How to take a screenshot on Xiaomi Redmi 4X: all ways with explanations

Why can’t you take a screenshot of Redmi 4X?

Xiaomi Redmi 4X (codenamed santoni) is still popular with users due to its reliability and low price, but many people face a problem: standard ways to create screenshots that work on new models may not work here, it’s all about the version of MIUI and the hardware limitations of the budget device.

If you can't take a screenshot, don't be quick to blame the phone. You may be using the wrong method. In this article, we'll look at all the ways you can, including hidden MIUI features, gestures and third-party utilities, and explain why sometimes screenshots are saved to obscure folders or disappear.

The Redmi 4X has a feature that doesn't have a physical Menu button, which makes it difficult to use some combinations, but that doesn't mean that the options are limited.

Method 1: Classic button combination (Power + Volume Down)

The most versatile method that works on 99% of Xiaomi smartphones, including the Redmi 4X.

1. Open the screen you want to capture.
2. Press the power button and the Volume Down button at the same time.
3. Hold them for 1-2 seconds until you hear the shutter sound or see an animation of the screenshot.

⚠️ Attention: On Redmi 4X with worn buttons can only work with 3-4 If the combination doesn't work:

• 🧹 Clean the dust buttons (use a toothpick or a spray of compressed air).
• 🔄 Try pressing with different strengths - sometimes a sharper press helps.
• ⚡ Restart your phone – sometimes system lags block the processing of taps.

Where to look for a saved screenshot? By default, files are in /storage/emulated/0/Pictures/Screenshots/ or /DCIM/Screenshots/. If there is no folder, check Gallery → Albums → Screenshots.

Press Power + Volume Up (Recovery mode should open)

Try to increase/reduce the volume

Make sure the Power button responds to a short press (screen lock)-->

Method 2: Three fingers down gesture (only for MIUI 9 and later)

If your Redmi 4X is running MIUI 9/10/11/12, you can turn on the hidden screenshot function with a gesture, which saves you when the buttons are faulty or uncomfortable to pinch.

How to activate:

1. Go to Settings → Additional → Special features → Three finger gestures.
2. Turn on the switch and select the “Screenshot” action.
3. Check the work: swipe three fingers from top to bottom across the screen.

🔹 Important nuances:

• 📱 The gesture only works on the home screen and in apps, but not in games with sensor lock.
• ⚙️ On some firmware, the option is hidden – you need to first turn on Show system settings (enter settings ##4636 in search of settings##).
• 🔄 If the gesture conflicts with other functions (e.g., a screenshot in the PUBG Mobile, turn it off in the game settings.

⚠️ Attention: On Redmi 4X s MIUI 8 and older, this method doesn't work fundamentally - the gesture only appeared in the 9th version of the shell. MIUI In Settings → The phone.

Method 3: Screenshot button in notification panel

Few people know, but MIUI has a built-in screenshot button that doesn't require remembering combinations. It appears in the Quick Settings Panel (notification curtain).

How to use:

1. Swipe down from the top edge of the screen to open the notification bar.
2. Find the screenshot icon (scissors or a rectangle with lightning). If it's not there, tap the icon. ⚙️ («Edit") and add the button manually.
3. Click on the icon – the phone will immediately take a screenshot.

📌 Pros of the method:

• ⚡ Instant result – no need to remember combinations.
• 🎯 It works 99% of the time, even if the buttons are broken.
• 🔄 You can take a screenshot with one hand (comfortable for large screens).

⚠️ Note: Some custom firmware (e.g. LineageOS) may not have this button, in which case use Method 1 or Method 5 (third-party applications).

Method 4: Voice Assistant (Google Assistant or Alice)

If you're too lazy to remember combinations or gestures, you can take a voice screenshot, which works on all versions of MIUI, but requires pre-tuning.

🔹 Through Google Assistant:

1. Activate the assistant with the “OK, Google” command or by holding the Home button.
2. Say “take a screenshot” or “screenshot”.
3. Confirm the action on the screen (if necessary).

🔹 Through Alice (Yandex):

• 🎤 Open the Yandex app with Alice or say, “Listen, Alice».
• 📸 Take a screenshot on your phone».
• ⚠️ Alice can ask permission to control the screen – confirm in the settings.

⚠️ Attention: Voice commands do not work in games, banking applications and where access to assistants is disabled (for example, in Sberbank Online or Tinkoff.

💡

If the voice assistant doesn’t recognize the command, try saying it differently: “Photograph the screen,” “Save the current screen,” or “Seal the screen” (yes, it works!).

Method 5: The Appendix for Screenshots

If the built-in methods don't work, you can use specialized tools, and they offer advanced features: editing screenshots, recording video from the screen, cloud storage.

📌 Top.-3 supplant 4X:

• ☁️ Screen Master – automatically uploads screenshots to Google Drive.

🔧 How to set up:

1. Download the app from Google Play (links above).

⚠️ Attention: On Redmi 4X s MIUI 8 Some apps may require root permission to work. If you don't want to take risks, use Screenshot Easy, it works without additional permissions.

💡

The app side is useful if you need advanced features (like screenshots of scrolling pages or automatic cropping), but for conventional screenshots, built-in methods will suffice.

What to do if screenshots are not saved?

Sometimes screenshots are taken, but disappear or are stored in an unknown place.

🔹 Problem 1: Screenshots don't appear in the gallery

• 🔍 Check the folder. /Pictures/Screenshots/ through any file manager (e.g., Mi File Explorer).
• 🔄 Restart your phone – sometimes the gallery doesn’t update the library.
• 📁 Install QuickPic app – it shows all hidden folders.

🔹 Problem 2: Files are saved in.png format but not opened

• 🖼️ Try to open them through Google Photos or Xiaomi Gallery.
• 🔧 If the file is corrupted, check the free space on the phone (need a minimum of 500 MB).
• 🛠️ Install the PicsArt app – it often opens “broken” screenshots.

🔹 Problem 3: After screenshot, the phone freezes

• 🧹 Clear the system cache: Settings → Annexes → All applications → Settings (⚙️) → Clear the cache.
• 🔋 Check the battery power at a level below 15% MIUI It can block the storage of files.
• 📲 Reset the settings of the Gallery app: Settings → Annexes → gallery → Warehouse → Drop it.

If nothing helps, try taking a screenshot in another way (e.g., Method 3 or Method 5).

FAQ: Frequent questions about screenshots on Redmi 4X