How to take a screenshot on a Xiaomi laptop: all ways with pictures

Why screenshots on Xiaomi laptops are different from other brands

Xiaomi laptops are not just copies of Lenovo or HP devices. Under the hood they have proprietary firmware MIUI for PC (on some models), which adds unique features on top of the standard Windows 10/11. This means that the classic methods of creating screenshots here may work differently — or not at all. For example, on RedmiBook Pro 15 2023, the PrtSc button by default activates not saving in the buffer, but instantly opening the Xiaomi Screen Recorder editor.

Another feature is that some Xiaomi models have disabled the default PNG screenshot saving feature (instead, a lossy JPG) to save disk space, but can be annoying for designers or gamers. Fortunately, you can fix this in the system settings. In this article, we will look at all the working methods, from standard hotkeys to hidden functions that are not even written about in the official instructions.

Method 1: Hot keys are the fastest method

Most Xiaomi laptops (including the Mi Notebook Pro series, RedmiBook 14/15/16 and Mi Gaming Laptop) run standard keyboard shortcuts for screenshots.

• 🔹 PrtSc (Print Screen) – copies the entire screen to the clipboard (you need to insert into Paint or Word to save). On some Xiaomi models, this button is programmatically reassigned to call the screen recording utility.
• 🔹 Win + PrtSc – saves a screenshot directly to the folder C:\Users\User name\Pictures\Screenshots (format PNG). It works on all Xiaomi laptops running Windows 10/11.
• 🔹 Alt + PrtSc – only copies the active window (useful for multitasking).
• 🔹 Win + Shift + S – Calls the Scissors tool for selective screenshot (works even if PrtSc is reassigned).

If the combinations don’t work, check:

1. Is the PrtSc key disabled in the BIOS (rarely, but it happens on models with MIUI for PC).
2. Does the combination conflict with keyboard drivers (update them via Mi PC Suite).
3. Are there third-party utilities like ShareX or Lightshot that can block standard pairings?

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi laptops with a US-layout keyboard (such as Mi Notebook Air 12.5), the PrtSc button may be in an unexpected place – next to the keyboard. F12 Or even require you to press Fn. Look at the icons on the keys!

Method 2: Branded utility Xiaomi Screen Recorder

On laptops with MIUI for PC preinstalled (such as the RedmiBook Pro 15 2022 or Mi Notebook Enhanced Edition), there is a built-in program to record screenshots and take screenshots.

• 🖥️ Press PrtSc (unless reassigned).
• 🖥️ Through the notification panel (the icon "Screen recording").
• 🖥️ Search the Start menu for Xiaomi Screen Recorder".

The interface of the utility is simple:

1. Select the screenshot mode (second icon on the left).
2. Hover over the screen area, it will be illuminated with a green frame.
3. Press the left mouse button to take a picture.
4. The screenshot will automatically be saved to C:\Users\Username\Pictures\Xiaomi Screenshots.

The advantage of this method: screenshots are saved in high resolution (up to the end of the day). 3840×2160 model 4K-Displays), and the editor has tools for blurring personal data or adding arrows. CS2 block its launch).

Close the extra windows.|Check the free space on the C disk|Turn off the "Do Not Disturb" modes"|Set up the save format (PNG/JPG)-->

Method 3: Scissors Tool in Windows

If Xiaomi’s proprietary methods don’t work, you can always use the Windows-built Scissors Tool, which works on all Xiaomi laptops, including older models like the 2016 Mi Notebook Air 13.3.

How to open it:

• 🔍 Search the Start menu (enter "Scissors").
• 🔍 Win hotkeys + Shift + S (instant call).
• 🔍 Through Launch. → All programmes → Standard. → Scissors.

Functions of the instrument:

• 📸 Arbitrary form – draw the area with a mouse.
• 📸 Rectangle - Standard sample screenshot.
• 📸 The window captures the active window of the program.
• 📸 The whole screen is analogous to PrtSc.

Once you have created a screenshot, it is copied to the clipboard and suggested to save manually. Tip: if you need to take a series of screenshots (for example, for the instructions), turn on the delay mode in the tool settings (up to 5 seconds), this will open drop-down menus or contextual prompts that disappear when you hover the cursor.

Method 4: Keyboard shortcuts for gamers and professionals

If you use a Xiaomi laptop for gaming (Mi Gaming Laptop) or graphics, standard methods may be uncomfortable.

• 🎮 Win + Alt + PrtSc – Takes a screenshot of the games (saves in Video) → Capture only works in apps from the Microsoft Store or with Xbox Game Bar support.
• 🎮 Steam + F12 — If the game is running via Steam, the screenshot will be saved to the cloud and disk.
• 🖥️ Ctrl + PrtSc – on some Xiaomi models, this combination saves a screenshot in OneDrive (if sync is enabled).
• 📊 Win + G – opens the Xbox Game Bar, where there is a screenshot button (works even outside of games).

It is useful for designers and programmers to know:

• 💻 In Photoshop or Figma, you can set up an automatic opening of a new document when you press PrtSc through plugins.
• 💻 In Visual Studio Code, screenshots of the code are conveniently done through the CodeSnap extension (saves with syntax highlighting).

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi laptops with a discrete graphics card NVIDIA (For example, RedmiBook Pro 15 RTX 4050 Screenshots in games are better done through GeForce Experience (Alt) + F1). This will allow you to save the frame in the original resolution without compression.

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If screenshots in games turn out to be dark, turn off the HDR setting in the graphics settings or reduce the brightness in the NVIDIA Control Panel.

Method 5: Third-party programs for enhanced capabilities

If built-in tools aren't enough, consider specialized programs that are particularly useful for:

• 📝 Create screenshots with long pages scrolling (e.g. websites).
• 🎨 Automatic addition of watermarks or logos.
• 📤 Instantly upload screenshots to the cloud (Google Drive, Dropbox).
• 🔄 Package renaming and compression of screenshots.

Top.-3 Xiaomi laptop programs:

For Xiaomi laptops with a touch screen (for example, Mi Notebook Pro X 15), we recommend PicPick – it supports screenshots with pen and gestures. And if you want maximum privacy, use Greenshot (does not send data to the cloud).

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Third-party programs may conflict with Xiaomi’s proprietary utilities. Before installing, disable Xiaomi Screen Recorder in autoboot (via Task Manager).

Problem Solving: Screenshots are not saved or are obtained in black

If screenshots are not created or saved with artifacts, check out the following points:

• 🔧 Video card drivers: Update them through Mi PC Suite or official website NVIDIA/Intel. Xiaomi laptops often use hybrid graphics solutions (Intel Iris Xe) + NVIDIA MX/RTX), Older drivers can block screen capture.
• 🔧 Access Rights: Run the screenshot program on behalf of the administrator (right-click on the shortcut) → "Launch on behalf of the administrator").
• 🔧 Program Conflict: Close background applications like Discord, Zoom, or OBS Studio – They can block screen capture.
• 🔧 Energy saving settings: In the Control Panel → Select High Performance mode – this will solve the problem with black screenshots in games.

If screenshots are saved but not opened, check:

• File format (try saving to PNG instead of JPG).
• System File Integrity: Run at Command Prompt (Win + R → cmd → Enter): sfc /scannow dism /online /cleanup-image /restorehealth
• Antivirus: temporarily disable Windows Defender or third-party antivirus (sometimes they block file retention).

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi laptops with displays OLED (Mi Notebook Pro X 14: Screenshots may be too dark due to technology DC Dimming or Adaptive Brightness. disable them in the screen settings (Settings) → System system → Screen).

FAQ: Frequent questions about screenshots on Xiaomi