Modern smartphone users are constantly exchanging visual information, whether it’s a funny chat meme, important correspondence or proof of money transfer. For owners of budget but reliable devices from Xiaomi, such as the Redmi 9A model, this process may seem unobvious due to the features of the MIUI shell. Unlike pure Android, there are several hidden features and combinations that make life much easier.
In this article, we will take a closer look at all the available screenshot techniques on your gadget, not only the standard keyboard shortcuts, but also advanced features such as long screenshots and automatic cropping that are often overlooked by beginners.
We will focus on troubleshooting, which is when the function stops working or images are not saved in the gallery, and understanding the principles of the MIUI file system will help you quickly resolve any problems without contacting the service center.
Classical Method: A Combination of Physical Buttons
The fastest and most time-tested way to capture a current image on a display is to use a physical smartphone keyboard. On Redmi 9A, as on most Android devices, it is responsible for pressing two specific keys simultaneously, you need to press the volume button and the lock button at the same time.
It's important to keep the sequence and duration of the pressing right. You don't have to hold the buttons for a long time, just a short but confident "click." If you push too long, the emergency call menu or voice assistant can activate, which is a common mistake of beginners.
- 📱 Press the "Loudness -" and "On/Off" buttons at the same time».
- ⚡ Hold them for about 0.5-1 seconds until the camera shutter sounds.
- 👀 Pay attention to the top of the screen: there should flash a thumbnail of the created image.
- 📂 The file will automatically be saved to the Screenshots folder in the Gallery app.
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the screenshot seems to be taken (the sound is), but the image is not. This can be due to a crowded RAM or a failure in the system process SystemUI. In this case, a simple reboot of the device usually solves the problem.
⚠️ Attention: If your screen is covered with a low quality protective glass or has cracks in the button area, the physical press may not work the first time.
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For more comfortable use, try adjusting the sensitivity of the buttons in the Advanced Settings section if they react too tightly or, conversely, too easily.
Control through the notification curtain
Not all users are comfortable reaching for the side edges of the case, especially if the Redmi 9A is in a bulky protective case. MIUI offers an alternative, software-based method of taking screenshots through the Quick Access Panel, ideal when using the phone with one hand is difficult.
To activate this method, you need to unlock your smartphone and swipe from top to bottom to open the notification curtain. In the upper row of icons, where Wi-Fi and Bluetooth switches are usually located, you need to find an icon with a picture of scissors or a camera.
If you don't see the icon right away, swipe right through the toolbar to open additional pages. Often, manufacturers will hide the rarely used features there to avoid cluttering the main interface.
- 🔽 Swipe from top to bottom to open the control center.
- 🔍 Find the screenshot icon (may be called a screenshot»).
- 👆 Press it with one touch.
- 🖼️ The screen blinks, and a preview of the finished file will appear in the corner.
The advantage of this method is also the ability to quickly edit. Immediately after creating a picture through the curtain, the system often suggests adding notes or text without going to the gallery, which saves time if you need to urgently send a tagged image to the messenger.
☑️ Quick access settings
Three fingers function and other gestures
Xiaomi MIUI is famous for its gestures that make interaction with the smartphone more intuitive. One of the most popular is to create a screenshot with three fingers. This feature requires pre-activation in the settings, as by default it can be turned off to save resources or to avoid accidental clicks.
To enable this option, go to the settings section, look for "Advanced" or "Special Features", and then select "Screenshot" and activate the "Three Fingers" switch, and then a simple swipe of three fingers from top to bottom of the screen will instantly save the image.
This method is especially useful when browsing the web or social networks, when hands are busy holding the phone, but you need to quickly save the content. However, it is worth remembering that on a small screen Redmi 9A (6.53 inches) to perform this gesture can be a bit difficult for people with a large palm.
⚠️ Note: The three-finger function may conflict with some drawing or reading apps that use multi-touch gestures. If the screenshots are self-created, turn off the option.
There is also a lesser-known method through the Quick Ball menu, which is a floating button on the screen, similar to AssistiveTouch on iOS. By enabling it, you can take screenshots with a single tap on a virtual button, which is a great alternative to physical keys.
The secret of a fast team
Long screenshot: Creating scrollable images
Often, a single screen isn’t enough to capture a long WhatsApp message, a browser article, or a list of products on an online store. Redmi 9A has an Advanced Screenshot (or Long Screenshot) feature that allows you to stitch multiple screens into one long picture.
The process starts as usual: you take a standard screenshot of any of the ways described above, and immediately after that, in the upper right corner of the thumbnail that appears, there will be an additional button with an arrow down or the words "More", which is responsible for activating the scroll mode.
By pressing this button, the system will automatically scroll downwards, capturing new areas. You can stop the process at any time by touching the screen, or wait until the content is finished. The maximum length of this image is limited by system parameters, but usually enough for most tasks.
| Parameter | A typical screenshot. | Long screenshot. |
|---|---|---|
| File size | Small (100-300KB) | Medium/Large (1-5 MB) |
| Time of creation | Instantly. | Depends on the length of the content |
| Format | PNG/JPEG | PNG (most often) |
| Editing | Immediately available | Available after completion of the scroll |
It’s worth noting that the long screenshot feature doesn’t work in some applications that block composite images for security reasons or because of the layout of the interface, and in such cases you’ll have to take a few regular shots.
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A long screenshot is an indispensable tool for saving correspondence and web pages, but it increases the file size many times over, which is important when there is a lack of memory.
Where to store and how to edit screenshots
After a successful image is created, many users lose their way. In the Android operating system that runs Redmi 9A, all media files have a well-defined storage structure. Screenshots are sent to a separate folder by default so as not to mix with photos taken on the camera.
You can find the saved file through the Gallery or Files app. The gallery usually has a separate tab or album called Screenshots. If you use a Explorer, the path to the file will look like this: Internal memory → DCIM → Screenshots or MIUI → gallery → cloud → screenshots, depending on the version of MIUI.
The built-in image editor in MIUI allows you to perform basic operations immediately after you have created a picture. You can cut the extra edges, draw arrows, add text or bloat sensitive information (such as card or phone numbers) before sending.
- 🖌️ Drawing: Choose a brush or marker to highlight important areas.
- ✂️ Frame: Cut the image to the desired size.
- 🔤 Text: Add explanations or comments directly to the picture.
- 🔒 Blurring: Hide Personal Data with the Mosaic Tool