Screenshots are one of the most basic but critical features of a modern smartphone. Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco devices often look for quick ways to capture information on the display, whether it is correspondence, an error in the application or just a beautiful picture. The standard method, which works on the vast majority of models, including old and new versions of the operating system, is tied to physical interaction with the device body.
Traditionally, this is a combination of volume and lock keys, but depending on the version of the MIUI shell or the new HyperOS, as well as regional settings, the algorithm of actions can have its own nuances. In this article, we will discuss in detail the classic method, consider alternatives in case of breakage of buttons and answer frequent questions that arise from users.
It's important to understand that physical wear and tear on buttons is an inevitable process. By knowing all the ways to create screenshots, you can effectively manage the content on the screen, even in emergency situations, when one of the buttons stops responding to clicks. Let's move from theory to practice.
Classic method: combination of volume and power buttons
The most reliable and time-tested method, running on 99% of Android devices, including the Xiaomi ecosystem. The mechanics of the process are simple and do not require adjustment: you need to simultaneously press two specific buttons, usually a Volume Down button and a Power button.
The key to success is that you can synchronize your pressing, and if you press buttons that are even a fraction of a second late, the system can think of it as two separate actions: turn on the screen and change the volume. So try to press them sharply and simultaneously. You don't have to hold them for long -- just a short-term click, like a click, but a little longer.
Once you've done the action, you'll hear the characteristic shutter sound of the camera (if the sound is on), and the screen will blink for a split second. In the upper right or left corner, a thumbnail of the shot will appear. If that hasn't happened, try changing the rhythm of pressing or the pressure of the buttons.
☑️ Algorithm for creating a screenshot
It is worth noting that on some models with a side fingerprint scanner, the power button is combined with the sensor. This does not change the logic of the operation, but requires a more confident press so that the sensor does not perceive the touch as an attempt to unlock, and the system registers the Power + Volume command.
Alternative methods: menu, gestures and voice
If physical buttons are locked or in an uncomfortable place, MIUI offers a few convenient software counterparts that do not require mechanical action on the body and can be even faster than the classical method for users accustomed to certain scenarios.
The first option is to use the "Curtains" menu, swipe from the top right corner of the screen down to open the control center, and find an icon with a picture of a scissor or a camera, which is called "Screenshot," and clicking on it instantly takes a picture of the current screen.
💡
If you do not find the screenshot icon in the curtain, click on the pencil (edit) in the corner of the panel and drag the desired icon from the list of available to the active area.
The second popular method is Three Finger, which allows you to take a screenshot by simply swiping three fingers from top to bottom across the screen. To activate the option, go to Settings → Advanced Settings → Screenshots (or Additional → Screenshots) and turn on the Three Finger Screenshot switch.
The third way is for those who like voice control, and if you have Google Assistant or Xiao AI activated, just say, "OK, Google, take a screenshot," or "Take a screenshot." The system will execute a command without touching the buttons, which is especially convenient when your hands are busy or dirty.
Screenshot settings in MIUI and HyperOS
Xiaomi's shells are known for their flexibility, and the screenshot settings section is no exception, where you can not only turn on or off features, but also customize the behavior of the system after you create a picture, which allows you to significantly speed up the workflow.
In the screenshot settings menu (Settings → Additional → Screenshots), you can find the Quick Access option, which allows you to call the screenshot menu with a swipe down with three fingers at any point on the screen, which allows you to access not only the full picture, but also to highlight the area or record video from the screen.
It also configures the format of the stored files. It's used by default. JPG, But for maximum quality, you can choose PNG. Please note that PNG-files take up more space in memory, but do not lose quality when compressed, which is important for screenshots with text or graphics.
Another useful setting is previews, so you can choose whether the thumbnail will appear after the shot, and how long it will hang on the screen, and if you take a series of screenshots in a row, you can set the preview cover up so that it doesn't overshadow the view.
Long screenshot: how to capture the entire page
Often, you need to save not one screen, but a whole page of the site, long correspondence in the messenger or news feed. the function “Long Screenshot” (Long Screenshot) in MIUI implemented brilliantly and allows you to stitch several screens into one long picture.
Once you have created a normal screenshot (by button or gesture), a button with a down arrow or a Scrolling icon will appear in the top corner of the thumbnail, and you will click on it, and the system will automatically scroll down to capture new areas.
The process will stop automatically when it reaches the end of the page, or you can stop it manually by touching the screen, and the resulting running screenshot will be saved as a single image, an indispensable tool for saving checks, tickets or articles.
| Parameter | Description | Where to find out. |
|---|---|---|
| File format | JPG (compressed) or PNG (quality) | Settings → Screenshots |
| Three-finger gesture | On/off finger-toeing | Settings → Additional |
| Shutter sound | On/Off sound accompaniment | Settings → Sound and vibration |
| Cleaning up memory | Removing screenshots during cleaning | Safety → Cleanup |
💡
A long screenshot is automatically cropped by the system if dynamic elements are encountered on the page that change during scrolling.
Editing and markup immediately after creation
Xiaomi devices have a powerful built-in image editor. Once you've taken a screenshot, you don't have to save it as it is. Click on the thumbnail that appears, and the editing interface opens, where tools for quick annotation are available.
Here you can cut edges, add text, arrows, highlight important areas with a marker, or even blur sensitive data (the Magic feature or retouch tools) and send a ready-made, informative picture without resorting to third-party applications.
The text recognition (OCR) feature deserves special attention, and in some versions of MIUI, the system can automatically highlight text in a screenshot, allowing you to copy or translate it, which turns a screenshot from just a picture into a working tool.
⚠️ Note: When using online text recognition or translation services inside the editor, make sure that the screenshot does not contain sensitive information (passwords, card numbers) that can be sent to the handler’s servers.
Where to look for saved screenshots
Once you've created the image, the system automatically saves it to the gallery. The standard path in the Android file system looks like this. /internal_storage/DCIM/Screenshots or /internal_storage/Pictures/Screenshots. In the appendix "Gallery" for them a separate album is allocated.
If you use cloud services like Google Photos or Xiaomi Cloud, screenshots can automatically sync, which is convenient for access from other devices, but it is worth keeping an eye on the amount of free space in the cloud.
To quickly access the latest images, you can use the recent widget on your desktop or access the favorites section in the gallery if you have marked important screenshots with an asterisk, which will save time when searching for the information you need.
Hidden folders of screenshots
Frequent problems and their solution
Despite the system's fine-tuning, users may encounter situations where screenshots are not created, often due to software constraints, such as in bank applications, secure video players (Netflix, Kinopoisk) or incognito browsers, screenshots are blocked for security and copyright protection.
In these cases, you'll see either a black screen instead of a picture, or a ban notice. This is not a malfunction of the phone, but a feature of Android. You can't get around this with standard tools, you need complex manipulation of root rights, which is not recommended for ordinary users.
Another problem is sticking buttons, and if the volume or power buttons are physically worn out, the system may not recognize simultaneous pressing, in which case it is worth cleaning the buttons from dust or temporarily switching to using "Three fingers" gestures or notification curtains.
⚠️ Note: If screenshots are no longer saved and a message appears “Not enough memory”, immediately free up space on the internal drive. the system will not be able to create a new file until the storage has at least a few megabytes of free space.
Sometimes, a simple reboot helps, and it clears the cache of the system processes that handle input and the graphical interface, which often solves the problem of deaf buttons.