How to take a screenshot on Xiaomi Mi 9: a step-by-step guide

Screenshots are one of the basic but critical features of a modern smartphone, and Xiaomi’s flagship Mi 9 is no exception. Users often need to capture correspondence, an interesting moment from a game or an order in the online store. The MIUI shell installed on the device offers many tools for this, far beyond the standard button combination that many people are familiar with on Android.

In this article, we will take a closer look at all the screenshot techniques available on the Mi 9, from classic physical keys to advanced features like a long screenshot. Understanding these mechanisms will allow you to work with the device as efficiently as possible, saving time editing and sorting images in the gallery.

Special attention should be paid to the system settings, as by default some convenient functions can be disabled.We will consider how to activate gesture control, set a timer to take pictures and where to look for saved files after they are created.

Classical method using physical buttons

The most common and quick way, familiar to most Android users, is to press two physical keys simultaneously. On the Xiaomi Mi 9, you need to press the volume button and the power button. It is important to observe the correct sequence and synchrony of the press so that the system has time to register the command.

If you press them not at the same time, but with a delay, the phone may perceive this as a command to call the voice assistant or the switch-off menu. Instant and clear pressing ensures that the picture is created without unnecessary actions. The screen blinks, and a notification will appear at the top of the display that the image is saved.

This is a universal technique that works even when the touch screen is temporarily unresponsive or frozen, but when using the phone with one hand, it can be difficult to reach both buttons, which prompts you to look for alternative control options.

⚠️ Warning: Don't keep the buttons pinched too long. Prolonged retention of the power and volume key can force the device to restart or trigger Fastboot mode, which will interrupt your current work.

For those of you who use this method, it's worth noting that after you take a picture, you have a thumbnail in the corner, you can click on it for quick editing or sending without going to the gallery, and it speeds up the workflow, allowing you to immediately mark the details in the image.

Using triple tapping on the screen

The MIUI shell is famous for its handy gestures, and three-finger screenshots are one of the most popular features, which allows you to take screenshots of the Xiaomi Mi 9 without the need for physical buttons, which is especially convenient when watching videos or reading books.

Go to Settings → Additional Features → Screenshots. You need to find the Three Finger Switch and activate it. Once turned on, just swipe three fingers down the screen to get an image of the current contents of the display.

Not only is it fast, it's also ergonomic, and it's perfect for situations where the phone is on the table or when the other hand is busy, and you can also set up the menu to use three fingers for a long time, like running an editor or selecting an area.

• 📱 Open the settings and find the additional functions section.
• 🖐️ Activate the option to create a screenshot with three fingers.
• 👆 Swipe three fingers from top to bottom for an instant snapshot.
• ✂️ Set up a long press to select the screen area.

It is worth noting that sensor sensitivity can affect gesture recognition. If the system does not respond the first time, try to swipe your fingers a little faster or, conversely, slower, ensuring tight contact with the display.

Control Panel and Multitasking Menu

Another convenient way, which is often overlooked by beginners, is through the interface of running applications. If you swipe from the bottom up and hold your finger (or click the menu button, depending on the type of navigation), the multitasking menu will open. At the top of the open application card there is an icon (scissors).

Clicking on this icon instantly creates a screenshot of the current window, which is especially useful when you're looking at a list of open programs and want to capture the state of a particular application without having to log in again, and the system automatically saves the image in the album.

Alternatively, you can use a notification curtain, and if you call the swipe control center on top, you can find a screenshot label, which you need to pre-instal in the quick button editing, which is convenient when your hands are busy and the phone is in front of you.

⚠️ Note: In some versions MIUI The scissors icon in the multitasking menu may not be available if Full Screen is enabled for a particular application.

The use of software buttons reduces wear on the physical elements of the body. For the Mi 9, which has a glass case and a side frame, careful treatment of volume buttons prolongs the life of the device.

The function of long screenshot and scrolling

One of the most popular features in MIUI is the ability to create long screenshots, or "scrolls." It is an indispensable tool for saving long correspondence in messengers, articles in the browser or social media feed. After you create a regular screenshot (in any of the ways described above), a floating window with a preview appears in the upper corner.

In this window, you click on a button that says "Scroll" or an icon that represents a scroll, and the screen will automatically scroll down to capture the contents, and the process will stop when you touch the screen or reach the end of the page, and you can also manually stop scrolling by pressing the stop button.

The quality of the final image remains high, and the text does not blur, the system itself glues the individual frames into a single whole, which allows you to save complex tables or long lists of contacts in readable form.

It is important to note that not all applications support this feature, for example, in some banking applications or DRM-protected video services, scrolling may be blocked for security reasons.

Voice control and Google Assistant

For those who prefer voice commands, the Xiaomi Mi 9 offers integration with Google Assistant. Just say the phrase "Ok Google" or activate the assistant with a button to say the command "Take a screenshot." The device will perform the action and save the image.

This method is particularly relevant in situations where touching the screen is impossible or inconvenient, but requires a stable Internet connection and a pre-configured voice assistant, and in some regions, the team may not work properly due to language settings.

Also worth mentioning is the built-in Screenshots app in the Tools folder, which allows you to set a timer, so you can choose between 3 or 5 seconds delay before you create a snapshot, which is useful if you want to capture a context menu or a pop-up that disappears when you touch it.

• 🎙️ Activate Google Assistant with a voice or long button.
• 🗣️ Say the command "Take a screenshot" in the desired language.
• ⏱️ Use the timer in the Screenshots app to delay.
• 📸 Get the finished image after countdown.

Using a timer is a professional approach to creating screenshots of interfaces, which allows you to remove your finger from the screen before you shoot it, so you don't overlap important elements of the interface.

Editing and managing saved files

Once a screenshot is created, the Xiaomi Mi 9 offers powerful tools to process it. The bottom editor menu offers cropping, text addition, marker drawing and sticker overlay functions, which allows you to hide sensitive information, such as phone numbers or passwords, before sending it.

All images created automatically enter the Screenshots folder in the Gallery app, where they can be sorted, deleted or created albums. The file structure is also accessible via Explorer on the Internal Memory path → MIUI → gallery → cloud → screenshots or simply Pictures → Screenshots.

The default save format is PNG, which provides high quality lossless, but you can change your camera settings or use third-party conversion apps to save space, although standard MIUI tools are usually optimal.

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Use the “Blurr” feature in the MIUI screenshot editor to hide sensitive data (passwords, addresses) more reliably than simply by overpainting with a marker that can sometimes be illuminated.

Regularly cleaning the folder with screenshots helps to free up space in the memory of the device. The gallery has a function "Clean up", which finds similar images and suggests removing duplicates.

Comparison of methods and troubleshooting

Different situations require different approaches to creating screenshots, and here is a table that will help you quickly choose the best method depending on your current conditions and tasks.

If screenshots are not created in either way, check whether the Do Not Disturb mode with restrictions or special features that block input are enabled, and the problem may be a lack of free memory.

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The most stable and quick method for the Xiaomi Mi 9 is a combination of physical buttons, but the three-finger gesture wins in ergonomics with daily use.

In rare cases, you may need to reset your interface settings. Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps → System interface and clear the data. This will bring back the standard button and gesture behavior.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)