How to Take a Screenshot on Xiaomi Phone: The Complete Guide

Screenshots are one of the most basic but frequently used features in the Android operating system. Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi, and POCO devices may be faced with the need to capture information on the display at any time, whether it is a messaging messaging, a route map, or the result of a game. The MIUI shell (and its new version of HyperOS) offers many ways to accomplish this task, far beyond the standard button combination.

Understanding all the methods available will allow you to save time and choose the most convenient option in a particular situation. For example, if you have a damaged power button, you can use alternative methods. We will analyze all the options, from classic to hidden features that not all users know.

Below you will find a detailed description of each method, a table of methods comparison and answers to frequently asked questions. The instructions are relevant for the current models of smartphones of the Chinese brand, released in recent years.

Classical method with physical buttons

The fastest and most time-tested way to capture an image on a display is through the use of hardware buttons. This method works on 100% of Android devices, regardless of the firmware version or smartphone model, you don't have to look for settings or wait for the interface to react.

To do this, you need to press the Power and Volume Down button at the same time, and it is important to press them synchronously, but not too hard so as not to damage the mechanism, and the signal of success will be the characteristic click of the camera shutter and a brief flash of the screen.

If you press late buttons, the phone will take it as two different actions: turn on the screen and change the volume, in which case the picture will not be taken. Once you create the file, it automatically saves to the gallery in the album "Screenshots".

• 📸 Instant system response to pressing.
• 🔋 It works even with a discharged battery if the phone is on.
• 🛠 It does not require setting up or connecting to the internet.

⚠️ Note: Do not press the buttons for too long (more than that). 2-3 seconds), because on many Xiaomi models, long retention of these keys causes a forced reboot of the device or entry into Recovery mode.

Use of the control menu (Notification curtain)

If your smartphone’s physical buttons are faulty or you’re uncomfortable reaching for them with one hand, MIUI offers a great software solution. In the control center, which is called by a top-down pile (or bottom-up depending on the settings), there is a special shortcut.

Find an icon with a picture of a scissor or a camera, which is usually located in the top row of quick settings. If you don't see it right away, click on a pencil or three menu editing dots and drag the Screenshot icon to the active panel, which allows you to take pictures in one touch.

This is especially useful when you hold your phone with one hand and the other hand is busy, and it's also useful if the volume buttons are stuck or stiff, and the system will instantly respond to the touch, and you'll get a finished image.

Universal gesture with three fingers

One of the most convenient features in the MIUI shell is to take a three-finger swipe screenshot, which is intuitive and allows you to capture the screen without taking your hands off the device, but by default, this feature is often disabled.

To activate the option, go to Settings, then select Additional (or Advanced Settings) and find Screenshots. Here you need to tick the box against "Three fingers." After that, just swipe three fingers from top to bottom down the center of the screen.

The gesture works in almost all applications, including browsers, social networks and games, and requires no additional action after activation, ideal for those who like to control a smartphone with one hand or have damaged physical buttons.

• 🖐 Convenience of one-handed management.
• ⚙️ Requires pre-activation in settings.
• 🚀 Instantly create a copy of the screen.

⚠️ Attention: The gesture may not work if you swipe your fingers too slowly or touch the screen with the edges of your palm.The movement should be fast and confident, covering the center of the display.

Voice control via Google Assistant

In situations where hands are busy or the phone is distant but connected to the headset, you can use voice commands. Google Assistant is deeply integrated into the Android system and can take screenshots on a voice command.

Activate the assistant with the phrase "OK, Google" or holding the assistant call button (if configured). Once the system goes into listening mode, clearly say the command "Take a screenshot" or "Take a screenshot." The phone will execute the command and save the file.

This method requires an internet connection to handle a voice query (although basic commands can work offline as well), and it also depends on how well the microphone picks up your speech in the current environment.

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If Google Assistant doesn't understand a command in Russian, try saying it in English: "Take a screenshot." Sometimes that solves the problem of recognition.

Long screenshot with page scrolling

Often, a single screen is not enough to fit all the information, such as a long article, correspondence in the messenger or a list of products in the online store. In such cases, the feature “Advanced Screenshot” (or “Scroll”) is available on Xiaomi.

Immediately after you create a normal shot (in any of the above methods), a thumbnail will appear at the top of the screen. Click on it to open the editor. At the bottom of the menu, select an icon with three arrows down or a Scroll icon.

The phone will automatically start scrolling down the page, stitching the image into one long image, so you can stop the process at any time by clicking on the screen, or wait for the end of the page, and it will automatically trim the empty fields.

The length of such an image may be limited by technical parameters, and if the page is too long, the system may suggest making multiple files or stopping the recording ahead of time.

Editing and saving pictures

Once you've taken a picture, the system offers basic editing tools, and by clicking on a thumbnail, you're taken to an editor where you can cut edges, draw arrows, add text, or blur sensitive data (such as card numbers or passwords).

The Blurring tool is particularly useful for protecting personal information before sending a screenshot to a chat or posting on social media. You can select an area and apply the effect by making the text unreadable. After editing, remember to click Save button to make the changes apply to the file.

All images created are saved to a standard gallery. The path to the file usually looks like internal memory → DCIM → Screenshots or MIUI → Gallery → Cloud → Screenshots if synchronization is enabled. From there, they can be easily sent via Bluetooth, messengers or uploaded to the cloud.

Frequent problems and their solution

Sometimes users are faced with the fact that screenshots are not taken, this may be due to security restrictions of some applications. Banking programs, applications with paid content (Netflix, Kinopoisk) or incognito modes in the browser block the creation of screenshots to protect copyright and user data.

In such cases, the screen may flash, but the file will not save, or a message will appear about the ban, this is not a malfunction of the phone, but a software limitation, and problems can occur when there is a lack of free memory in the device's storage.

If standard methods have stopped working in all applications, try restarting your smartphone. In rare cases, you need to reset your interface settings or upgrade to the current version of MIUI or HyperOS.

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If the screenshot is not taken in a particular app, it is likely copy protection, not phone breakdown.

Questions and Answers (FAQ)