Screenshots are a basic feature that users need every day to save important information, correspondence or game moments. Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus owners often look for quick ways to capture images, as standard methods may not be obvious to beginners in the MIUI shell. Despite the fact that the device was released several years ago, its operating system provides rich functionality for working with graphics.
In this article, we will take a look at all the available screenshot techniques, from classic buttons to advanced menu tools. You will learn how to set up automatic save, where to look for ready-made files and what to do if standard combinations stop working.
Use of physical device buttons
The fastest and most time-tested way to get an image of the current content of the display is through the use of hardware buttons. On Redmi 5 Plus, as on most Android smartphones with or without a Home button, the standard combination is used. You need to simultaneously press and briefly hold the Down Volume and Power button.
It is important to observe the timing: the buttons should be pressed almost simultaneously, but do not hold them for too long, otherwise instead of a screenshot, you can open a shutdown menu or start recovery mode. After successful execution of the action, you will hear the characteristic click of the camera shutter, and at the top of the screen a thumbnail of the shot taken.
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If you have thumbs and are uncomfortable pressing buttons at the same time, try pressing the volume button first and then quickly adding the power button.
This method works even when the system is slow to respond because it is processed at a low level of the operating system. However, if you have damaged physical buttons or the screen does not respond to touch in certain areas, this method may not be available.
Creating screenshots through the notification curtain
The MIUI shell installed on Redmi 5 Plus offers a convenient software method for taking screenshots without using physical buttons. To do this, you need to unlock your smartphone and lower the “curtain” of notifications by swipe from top to bottom. In the quick settings menu, you need to find an icon with the image of scissors.
If you don't see this icon right away, it may be hidden in the second menu page or in an editable list.Click on the pencil icon or three dots in the menu corner to go into edit mode, and drag the Screenshot icon to the main panel.Now access to the feature will always be at hand in one tap.
- 📸 Instant access to the function without the need to press buttons.
- ⚙️ Possibility to adjust the button position in the Quick Actions menu.
- 📱 Perfect if the physical buttons of the smartphone are faulty or stuck.
The software button is especially relevant when you're in applications where it's hard to get through physical keys, or when the phone is on the table. After you press the scissors icon in the curtain, the system instantly captures the current state of the screen. Visual control of the process is provided by a preview pop-up window.
☑️ Checking the screenshot settings
Gesture control and triple tapping
For those who prefer one finger control, the Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus features a triple-touch screenshot. This option is not activated by default, so you need to turn it on in the system settings. Go to Settings → Additional Settings → Screenshot and activate the option “Triple touch”.
Once activated, it is enough to tap the screen three times quickly in any area to take a picture.The sensitivity of the Redmi 5 Plus sensor makes it easy to perform this gesture, but it may not work in some games or applications with a special input mode to avoid accidental taps during active use.
Why does triple touching not work in games?
The advantage of this method is that it's fast and ergonomic, so you don't have to reach for buttons on the case or open the curtain, but you have to consider that accidentally tapping the screen three times when you're carrying your phone in your pocket or bag can lead to a lot of extra files, and that's the user's control of the senses.
Voice control by Google Assistant
Modern smartphones, including the Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus, allow you to control your voice system. If you have your hands busy, you can use Google Assistant to take a screenshot. Make sure the voice assistant is activated and configured to recognize your "OK, Google" command.
Just say, "OK, Google, take a screenshot," or "Take a screenshot." The assistant recognizes the command, emits an audible signal, and saves the image to the gallery, a method that is particularly convenient when the phone is connected to an external display or is in a dock.
| Method | Speed. | Convenience | Dependence on buttons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buttons (Loudness + Power) | Tall. | Average. | Complete. |
| Notification curtain | Medium | High. | No. |
| Triple touch. | Tall. | Very high. | No. |
| Voice command | Low. | Specific | No. |
Voice input requires a stable Internet connection to process a request on Google servers, although basic commands can work offline. Recognition accuracy depends on diction and ambient noise levels. In a quiet room, this method works flawlessly, becoming a great addition to the user's arsenal.
Extended screenshot function
One of the most useful features of MIUI on Redmi 5 Plus is the ability to create long screenshots, or “scrollable” shots, which is indispensable when you need to save long correspondence in the messenger, a web page or a list of contacts that do not fit on a single screen.
First, take a regular screenshot in any convenient way (buttons or through a curtain). Immediately after that, at the top of the screen, next to the thumbnail, an additional button with down arrows or the words "Scroll" will appear. Click on it, and the system will automatically begin to scroll down, stitching (stitching) the image into one long picture.
⚠️ Attention: Scrolling may not work properly in applications where content is loaded dynamically or has a complex layout.
You can stop it at any time by touching the screen or waiting for the end of the page. The finished file will be saved in the gallery as a single image with high resolution vertically. Automatic border alignment makes the result clean and neat, without visible seams.
Customization and editing after creation
Immediately after creating a screenshot on Redmi 5 Plus, a pop-up menu appears that allows you to quickly edit or share an image. Clicking on the thumbnail, you will be taken to the built-in editor where you can cut unnecessary edges, draw arrows, add text or bloat confidential information.
In the screenshot settings (Settings → Screenshot), you can change the save format (PNG or JPG) and the compression quality. The PNG format provides better lossless quality, but takes up more space, whereas the JPG is more compact. You can also turn off the shutter audible signal if you need to take screenshots silently.
- ✏️ Drawing and highlighting important areas immediately after the shot.
- 🔇 Turning off camera sound for quiet mode.
- 📂 Selecting a destination folder or file format to optimize memory.
The editor allows you not only to draw, but also to add ready-made stickers or blur the face and document numbers. This is critical to protecting personal data before sending a screenshot to third parties. Data security begins with careful consideration of what you post or transmit.
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The built-in MIUI editor allows you to fully prepare the screenshot for sending in a few seconds without requiring the installation of third-party applications.
Where are the screenshots stored and how to find them
All screenshots taken are automatically stored in the device's internal memory. Standard file path: Internal memory → DCIM → Screenshots or MIUI → Gallery → Cloud → Screenshots, if synchronization is enabled. The Gallery app has a separate album folder for them.
If you can't find a file, check the settings for displaying hidden albums or search by creation date.The Android file system may hide some system folders from standard explorers, but in the Xiaomi gallery they are displayed by default.
⚠️ Note: When cleaning memory through the built-in optimizer, be careful: screenshots often fall into the category of “junk files” or “large files” and can be accidentally deleted along with the cache.
For convenience, you can set up automatic uploading of screenshots to the cloud (Google Photos or Mi Cloud), which will free up space on the device and protect important information in the event of loss or breakage of a smartphone. Backup is a habit that saves data.