Modern Xiaomi smartphones, which run MIUI shells or the new HyperOS, provide users with the widest tools to interact with content. One of the basic but critical features is the ability to capture the image displayed on the display. This operation is necessary to save correspondence, screenshots of errors, game achievements or interesting moments from social networks. However, depending on the device model and software version, the algorithm of actions can differ, which often raises questions from beginners.
In this article, we will discuss in detail all the existing methods of creating screenshots on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones. You will learn not only about the classic combinations of buttons, but also about advanced features such as creating long screenshots, voice control and automation through Three Fingers. Understanding these nuances will allow you to maximize the potential of your gadget without the need to install third-party software.
Before we get to the point, Android is a highly flexible setup system, which means that even if one method is unavailable or inconvenient for some reason, you can always switch to the alternative, and the key is to know where to look for the right switches in the settings menu.
Classical Method: A Combination of Physical Buttons
The most common and versatile method that works on 99% of Android smartphones, including all Xiaomi models, is to use a physical key combination. This method requires no pre-tuning and is available immediately after the device is turned on, and you need to press the volume button and the lock button simultaneously to implement it.
It is important to keep the timing right: pressing should be short-term, almost instantaneous. If you hold your finger on the buttons for longer than one second, the system can perceive this as a command to call the off menu or reboot, which is standard behavior for MIUI. So train to do a light, fast pump.
- 📱 Place your right thumb on the side of the side where the lock button is located.
- 🔊 Find the volume buttons (usually just below) and prepare your left hand finger.
- ⚡ Press both buttons at the same time and quickly, then release them immediately.
- 📸 The screen blinks and you will hear the characteristic shutter sound of the camera confirming the successful preservation.
This is especially useful when the phone is in a case with protective sides, and touch gestures may not work correctly. In addition, physical feedback gives a 100% guarantee that the command was sent to the system. Visual confirmation in the form of a reduced copy of the screenshot that appears in the corner of the screen indicates that the file is saved to the folder Gallery → Screenshots.
⚠️ Note: On some models with curved edges of the screen (for example, the Mi Note series or the flagship Mi), pressing buttons can be difficult with the design of the case.
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If you have a thumb or a wide-screen phone, try pressing the volume button first, and a split second later, the power button, which will help avoid accidentally calling the off menu.
Use of touch gestures (Three fingers)
MIUI is famous for its unique control features, and one of the most popular is to swipe screenshots with three fingers, a method that is much more convenient to use with one hand or in situations where the phone is lying on the table, but by default, this feature is often disabled and must be activated manually.
To enable the option, go to the Settings menu, then select the Additional (or Advanced Settings) section and find the buttons and gestures. Inside this menu, there will be a three-finger Screenshot option. Once the slider is activated, the system will respond to a vertical swipe down with three fingers in the center of the screen.
It is worth noting that the sensitivity of the touchscreen can vary depending on the protective glass that is glued. If the gesture is performed correctly, but the system does not respond, try to increase the speed of the swipe or use a moisturizer for the hands, as dry skin conducts the current required for the capacitive screen to work worse.
- 🖐️ Place three fingers (usually large, index and middle) at the top of the screen.
- ⬇️ Swipe them down diagonally or vertically to the bottom edge of the display.
- ✅ Make sure your fingers touch the screen at the same time, otherwise the gesture won’t work.
This method is especially relevant for owners of large smartphones such as the Redmi Note or Xiaomi 14 Ultra, where it can be physically difficult to reach the volume buttons, and it allows you to take screenshots without changing the grip of the device, which is convenient when reading books or watching videos.
⚠️ Warning: The three-finger gesture may conflict with other features, such as one-handed mode or special features. If the screenshot fails, check if other controls are enabled.
☑️ Checking the gesture settings
Control Panel and menu "More"
If physical buttons are damaged and gestures are not convenient, you can always use the software interface. MIUI and HyperOS have a built-in quick action menu that is called by swipe from the top right corner of the screen down (or from the left, depending on the control settings).
In the unfurled notification and switch curtain, find an icon with a picture of scissors or a rectangle. Clicking on it instantly creates a screenshot of the current screen. If you don't see this button in the first row, click on the three dots or edit button (usually a pencil) at the top of the curtain to add a "Screenshot" shortcut to a prominent place.
An alternative path through the “More” menu (three dots in the corner of the screen) is available in many system applications, such as the Mi Browser browser or gallery. However, in third-party applications, such as Telegram or Instagram, this method may not be available, as it depends on the support of a particular application for the Xiaomi system menus.
| Method | Speed. | Convenience | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buttons | Tall. | Average. | Always. |
| Three fingers. | Tall. | High. | After setting up |
| Control panel | Low. | Low. | Always. |
| Voice. | Medium | High. | If there is a network |
The use of software buttons is also useful if one of the physical buttons is locked or double-clicked, allowing you to temporarily bypass the hardware malfunction before repair.
Hidden capabilities of the control panel
Voice control via Google Assistant
For those who prefer to minimize tactile contact with the screen, voice control is ideal. Google Assistant, which is deeply integrated into the Android system, can take screenshots on a voice command, which is especially useful when the user's hands are busy or dirty.
To take advantage of this method, make sure the phone is turned on Google Assistant and set to start with the phrase "Ok Google" or "Hey Google." Then just say the command: "Take a screenshot" or "Take a screenshot." The system automatically captures the current image and saves it.
This requires an active internet connection, as voice queries are often processed on Google servers, and in some regions or in certain interface languages, commands may sound different, so it’s worth experimenting with the wording.
- 🎙️ Activate the assistant with a voice or long press of the power button.
- 🗣️ Say the command “Take a screenshot” clearly».
- 📲 Wait for visual confirmation and sound.
The advantage of the method is that it works even in games or full-screen applications, where a three-finger swipe can be blocked by the app developer.
⚠️ Warning: When using a voice assistant in quiet places (library, meeting) be careful as the phone can loudly voice a response or beep, attracting the attention of others.
The function "Long screenshot" (scrolling)
One of the most sought-after features in the Xiaomi ecosystem is the creation of long screenshots, or “scrollshots,” which lets you capture the entire page of a website, long correspondence in a messenger or a whole document by combining multiple screens into one vertical image.
Once you've taken a regular screenshot (in any of the ways described above), the thumbnail will appear in the upper right corner. Click on it to open the editing menu. At the bottom of the screen, you'll see a button that says Scrolling or an icon with two arrows down. Click on it and the screen will automatically scroll down to capture new content.
The process will stop automatically when it reaches the end of the page, or you can interrupt it manually by pressing the stop button, which is the perfect tool for saving checks, articles and correspondence that don't fit on a single screen.
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The long screenshot function automatically “stitches” the images, removing the joints, but the quality of the text can decrease slightly with strong compression of the final file.
For example, in some banking applications or DRM-protected content (Netflix), screenshots can be blocked for security purposes and you will see a black screen instead of an image.
Configure and manage through the Security menu
All settings associated with screenshots can be centrally managed through the system application Security (green icon with shield), which is pre-installed on all Xiaomi smartphones. Here you can not only enable gestures, but also configure the scope, save formats and even clear the thumbnail cache.
Inside the app, go to Settings (cogs) and find the subsection associated with the screen or memory. There are sometimes additional options hidden here, such as the quality of screenshot compression or the default save path. Changing the save path is especially important if the main memory of the phone is full.
You can also find information on how much space your screenshots take up and quickly remove duplicates, and MIUI can analyze the contents of the gallery and suggest cleaning similar images, which helps free up gigabytes of space.
- 🛡️ Open the Security app».
- ⚙️ Go to the settings and select “Memory” or “Screen».
- 🗑️ Use a cleaning tool to remove old screenshots.
Regularly checking these settings helps keep the system clean and ensures that your new screenshots will be saved correctly and won’t take up extra space in the cloud when synchronized.