time, try pressing the volume button a fraction of a second earlier than the power button – this often helps to avoid locking the screen.
Importantly, this method creates a screenshot at the resolution that is currently displayed on the display, and if you have split-screen mode on, both open apps will be visible in the image.
Setting up and using convenient gestures
For those who are uncomfortable reaching for the side edges of the device or who often use a smartphone with one hand, the developers of Xiaomi have provided control through gestures. This functionality requires pre-activation in the system settings, after which it becomes available at any time.
To enable this option, go to Settings → Additional Features → Screenshot. You need to activate the Three Finger Switch. After that, simply swiping three fingers from top to bottom down the center of the display will result in a screenshot.
- 🖐️ Three fingers down: the standard action to take a regular snapshot of the current screen.
- ⬇️ Three fingers down (holding): if you hold your fingers after holding, a menu of additional actions will open.
- 📱 Adaptability: gesture works even in games and applications with horizontal orientation.
The system also allows you to adjust the sensitivity area or add additional actions for this gesture, for example, you can configure that prolonged retention of three fingers immediately triggers the long screenshot (scroll).
☑️ Checking the gesture settings
It is worth considering that a three-finger gesture may conflict with control in some games where multi-touch commands are used, in which case the system may ignore the gesture or suggest temporarily disabling it for a particular application.
Voice control and Google Assistant
Modern Xiaomi smartphones have powerful voice controls that allow you to take screenshots without touching the screen, which is especially convenient when the user’s hands are busy or dirty, for example, during cooking or repair.
The main tool here is Google Assistant, which is to say "OK, Google" or hold the assistant button for a long time (if it's configured), and then you need to clearly say "Take a screenshot" or "Screenshot" after activation.
The assistant will instantly execute a command, save the image to the gallery, and usually prompt you to share or edit it right away, even on a locked screen if the security settings allow voice commands to be executed.
Secret team for the advanced
In addition, some HyperOS shell models are available to activate via the built-in Xiao AI voice assistant (if it is active and configured in Russian), although Google Assistant remains a more stable solution for Russian-speaking users.
The function of long screenshot and scrolling
One of the most sought-after features in the MIUI ecosystem is the ability to take long screenshots, which allows you to capture the content of a web page, a message in a messenger or a document that does not fit on a single screen.
After you take a normal screenshot (in any of the ways described above), a floating window with a thumbnail appears at the top of the screen, and at the bottom of this window is a button with a down arrow or a Scrolling icon, and you click on it and you automatically scroll through the content.
The system will scroll down the page itself, stitching the frames into a single long image, and the process will stop automatically when it reaches the end of the page, or you can interrupt it manually by touching the screen.
| Parameter | Description | Limitations |
|---|---|---|
| Max. Length. | Up to 100,000 pixels | Depends on the amount of memory |
| Format | PNG (lossless) | The file can be heavy. |
| Annexes | Browsers, Gallery, Chats | Doesn't work in some games |
| Quality. | Full screen resolution | Text remains readable |
It is important to understand that the long screenshot function does not work in applications where content is dynamically loaded and is not a single whole from the point of view of the system, or in secure applications (for example, banking), where the creation of screenshots is prohibited by security policy.
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A long screenshot is not just a gluing of pictures, but a software rendering image of the entire contents of the window, which ensures perfect clarity of the text.
Built-in editor and markup tools
Once you've created a screenshot, it offers you a built-in editor, which is a powerful tool that allows you not only to save the image, but also to prepare it for sending immediately, adding the necessary information.
There's a wide range of tools available in the editor interface, so you can cut the edges, which is especially true for long screenshots, or you can highlight an important part of the image with color markers, and you can use different forms of highlighting: lines, arrows, circles and squares.
- 🎨 Drawing: Free drawing with a finger or stylus in different colors.
- 🔤 Text: Adding text blocks with font and size selection.
- ✂️ Frame: accurate cropping of the image in predetermined proportions.
- 🔒 Data Hiding: The Blurring Tool to Hide Passwords or Personal Data.
One unique feature is the ability to add a watermark with information about the device model and the time of the shot, which is customized in general camera settings or screenshots and automatically applies to all new images.
Once the editing is complete, the image can be immediately sent to the messenger, saved to the Xiaomi Cloud or Google Photos cloud, or saved to the device memory. All changes apply to the copy, the original (if there was no cropping) is usually saved in history or replaced depending on the settings.
Advanced settings and automation
For users who want to make the most of their device, the system offers deep customizations for the screenshot creation process. Settings menu → Additional features → Screenshot hides a lot of useful options.
You can activate the floating window after each shot, which speeds up access to editing, you can also remove the floating window after a certain time so that it does not interfere with the view. For fans of cleanliness in the gallery, the automatic sorting of screenshots into a separate folder is useful.
⚠️ Note: In some versions MIUI There's a "Clear Memory After Screenshot" setting, and if it's activated, the system can force the background applications to release RAM immediately after the image is taken, which can interrupt the download of content.
Integration with cloud services deserves special attention, and with synchronization enabled, screenshots can automatically upload to the cloud, freeing up space on the phone, which is critical for devices with little internal memory.
It’s also worth mentioning the possibility of creating screenshots through third-party apps with access rights, but Xiaomi’s built-in tools are so functional that the need for third-party software is almost eliminated.