How to make a screen on Xiaomi Mi A3: the complete guide

The creation of a screenshot is one of the most basic, but at the same time the most popular functions in a modern smartphone. Owners of the Xiaomi Mi A3 model, which runs on pure Android as part of the Android One program, often look for an answer to the question of how to fix the image, since the interface here is different from the usual shell of MIUI. The absence of excessive visual noise makes the process intuitive, but knowing all the nuances significantly speeds up the work with the device.

In this article, we will take a look at all the available screenshot techniques, from classic keyboard shortcuts to advanced system features. You will learn how to work with long pages, where to look for saved files and how to quickly edit the resulting image immediately after creation. The correct use of screen capture tools saves time and saves important information in the desired format.

Classical method using physical buttons

The fastest and most reliable way to take a screenshot on any Android device, including the Xiaomi Mi A3, is to press two physical keys simultaneously, which works even when the touch screen is temporarily unresponsive or the system is under increased load.

The process of capturing the image is instantaneous. You have to press the Volume Down button and the power button at the same time. It doesn't take long to hold them, it's a short but sharp press, lasting about one second. If you hold the buttons too long, the phone can perceive this as a command to call the emergency call menu or turn off the device, so it's short.

The system will give several signals of success, you will hear the characteristic click of the camera shutter, and at the top of the screen for a split second will appear a smaller copy of the image taken. Visual and audio feedback ensures that the image is stored in the memory of the device. In some cases, if the sound in the phone is turned off, the visual signal may be the only confirmation of success.

• 📱 Press the volume down button and the power button at the same time.
• ⏱ Hold the buttons for less than one second so as not to trigger the off menu.
• 🔊 Pay attention to the click sound and vibration that confirm success.
• 🖼 Check the top right corner of the screen for a screenshot thumbnail.

It's worth noting that this is a universal technique that works in almost all applications, but in some secure applications, such as banking clients or DRM-protected content viewing apps (such as Netflix), instead of an image, you can get a black screen, a system security limitation that cannot be circumvented by standard means without root rights.

Use of the power button menu

Android 10 and more, which runs the Xiaomi Mi A3, has a convenient software alternative to physical buttons, which is especially relevant if one of the buttons on the body is faulty, stuck or simply does not need to reach the side of the device, the function is built directly into the power management menu, which is caused by a long press of the power button.

To create a screenshot, press and hold the power button until the system menu appears on the screen. At the bottom of the window that appears, you will see several icons, including a scissors icon or a camera with the caption "Screenshot." Pressing this icon will instantly create a copy of the current image on the screen. The software capture method completely duplicates the functionality of the buttons, but eliminates mechanical impact on the body.

⚠️ Note: If you press the power button for a long time, you immediately activate the Google Assistant voice assistant instead of the off menu, this is the default setting in Android One. → System system → Gestures → Press and hold the power button and select "Switch off menu».

Using the power menu also allows you to take screenshots in situations where the phone is lying on the table or in a position that is uncomfortable for two fingers to grip. You can hold the device with one hand and activate the menu with the second and select the desired function, which makes the process more controlled and reduces the risk of accidentally lubricating the image with your finger during shooting.

The function of capturing a long screenshot

One of the most useful features for smartphone users is the ability to create “long” or “scrollable” screenshots, which is indispensable when you need to save correspondence in the messenger, a long article in the browser or a list of products in the online store. On the Xiaomi Mi A3, this feature is implemented at the system level and is available immediately after you create a regular screenshot by any of the methods described above.

Once you've taken a standard screenshot, a thumbnail appears in the upper right or left corner (depending on the interface version), and underneath or next to it is a button with two down arrows or the text "Scroll." By pressing this button, you start automatic scrolling mode. The system will slowly scroll down the contents of the screen, capturing new areas and gluing them to the previous image.

You can stop the scrolling process at any time by tapping the screen or pressing the stop button that appears on the interface, which allows you to control how much content will get into the final file. Automatic scrolling makes it much easier to save large amounts of information, eliminating the need to take many individual frames and then edit them manually.

It is active in browsers, social networks and instant messengers, but may not be available in static settings menus or games, and the final file can be of significant size and high resolution, which is worth considering when sending through quality compressed messengers.

Voice control and Google Assistant

Because the Xiaomi Mi A3 runs on pure Android, it has a deep-integrated voice assistant, Google Assistant, which allows you to create screenshots completely without using your hands, which can be useful in certain situations, such as when the phone is fixed in the holder or when the user's hands are busy.

Once you activate the assistant, say, "Take a screenshot" or "Take a screenshot." The system recognizes the voice request and performs the action just as if you pressed physical buttons. You hear the standard camera sound and you see the save notification. Voice control opens up new possibilities for people with disabilities or just for fans of technology solutions.

This method requires a stable Internet connection, because voice requests are often processed on the company's servers, and the assistant settings must activate the corresponding permission function, although it is usually enabled by default, an alternative input method that should be available in the arsenal in case of breakage of buttons.

Settings and management of screenshot files

Once you have created an image, it is important to know where to find it and how to set up the save process. By default, all screenshots on the Xiaomi Mi A3 are stored in the device’s internal memory in a specially designated folder. The path to it is as follows: Internal drive → Pictures → Screenshots. Also, they are always accessible through the Gallery app or Google Photos in a separate Screenshots folder.

The system allows you to control the format and quality of stored images, although the main parameters depend on the screen resolution of the smartphone. A3 fitted AMOLED-resolution-screen 720 × 1560 It's the resolution of the pixels and the screenshots that are saved, and it's the optimal balance between image quality and memory.

If you take screenshots often, your phone’s memory can fill up quickly, checking your image folder periodically and removing excess or transferring important files to the cloud is recommended. Optimizing storage helps keep your system running fast and avoids space shortages for new applications.

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Use the Cleanup feature in the Google Files app or Xiaomi’s standard file manager to quickly find and remove old screenshots that take up a lot of space.

Image editing and sharing

Once you've created a screenshot, you can quickly edit the image without opening individual apps. At the bottom of the screen where the thumbnail appears, there are often quick access buttons to editing tools, and by clicking on them, you can cut the edges, draw arrows, add text, or highlight an important area with a marker.

The built-in editor on Xiaomi Mi A3 offers basic but sufficient functionality for most tasks. You can change brightness, contrast and saturation, apply filters or use the Lastik tool to remove errors. Once you make changes, you can immediately send the image through any installed messenger, save to a new folder or share a link if the file is uploaded to the cloud.

⚠️ Note: When editing screenshots containing sensitive information (passwords, SMS codes, personal data), always use a blur or paint-up tool to hide sensitive data before sending it.

For more complex processing, such as creating collages, adding stickers or professional retouching, it is better to use specialized applications from the Google Play Market. However, for everyday tasks, the built-in tools of the system editor are quite enough. The convenience is that the “done-edit-send” chain of actions takes only a few seconds.

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Built-in editing tools allow you to process 90% of screenshots without installing third-party applications, saving memory and user time.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)