Xiaomi device owners often face the need to capture the contents of the display, whether it is saving important correspondence, fixing a bug in the system or creating instructions for a colleague. The Chinese brand’s laptops running the Windows operating system offer many built-in mechanisms for this task that do not require the installation of additional software. Understanding these features saves time and avoids confusion with the clipboard.
Microsoft Windows standard operating system tools work on Mi Notebook and RedmiBook laptops just like they do on any other technology, but specific keyboard layout and proprietary utilities can make their own adjustments. In this article, we will discuss in detail which key combinations work by default, how to use the built-in editor and where to look for saved files.
Screenshots are a basic skill that needs to be honed to automatism. Regardless of your laptop model, whether it’s a Xiaomi Mi Notebook Air or a powerful RedmiBook Pro, the way things work remains the same. However, knowing the nuances helps avoid common mistakes, such as keeping the format incorrect or losing image quality when compressed by the system.
Use of built-in Windows hotkeys
The fastest way to get a screen image is by using keyboard shortcuts. On Xiaomi laptops, the Print Screen key (often referred to as PrtSc) is usually located in the top row, right, next to the F12 or Delete key. Pressing this button copies the current image to the clipboard, but does not create a file right away. This is a classic method that works 100% of the time if the system is not got stuck.
To manage the process more advanced, you should use the Win + Print Screen bundle. When you press these keys, the laptop screen will go out for a split second, which signals successful saving. The file is automatically sent to the Images → Screenshots folder (or Screenshots), which is ideal for those who need to quickly save a series of screenshots without later inserting into the graphics editor.
If you only need to capture the active window, not the entire desktop, use the Alt + Print Screen combination. This method is especially useful when working with documents or dialog boxes, where unnecessary details in the background can be distracting. The image will also get into the clipboard, and you will need to paste it into the desired document using the Ctrl + V command.
- 📸 Print Screen – Copy the entire screen into a clipboard.
- 💾 Win + Print Screen – Takes a picture and immediately saves it to a file.
- 🪟 Alt + Print Screen – Only copies the active window.
Scissors Tool and Screen Fragmentation
The Windows 10 and Windows 11 operating system installed on Xiaomi laptops offers a powerful built-in tool called the Snipping Tool. To run it, just press the Win + Shift + S combination. The screen will darken and the cursor will turn into a cross, allowing you to highlight an arbitrary area, which is much more convenient than taking a screenshot of the entire screen and then cropping it.
Once the area is selected, the notification will appear in the lower right corner of the screen, and if you click on it, the editor will open where you can take notes, crop or apply filters. In newer versions of Windows, this tool also knows how to recognize text in an image (OCR), which allows you to copy text from the screenshot directly to the clipboard, bypassing the manual reprinting step.
⚠️ Attention: If the combination of Win + Shift + S is not working, check notification settings. In some Windows builds, notifications from Scissors may be hidden, and you won’t see a preview of the shot taken, although it will remain in the buffer.
It is important to note the functionality of the Fragment and Sketch mode. Unlike a simple PrtSc button, this tool allows you to choose the form of selection: rectangle, arbitrary shape, window or full screen. For Mi Notebook users who often work with tables or code, the ability to select Window mode allows you to automatically capture only the desired program, ignoring the taskbar and background.
The Secret Combination for Gamers
Specificity of the Xiaomi keyboard and Fn-key
Xiaomi and RedmiBook notebook keyboards have a compact layout where some function keys can be combined. In rare cases, especially on older models or in specific regional versions, it may be necessary to press the Fn key to activate the screen printing function. This is usually the case for models where the PrtSc key is combined with another function, such as brightness control or sound control.
If a standard Print Screen press fails, try the Fn + Print Screen combination. Also, some Mi Notebook models have a situation where the PrtSc key works like an Insert without the Fn clamped. In this case, the full screenshot set will look like Fn + PrtSc. This depends on how the BIOS or keyboard drivers are configured in a particular version of the device.
You can check the behavior of the keys in any text editor. Press a suspicious combination, and then paste the content (Ctrl + V. If you insert an image, you guessed it. If you insert text or nothing happens, try other options. On Xiaomi laptops, the Fn key is most often used to switch the modes of operation of the F1-F12 keys, but it can also affect the navigation unit.
- 🔍 Check the characters on the keys: sometimes PrtSc is written in small print.
- ⌨️ Try Fn. + PrtSc if the normal pressing does not work.
- 🔄 Use an on-screen keyboard to diagnose hardware problems».
Use of the Mi Assistant Toolbar
A unique feature of Xiaomi laptops is the presence of pre-installed software Mi Assistant (or Xiaomi PC Manager).Although the main function of this utility is system optimization and driver updates, in some versions of firmware it can offer additional tools for working with the screen, especially in conjunction with Xiaomi smartphones.
The Screen Mirroring feature in the Xiaomi ecosystem allows not only displaying an image from your phone to your laptop, but also taking screenshots of a mobile device directly from your laptop keyboard. The Mi Assist app requires you to connect your phone via Wi-Fi or USB. Once connected, a screenshot button will appear in the interface, which will save the image from your phone to your laptop memory.
It’s worth noting that advanced features require authorization in your Mi Account, which synchronizes the clipboard between devices: you can take a screenshot on your phone and paste it on your laptop, and vice versa. This deep integration sets Xiaomi apart from the competition and makes crossword puzzles much easier.
Third-party programs for advanced users
Windows built-in tools are often not enough for professionals who need automatic saving, hosting or complex annotations. Xiaomi laptop owners are great for lightweight programs that do not conflict with proprietary drivers. One of the most popular is Lightshot, which replaces the standard PrtSc key processing.
Another powerful tool is ShareX. It's an open source software that allows you to create not only static images, but also static images. GIF-screen animations, which are useful for creating instructions or showing bugs. AMD, Installed in the Mi Notebook, these programs work without delay and do not cause heating of the case.
When installing third-party software, it is important to keep track of which hotkeys it intercepts. Often new programs conflict with Windows system combinations. In Lightshot or Snagit settings, you can reassign the call key to, for example, F10 or F11, so that there is no confusion with standard system behavior.
⚠️ Note: Download screenshots only from official developer sites. Unverified versions may contain miners that will load the Xiaomi laptop processor and cause a quick battery drain.
Where to look for saved screenshots and work with formats
Once you have created a screenshot, it is important to know where to look. If you have used the Win key method, the files are saved along the way: This computer → Images → Screenshots (or C:\Users\Username\Pictures\Screenshots). The files are usually in a PNG format that provides high quality without data loss, which is critical for text and diagrams.
If you just clicked on Print Screen, the image is in RAM (clipboard). To save it, you need to open any graphics editor (Paint, Photoshop) or word processor (Word) and press Ctrl + V. After that, you need to explicitly save the file through the File → Save as menu by selecting the desired format and space on the disk.
The file format matters. For screenshots of text, program interfaces and web pages, PNG is the best fit. It supports transparency and does not create compression artifacts. The JPG format is best used only for photos, as it compresses the file more strongly, but can blur clear boundaries of letters and interface elements.
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Tip: When saving screenshots with sensitive information (passwords, personal data), always check the metadata of the file. EXIF-Data, the habit of checking content before sending will never be superfluous.
| Method | Hot keys | Wherever it stays | Default format |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screen copying | PrtSc | buffer | No (in memory) |
| File retention | Win + PrtSc | Screenshots folder | PNG |
| Active window | Alt + PrtSc | buffer | No (in memory) |
| Scissors | Win + Shift + S | Buffer/Notification | PNG/Copy |
Frequent problems and their solution
Sometimes Xiaomi laptop users are faced with a situation where screenshots stop saving or keys do not respond. Often the cause lies in a crowded clipboard or a failure of the explorer.exe process. In this case, a simple reboot of the laptop helps. It is also worth checking whether the service “Bupher” in the Windows privacy settings is disabled.
Another common problem is the low resolution screenshots on high-pixel density (2K, 4K) screens, which are common in Mi Notebook Pro models. If the image looks blurry when viewed on another device, make sure that Windows zoom settings (usually 125% or 150%) do not tick “Allow Windows to fix blurring.”
If the PrtSc key is physically stuck or stopped working, you can temporarily use the on-screen keyboard. To call it, press Win + R, type in the osk command and press Enter. On the keyboard that appears, you can click on the PrtScn button with your mouse, and the system will execute the command.
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Main conclusion: For fast work, use Win + Print Screen, for editing - Win + Shift + S, and for working with mobile devices Xiaomi - the proprietary Mi Assistant application.