How to take a screenshot on Xiaomi buttons: full instruction

Screenshots are a basic feature that smartphone owners use every day. Android, especially Xiaomi’s MIUI, has many ways to save screen images. However, the classic physical button method remains the most reliable, fast and accessible even if the touch layer temporarily stops responding or freezes.

In this article, we will discuss in detail all the nuances of how to take a screenshot on Xiaomi with buttons, consider possible combinations and answer frequent questions that users have. Physical buttons provide instant response, which is critical when you need to capture fast-changing information or an error in the application.

Whether you have a budget Redmi or a flagship Mi, the algorithm remains virtually identical. Understanding the hardware keys will allow you to stay in the control situation even if the software gestures or voice control suddenly fail. Let's move on to specific actions.

Classic key combination for screenshot

The most common and versatile way to capture a screenshot on any Android device is by pressing two buttons simultaneously. On Xiaomi and Poco smartphones, the on and off buttons are responsible, and this method works on 99% of devices, regardless of the firmware version.

To do this successfully, you need to press Power and Volume Down almost simultaneously. The time difference should not exceed a fraction of a second. If you press the on button too early, the phone will offer a turn off menu, and if the volume button will start the sound adjustment. Accuracy is key here.

💡

Practice doing this without looking at the screen to build muscle memory in your fingers, saving time in critical situations.

Once you click successfully, you'll hear the characteristic snap of the camera shutter (if the sound is not turned off), and a smaller copy of the image will appear in the top corner of the screen. The system will automatically save the file to the gallery. It's important to note that you don't need to hold the buttons for long — a short but clear click is enough.

⚠️ Note: Do not hold the button combination for longer 1-2 For example, in some versions, MIUI Prolonged retention may cause forced reboot of the device or activation of the mode SOS.

Alternative methods of button management

While volume combinations are standard, Xiaomi engineers have provided other options for users who are uncomfortable reaching for the side of the device. In some use cases, such as when the phone is lying on a desk or in a hard-to-reach place, the classic method may not be effective.

You can take a screenshot using just the power button, but it requires a triple tap, and it has to be pre-activated in the settings, and it allows you to capture a screen image by just tapping the Power button three times in a row.

• 🔘 Press the power button three times quickly and rhythmically.
• 🔘 Make sure that no more than 0.5 seconds pass between the presses.
• 🔘 The screen flashes, confirming successful capture.

Another option available on home-button devices (old models like the Mi 5 or Redmi Note 4) included a combination of a menu button and a home button, but in modern bezel-free smartphones, this method has become a thing of history, giving way to touch gestures and voice control.

Set up a triple press of the power button

To activate the ability to create a screenshot with a triple click on the power button, you need to make changes to the system settings, which will take no more than a minute, but will greatly expand your ability to control the smartphone with one hand.

Follow the path: Settings → Additional features → Screenshots. In the menu that opens, find the Triple Press or Triple Press Screenshot switch and put it into the active position. Now the function is ready to go.

Note that this feature may conflict with other activities if they are also triple-tap-related, for example, on some global firmware, triple-tap may be reserved to activate Google Assistant or other accessibility services, in which case the system will prompt you to select a priority action.

The use of this feature is especially convenient when the second hand is occupied, or when the smartphone is in a case with thick sides, making it difficult to simultaneously press two buttons on the side edge.

Using the power button menu for screenshots

Newer versions of the MIUI 12, 13, 14 shell and the new HyperOS have a handy menu that comes with a long push of the power button. Unlike older versions where this action called the voice assistant, it now opens the Quick Action Panel.

To use this method, press and hold the Power button for about one second, and the menu will appear on the screen with options: "Stop", "Reboot" and, importantly, "Screenshot". Click on the screenshot icon, and the image will be saved.

This method is ideal for situations where the user has shaking hands or difficulty coordinating movements while pressing two keys at the same time, and is useful if the volume button is physically damaged or falters, which sometimes happens after a device drops.

⚠️ Note: If a long press of the power button calls for a voice assistant instead of a menu, check the settings in the Additional Features section. → Turn on the button and change the action to "Switch off menu».

Table of combinations and methods for different models

Different models of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones may have slight differences in button location or firmware logic. Below is a summary table that helps you navigate the methods of creating screenshots depending on the configuration of the device.

As you can see from the table, the universal standard for a modern fleet of devices is a bunch of power and volume buttons. Other methods serve as a pleasant addition to improve the comfort of use. Owners of older devices with a physical home button should be aware of the specific combination that is relevant to their gadgets.

If your smartphone doesn’t respond to standard commands, check to see if In-pocket mode or special features are enabled that can block random taps, and make sure there are no active dialog boxes on the screen that require an immediate response, although screenshots are usually taken over them.

Editing and managing screenshots immediately after creation

Once you've taken a screenshot with the buttons, MIUI offers enhanced features for working with the image, a preview appears in the lower right or left corner (depending on the version), and if you click on it, the built-in editor will open.

You can cut edges, add text comments, draw arrows, or smear sensitive information with a marker, which is especially useful when sending screenshots of correspondence or data from banking applications. All tools are available in one click.

Also available from the preview menu is the Long Screenshot (or Scrolling) function. By clicking on the appropriate icon, you can capture the content of a page that does not fit on one screen. The smartphone will automatically scroll down the content, gluing the image into one long tape.

To stop the process of creating a long screenshot, you just need to touch the screen or wait for the end of the page, and the result will also be stored in the gallery, which is an indispensable tool for saving articles, correspondence in messengers or contact lists.

Problem Solving: What to Do When the Buttons Don't Work

There are situations where the physical push of the buttons does not produce the desired result: the screen does not blink, the shutter sound does not appear, and nothing appears in the gallery, this can be caused by a software failure, contamination of the button contacts or application conflict.

The first thing you should do is try to reboot your device, which often solves the problem of temporarily freezing the hardware button services of the system. If the reboot didn't work, check if you have a third-party launcher or locking app that can take control.

• 🧹 Clean the speaker and area around the buttons of dust and moisture.
• 🔄 Update to the latest available version via Settings → The phone.
• 🛡️ Check your phone for viruses or malware.

If the buttons are physically damaged (don't click, crash), the only way out is to use alternative methods: voice commands ("OK Google, take a screenshot") or swipes with three fingers if the touchscreen is functioning normally. USB-mouse-wise OTG-Adapter and use its clicks as a replacement for buttons.

⚠️ Warning: If the volume or on buttons stop working after the device hits the water, do not try to dry them with a hairdryer - this can drive moisture deeper.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)