Modern Xiaomi smartphones, and Xiaomi Mi 9 in particular, offer many ways to capture what is happening on the screen. Users often search for the answer to the question of how to make a screen on the shaomi 9 to save correspondence, an interesting moment from the game or important information from the article. Owners of the flagships of 2019 release can use both classic keyboard combinations and advanced gestures of the MIUI shell.
Understanding all the methods available saves time and interacts with the device as efficiently as possible. Some methods require pre-activation on the menu, others work out of the box. Below we will discuss in detail each option for taking screenshots so that you can choose the most convenient one for yourself.
Use of physical buttons and system gestures
The fastest and most common way for many to create a screenshot is to press two physical buttons at the same time. On the side of the Xiaomi Mi 9 are the volume and power buttons. To get a picture, you need to press them simultaneously and release them.
It's important not to hold the buttons for long, otherwise you'll have a shutdown menu or a voice assistant instead of a screenshot, a light tap and a short tap are enough, the system instantly responds to the action with a shutter sound and vibration, and a successful capture notification appears at the top of the screen.
An alternative to mechanical buttons is a three-finger swipe. This feature is often turned on by default, but if it doesn't work, it's worth checking the settings. Swipe three fingers from top to bottom down the center of the screen to take a picture.
⚠️ Note: A three-finger gesture may conflict with other actions in some apps or games.If a screenshot is not taken, try moving your fingers closer to the center of the display.
To activate the three-finger gesture, go to the optional settings section, where you can not only turn on the function, but also select an action for it if the default is something else, which allows you to flexibly configure the control of one touch.
The use of physical buttons guarantees results even when the touchscreen reacts incorrectly due to contamination or protective film, while gestures provide comfort when the phone is lying on the table or holding with one hand.
Setup and control through the notification curtain
The MIUI shell provides easy access to the screenshot function through the control center. Swipe from top to bottom to open the notification curtain, and find the corresponding icon there. It can be called "Screenshot" or have a scissor icon.
If the icon you want isn't in quick access, you can add it. Click on the edit icon (usually a pencil or a gear in the corner of the curtain) and drag the Screenshot button into the active zone, which eliminates the need to reach for the buttons on the case.
The curtain is especially useful when you want to take a screenshot of a dialog or a page where it's important not to overlay the content with your fingers. You open the menu, you select the tool, and the screen is fixed instantly.
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Add the screenshot button to the very top of the notification curtain so it’s always on hand, even if many other switches are open.
In some versions of the firmware, you can run through the curtain not just a static shot, but a screen recording mode or a long screenshot, which extends the functionality of the standard tool.
Creating long screenshots (scrolling)**
Often, a single screen isn’t enough to capture the entire text or article, and the Xiaomi Mi 9 has a “Long Screenshot” or “Scroll” feature, and after you create a normal shot, a thumbnail appears in the corner.
Click the "Scroll" button below the thumbnail. The smartphone will automatically scroll down, taking a series of shots and gluing them together into one long picture. The process will stop when you touch the screen or reach the end of the page.
- 📱 Perfect for keeping long dialogs in messengers.
- 📄 Convenient for copying articles and instructions from websites.
- 💬 Allows you to save the history of transactions in banking applications.
The quality of the final image depends on the original screen resolution of the Mi 9, which is 2340×1080 pixels. Long screenshots can take up more space in memory, so watch for free space.
⚠️ Note: When creating a long screenshot, don’t touch the screen or switch apps, otherwise the process will interrupt and you will get a cropped image.
The finished file is saved in the gallery as a normal photo, but marked as a panorama or a long shot, and can be edited by cutting off the extra edges or highlighting important areas.
Voice control and additional methods
Xiaomi Mi 9 owners can use the voice assistant to take screenshots, which is true when hands are busy or the device is in a difficult position, just say “take a screenshot” or activate Google Assistant.
Voice control requires that the microphone be active and the system language match the commands, and in the MIUI settings, you can find the Voice Control section, where you specify specific trigger phrases.
Another method is to use a stylus if it's connected, although the Mi 9 doesn't have native support for an active pen bundled, some Bluetooth stylus can emulate taps.
Hidden Features of the Developer Menu
Some third-party apps from Google Play offer advanced features, such as taking screenshots by shaking your phone or on schedule. However, Xiaomi's built-in tools tend to be staid and faster.
Where to look and how to edit saved photos
All images are automatically saved to the gallery, and the Gallery app has a separate album called Screenshots, where files are sorted by date of creation, making it easier to search.
The file system stores this data along the /MIUI/screenshots/ path in internal memory, and knowing this path, you can quickly find files through the file manager and send them to the mail or messenger.
| Parameter | Meaning/Description |
|---|---|
| File format | PNG (without loss of quality) |
| Permission | 2340×1080 (Full HD+) |
| The Way to Memory | Internal memory / MIUI / screenshots |
| Editorial | Built into the gallery |
The built-in editor allows you to perform basic operations: framing, overlaying text, drawing with a marker, which is convenient if you need to hide confidential information before sending a screenshot to the interlocutor.
You can also use a preview of a screenshot to immediately start text recognition (OCR) or search through an image via Google Lens, which turns a screenshot from a simple picture into a working tool.
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Automatic saving in PNG format ensures that the text on the screenshot remains clear and readable even after compression in messengers.
The solution: why the screenshot doesn't work
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where a screenshot is not created, which may be due to security restrictions in certain applications, such as banking clients or when viewing content in incognito mode.
In such cases, the screen may simply blink, but the file will not save, or a notice will appear to ban, which is normal behavior of the Android data protection system and MIUI, which cannot be circumvented by standard methods.
- 🔒 Check if the photo-taking app is blocked in the privacy settings.
- 💾 Make sure there is free space in the memory on the device.
- 🔄 Rebooting a smartphone can solve temporary software failures.
If the problem occurs in all applications, the system file responsible for the screenshot service may be damaged, in which case resetting settings or updating the firmware to the current version will help.
⚠️ Warning: Attempts to install modified versions of the system to bypass bank security could result in account locks or loss of money.
☑️ Checking before contacting the service
Configuring the quality and format parameters
Some firmware versions can customize the format of stored images. Standard is PNG, which provides high quality but takes up more space. Some users prefer JPG for space saving.
The format change is available through hidden settings or special camera apps, but for screenshots, the PNG system format is optimal because it better retains the clarity of small fonts and interface elements.
Also worth paying attention to is the screen resolution. In Settings → About Phone → All specs can be seen with the current resolution. If it is changed by the user to save battery, screenshots will be taken in reduced resolution.
Use of third-party apps for screenshots
If standard functionality isn’t enough, Google Play offers a variety of alternatives, with apps like Screenshot Easy or Super Screenshot allowing you to take timer, late or batch shots.
These utilities often have built-in editors and the ability to download to the cloud immediately after creation, which can be useful for automating workflows.
However, installing third-party software requires broad permissions, including access to all screen content, which poses potential data breach risks, so use such applications with caution.