Xiaomi Redmi 4A, despite its age, remains a popular device due to its reliability and availability. Users often face the need to capture information on the screen, whether it is correspondence in the messenger, a website page or an achievement in the game. Owners of budget models sometimes confuse methods, as the physical location of the buttons and software shells can differ from flagship devices.
There are several proven ways to capture a screenshot on this device: you can use a classic keyboard, control your phone through the control panel, or even give a voice command, and understanding all the options available will allow you to quickly respond to any situation that requires a capture of the image.
In this article, we will discuss each method in detail, paying special attention to the nuances of working with the MIUI shell. We will also look at the settings that will help automate the process, and solve typical problems if the standard methods stop working.
Classical Method Through Physical Buttons
The most common and quick way to take a screenshot of Redmi 4A is to use a physical button combination, which works at the system level and is independent of the applications running, and you need to press the Power button and Volume Down button at the same time to implement it.
It's important to keep the timing right: pressing should be short-term, but sure. If you hold the buttons too long, the phone may perceive this as a command to force a reboot or log into the recovery menu. Usually, a fraction of a second is enough for the system to react.
Once you do this successfully, you will hear the characteristic shutter sound of the camera (if the sound is on), and the screen will blink for a split second. In the upper corner, a notification will appear to save the image, and in the gallery a new file will be created.
- 📱 Press and release the Power buttons. + Loudness Down at the same time.
- ⚡ Do not press the buttons longer than one second to avoid rebooting.
- 🔊 The sound signal and vibration will be reported by the system notification.
⚠️ Warning: on older or worn-out devices, mechanical buttons may fall off. If the screenshot doesn't work the first time, try pressing the buttons a little harder, but without fanaticism, so as not to damage the mechanism.
If you have difficulty pressing two buttons at once, make sure that the dialog box that blocks system commands is not open on the screen.In rare cases, some applications can intercept volume control, but in normal mode Redmi 4A should respond instantly.
Creating a screenshot through the notification curtain
For those who are physically uncomfortable reaching for buttons or if one of them is faulty, Xiaomi's developers have a software method: You can take a screenshot using a quick access panel, often called a "curtain," which is especially convenient when the phone is lying on the table or you hold it with one hand.
To use this, swipe from top to bottom across the screen to open the control center. Find an icon with a picture of scissors, which is called "Screenshot." Clicking on this icon will instantly save the current image on the display to the gallery.
Sometimes the icon may be hidden in the second page of the notification panel, in which case, just swipe the open curtain left or right to find the item you want, and if the icon is not anywhere, it may have been removed from quick access and you need to add it through the settings.
💡
For quick access to the screenshot, add the Screenshot widget to your desktop, which will allow you to create images with one touch, even if the phone buttons do not work.
Using a software button has its advantages, for example, you can take screenshots without accidentally changing the volume of the media or without waking the voice assistant, which sometimes happens when you sloppyly press physical keys.
Using three fingers for quick grip
MIUI is famous for its unique features, and one of the most useful is to create a screenshot with a three-finger swipe. This feature is not enabled by default on some versions of the firmware, so it needs to be activated in the system settings.
To enable this option, go to the settings menu, select "More" and find "Screenshot" and activate the "Three-finger swipe" switch, then just swipe three fingers down the screen at any time.
This is a spectacular technique that's very easy to use with one hand if the phone is on the surface, but it requires a certain skill: you touch the screen with three fingers at once and draw a straight line. If the system doesn't respond, try changing the speed of movement or the force of pressing.
- 🖐️ Swipe three fingers from top to bottom across the screen.
- ⚙️ The function is activated in the Settings menu → Additionally. → Screenshot.
- 🎯 It requires precision but is very convenient when used with one hand.
It is worth noting that the three-finger swipe function can conflict with some drawing apps or games that use multi-touch gestures, and in such situations, the system can prioritize the action within the application, ignoring the screenshot command.
☑️ Customizing gestures on Xiaomi 4A
Voice control and Google Assistant
Modern smartphones allow you to control many voice functions, and the Xiaomi Redmi 4A is no exception. If your hands are busy or dirty, you can ask the voice assistant to take a screenshot for you. This is especially true for people with disabilities.
To do this, make sure you have Google Assistant activated or voice search built in. Just say, "OK, Google, take a screenshot," or "Take a screenshot," and the system recognizes the command and executes the action by saving the image to the gallery.
The effectiveness of this method depends on the quality of speech recognition and the presence of an active Internet connection. Voice commands are processed on servers, so without a network, this method will not work, and it is also important that the microphone is clean and not covered with a case.
⚠️ Warning: When using voice commands in public, keep privacy in mind. The phrase "take a screenshot" can be heard by others, which will reveal your actions if you take a picture of private correspondence.
Some users prefer to use third-party voice-controlled apps, which may have more flexible trigger settings. However, Android's built-in tools tend to be more stable and do not require additional software installation, which is critical for memory-limited devices such as the Redmi 4A.
Set up and edit screenshots
Once you've taken a screenshot, Xiaomi has a thumbnail in the corner of the screen, and if you click on it, it opens up a built-in editor that allows you to quickly process the image, you can cut the edges, add text, draw an arrow, or smear sensitive information.
The editor offers a basic toolkit that is enough for most everyday tasks. You can add filters, resize an image, or even create a collage of multiple screenshots. All changes are saved either on top of the original or as a new copy, depending on your settings.
In the screenshot settings, you can also choose the format of the save and quality. By default, the system uses the PNG format, which provides high quality without loss, but takes up more space. To save memory, you can switch to JPG, although the difference in quality on the smartphone screen can be subtle.
| Parameter | Description | Recommendation |
|---|---|---|
| PNG format | No loss of quality, large size | For documents and text |
| JPG format | Loss compression, small size | For screenshots of games and photos |
| Shutter sound | The audio signal from the photo | Turn off in quiet places |
| Vibration. | Tactical response | Insert for confirmation |
Remember that editing screenshots immediately after creation saves time in the future.You don’t have to search for a file in the gallery and open a separate editor, if everything can be done in one click immediately after the screen is captured.
Where are the screenshots stored?
Problem Solving and Frequent Questions
Sometimes Redmi 4A users are faced with a situation where screenshots are no longer being created.This can be caused by a crowded phone memory, software glitch or application conflict.
If the memory is fine, try restarting the device. This resets the temporary processes that could have blocked the screen capture function. It's also worth checking if you have an app that intercepts volume buttons, such as some players or voice recorders.
In rare cases, the problem may lie in the damage to the system files of the MIUI shell. If nothing helps, you can try to reset the settings to the factory, before backing up important data. However, this is an extreme measure that should be resorted to only after trying other methods.
- 🗑️ Check the free space in the device memory.
- 🔄 Reboot your smartphone to reset system processes.
- 📱 Remove newly installed button management apps.
⚠️ Note: if screenshots are not taken in just one particular application (e.g. a banking client), it is not a mistake.
Understanding the causes of errors helps you find a solution faster. Don't rush your phone to the service center if the problem is solved by simply restarting or cleaning the cache.
💡
If the screenshot does not work in either way, check if the Guest mode is turned on or restrictions for children that may block this feature.