Creating a screenshot on a smartphone is a basic feature that every user needs, whether it’s saving important correspondence, a payment check or an interesting moment from the game. Owners of Xiaomi Redmi 9 often look for a quick way to capture an image from the screen, as standard Android methods here are complemented by the unique capabilities of the MIUI shell. Understanding all the options available will allow you to save time and interact with the device more effectively in any situation.
There are many scenarios where you want to instantly capture what's happening on the display, whether it's a bank transfer confirmation, a furniture assembly manual, or just a funny meme. Unlike the older models, the Redmi 9 offers flexible settings to choose the method that you're most comfortable with. Let's take a look at each one in detail.
Classic button combination
The fastest and most time-tested way to screen a Xiaomi Redmi 9 is to use physical buttons, which works even when the touchscreen is temporarily unresponsive or you are in an app that blocks gestures, and you need to press the volume button and the lock button at the same time.
It's important to keep the right sequence and push force, and you should press it briefly, literally with a light touch, not with a long hold, and if you hold the buttons for too long, the phone might take that as a command to call the off menu or the voice assistant.
Once you've done the action, you'll hear the characteristic shutter click, and in the upper right corner you'll see a thumbnail of the image you've taken, at which point the system automatically creates a file in the gallery, and the button combination is universal and works on all versions of the Android operating system.
It is worth noting that on some versions of the MIUI firmware, the location of the controls may vary slightly visually, but the physical location of the buttons on the body remains unchanged. The volume button is on the right side, slightly above or below the power button, depending on the regional version of the device.
Using three fingers
The MIUI shell installed on the Xiaomi Redmi 9 is famous for its advanced gestures. One of the most convenient is to create a screenshot with three fingers across the screen. This method requires pre-activation in the settings, since by default it can be turned off to save resources or to avoid accidental taps.
To enable this feature, go to Settings → Additional Features → Screenshot. You need to activate the switch opposite to "Three-finger screenshot", and then simply swiping three fingers from top to bottom down the center of the screen will instantly save the image.
- 🖐️ The gesture should be smooth and touch the screen simultaneously with all three fingers.
- 📱 The capture area can be adjusted by swiping your fingers in different parts of the display.
- ⚙️ The feature doesn’t work in some full-screen games or apps with special content protection.
Many users find this method more ergonomic, especially when using a smartphone with one hand. You do not need to reach for the buttons on the end of the case, which reduces the risk of dropping the device.
☑️ Checking gesture settings
Control through the notification curtain
If you're uncomfortable with physical buttons and gestures don't work, you can always use the software menu. At the top of the Redmi 9 screen, there's a notification curtain that hides the quick access bar to the basic functions of the system. Among the many icons, there's a screenshot button.
To access it, unlock your phone and swipe from top to bottom of the top edge of the screen. In the menu that opens, find the appropriate icon. If you don't see it right away, you may need to switch to the second page of the panel or edit the button list by adding missing items.
This is especially useful when the smartphone screen is contaminated or gloves are worn that interfere with the precise input of gestures, and you can use this menu to run a long screenshot mode by selecting the appropriate option next to the main button, which allows you to save entire web pages or long correspondence in one file.
⚠️ Warning: If you are in Do Not Disturb mode or a full screen video is running, a swipe to open the curtain may require double action or be blocked by the app settings.
Voice control and Assistant
Modern smartphones, including the Xiaomi Redmi 9, feature powerful voice assistants. You can take a screenshot just by saying a command. This is especially true when hands are busy or the phone is on the table. This uses Google Assistant or the built-in voice assistant Mi AI (depending on the region).
Activate the assistant with "OK, Google" or "Hi, Mi," and then say "Take a screenshot." The system recognizes the command and performs screen saving. This feature requires an active Internet connection and authorized microphone access for the respective services to work smoothly.
Voice control opens up new possibilities for people with disabilities, allowing you to fully control the device without tactile contact, but in noisy rooms, command recognition can work incorrectly, requiring you to repeat a phrase.
Secrets of voice control
Fingerprint screenshot
A unique feature of many Xiaomi models is the ability to take screenshots by double tapping on the fingerprint sensor. On the Redmi 9, the scanner is located on the back, which makes this method very convenient when holding the phone in a horizontal position, for example, while watching videos or games.
To activate this option, go to Settings → Additional Features → Screenshot and select “Fingerprint Screenshot.” Once enabled, quickly enough to tap the scanner on the back twice to allow the system to take a snapshot of the current screen status.
This has its advantages over other methods: first, it doesn't overlap the view, because the hands are left on the side faces or back cover. Second, it eliminates random pressing of volume buttons, which can change the sound level while recording a video.
- 👍 Perfect for horizontal orientation of the device.
- 🔒 Does not require unlocking the screen if the scanner is configured to work in sleep mode (depending on the software version).
- 🔋 Does not consume battery power on the vibration of the buttons, as only the sensor is used.
Consider that the frequency of double-pressing should be optimal, too slow beats will be perceived as single touches, and too fast may not be considered a sensor, double tapping requires a little muscle memory training.
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For a more accurate hit on the fingerprint scanner when creating a screenshot, try to use the pad of the index finger of the hand you are holding the phone, slightly shifting the grip.
Long screenshot and editing
Often, a single screen is not enough to capture all the information. In such cases, the Xiaomi Redmi 9 has a scroll or long screenshot function. After you create a normal shot (in any of the ways described above), a preview appears in the corner. Press it, and at the bottom of the screen a button with a down arrow or a Scrolling icon will appear.
When you click on this button, you automatically scroll through the page, and the system will scroll down, stitching the images into one long image, and you can stop the process at any time by touching the screen or pressing the stop button.
Once you save a long screenshot, you can edit it, and the MIUI editor that's built in allows you to:
- ✂️ Cut off the extra edges and highlight an important area.
- 🖊️ Add text, arrows or drawings by hand.
- 🔒 Blurr sensitive data (card numbers, addresses).
The editing is instantaneous and does not require the installation of third-party applications, which makes the process of working with images on Redmi 9 as streamlined as possible.
| Method | Speed. | Convenience | Requirements |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buttons | Instantly. | High. | No. |
| Three fingers. | Instantly. | Very high. | Setting up on the menu |
| Curtain. | 2-3 seconds | Average. | Access to the menu |
| Print. | Instantly. | High (in play) | Setting up on the menu |
⚠️ Note: When creating long screenshots of web pages with dynamic content (advertising, auto-renewable feeds), the final image may contain scrolling artifacts or empty areas.
Where to find and how to remove screenshots
All images created are automatically saved to the gallery, and can be found by opening the Gallery → Albums → Screenshots app, sorted by date of creation, allowing you to quickly find the desired file, and access to the folder is possible through the file manager on the path Internal memory → DCIM → Screenshots.
If the screenshots take up a lot of space, they can be massively deleted. In the album, click and hold your finger on one of the images, then select the others or use the "Select All" function. After that, click the basket icon. The deleted files go to the gallery basket, where they are stored for 30 days before final erasure.
Regularly cleaning the folder with screenshots helps to free up space in the memory of the device, which is especially important for models with a small amount of internal storage, and it makes it easier to find the desired images in the general flow of photos.
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Timely cleaning of the folder with screenshots not only frees up space, but also increases security by removing old copies of passwords or confirmation codes.