Xiaomi Redmi 4 is one of the most popular budget smartphones of 2016-2017, which is still used by many users. Despite modest by modern standards, the device supports all basic functions, including creating screenshots. However, due to the features of the MIUI firmware and the lack of a physical Menu button (unlike the flagships of those years), the process can be questionable.
In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to take a screenshot on Redmi 4 (including the Redmi 4A, 4X, 4 Pro models), as well as discuss the typical problems - why the screen is not saved, where to look for pictures and how to change the file format. If your smartphone runs on MIUI 8-12, the instructions will fit without modifications. For newer versions of the firmware, we will specify some nuances.
1. Classical method: button combination
The most reliable and versatile method is the use of hardware buttons. It works on Redmi 4 regardless of the version of MIUI or the availability of root rights.
- Open the screen you want to capture (app, web page, settings).
- At the same time, press the Power button (right) and the Volume Down button (left).
- Hold them for 1-2 seconds until you hear the sound of the camera shutter and see the animation of the screenshot.
⚠️ Note: Redmi 4 with worn buttons can only trigger one tap (e.g., turn off the screen instead of the screen:
- 🔧 Press strictly at the same time – no sooner and no later.
- 📱 Use the other finger for the volume button (sometimes the problem is an uncomfortable grip).
- 🔄 Rebooting your smartphone is rare, but helps with temporary failures.
If the method does not work even after several attempts, check if the screenshots in the settings are turned off (for this, see the section on problems).
☑️ Check before the button screen
2. Three finger gesture (for MIUI 9 and newer)
Starting with MIUI 9, Xiaomi has added an alternative way to do this, which is a swipe screenshot, which is useful if the hardware buttons are out of order or you can easily control one hand.
- Go to Settings → Additional → Buttons and gestures → Screenshot gestures.
- Turn on the switch opposite Swipe with three fingers.
- Choose the direction of the gesture: down or up (we recommend down - so random positives are unlikely).
Now to take a screenshot:
- Place three fingers on the screen (for example, index, middle and ring fingers).
- Quickly move them down (or up if you choose another option).
- Wait for the beep and the save notification.
💡 Useful tip: The gesture works even on a locked screen (unless notifications are disabled in the settings), which is convenient to quickly save information from the lock screen, such as code from the lock screen. SMS.
What to do if the gesture does not work?
3. Screenshot via notification panel (MIUI 10+)
MIUI 10 and above has a quick screenshot button in the notification bar, which is the slowest way, but it helps if the buttons and gestures don't work.
- Open the screen.
- Swipe down from the top edge of the screen to open the notification bar.
- Find the Screenshot icon (usually it looks like a scissor or a rectangle with lightning).
- Slip on it – the smartphone will take a picture in 1-2 seconds.
⚠️ If there is no button, you need to add it manually:
- Swipe down twice to open the full panel.
- Slip on the icon Edit (pencil).
- Find the screenshot in the list of inactive buttons and drag it to the top.
This method doesn’t work on MIUI 8 and older versions — there’s no screenshot button in the notification bar, and it may disappear after the firmware update, so check the settings after the upgrade.
4. Screenshot applications: when standard methods don't work
If none of these methods work (for example, because of a button break or a firmware failure), you can use third-party utilities. We tested several applications on Redmi 4 and selected the most stable ones:
| Annex | Root is required. | Features | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Screenshot Easy | ❌ No. | Works through overlay service, supports latency and editing | Google Play |
| Super Screenshot | ❌ No. | Allows you to make long screens (scroll), but can lie on a weak gland | Google Play |
| Screenshot Touch | ✅ Yes. | Maximum customization, but requires root rights | 4PDA |
🔹 Important: Screenshot Easy, Super Screenshot applications run over the service on top of other windows:
- Launch the application and give all the permissions requested.
- Turn on the icon display in the notification panel (to quickly make screens).
- The first time you use it, you may receive a security alert – confirm access.
⚠️ Note: On Redmi 4 with 2GB of RAM, some applications may slow down the system due to background activity.
5. Where do I look for saved screenshots?
By default, all screenshots on Xiaomi Redmi 4 are saved in the folder:
/storage/emulated/0/Pictures/Screenshots/You can get there in several ways:
- 📁 Through the Conductor: Open the Gallery → Albums. → Screenshots.
- 🔍 Through Search: Enter Screenshots in the File Manager Search bar.
- 🖥️ Through PC: connect the smartphone to USB In file transfer mode and go the way above.
💡 Useful tip: If screenshots don’t show up in the gallery, but the Screenshots folder exists, try it:
- 🔄 Reset the device.
- 🗑️ Clear the gallery cache (Settings) → Annexes → gallery → Clear the cache).
- 📎 Use another file manager (e.g. Solid Explorer).
The default file format is.png. If you need.jpg (for example, to save space), install the Screenshot Type Changer app from Google Play.
Typical problems and their solutions
Even on a simple device like Redmi 4, users have difficulty taking screenshots, and we have compiled the TOP-5 bugs and how to fix them:
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Buttons don't respond. | Pollution or wear of buttons | Clean the buttons with alcohol or use a gesture/app |
| Screening is not preserved | There's not enough disk space. | Clear memory or change the save path in camera settings |
| Black screen on the screen | Secure Content Conflict (Banking Apps, Netflix) | Use another device or turn off protection in the app settings |
| The gesture's not working. | Function disabled in settings | Check the settings → Additional → Screenshot gestures |
| No sound in the screen. | Shutter sound or "Do Not Disturb" mode is turned off | Turn on system sounds in settings or turn off silent mode |
🔹 Special case: If screenshots are taken but not displayed in the gallery, the problem may be a media database failure:
- Install Rescan Media from Google Play.
- Start the scan - it will update the information about the files in the system.
- Reset the device.
If neither method worked, it might be the fault of the damaged firmware, which can be done by resetting to factory settings (don't forget to back up!) or flashing through the Mi Flash Tool.
💡
Before resetting, check if cleaning the gallery cache or rebooting helps, saving time and data.
7. Additional chips: editing and long screenshots
Xiaomi Redmi 4 on MIUI allows you to not only take screenshots, but also quickly edit them. After you create a picture in the lower right corner, a thumbnail appears - tap on it to:
- ✏️ Cut the screen (tool "Cadration").
- 🎨 Draw arrows or text (tool "Drawing").
- 🔍 Blurring personal data (tool "Mosaic").
- 📤 Share directly in messengers or the cloud.
💡 Hidden function: On MIUI 11+ You can take long screenshots for web pages or chats. After a normal screen, tap the thumbnail and select Scrolling. The smartphone automatically scrolls the page down and connects the frames.
⚠️ Attention: On Redmi 4 with 2GB of RAM, long screenshots can hang on large pages (like VK or Twitter:
- Close all background applications.
- Try again on a smaller section of the page.
- Use third-party apps (like LongShot).
💡
To speed up the long screenshots, close all applications except your browser or messenger before shooting, which will reduce the load on RAM.