How to take a screenshot on Xiaomi Mi 9 Pro: the complete guide

Owners of flagship devices often face the need to quickly capture the information displayed on the display. Xiaomi Mi 9 Pro, released in 2019, remains popular due to its powerful processor and high-quality AMOLED-The standard algorithm of actions, which is familiar to many, may not work due to software failures or individual interface settings. MIUI.

There are several screenshot techniques, each with its own advantages depending on the situation: some of them allow you to capture the long page of the site as a whole, others are ideal for games, and still others are indispensable for one-handed management. Understanding all the options available will allow you to effectively use your smartphone in any environment, whether it is saving correspondence or fixing an error in the application.

In this detailed guide, we’ll break down all the current techniques that work on current firmware versions, learn how to customize handy gestures, use voice control, and fix typical problems when a device refuses to respond to commands. Our goal is to make the image saving process as fast and intuitive as possible for every Mi 9 Pro owner.

Classical Method Through Physical Buttons

The most common and reliable way, familiar to Android users for many years, involves simultaneously pressing two hardware keys. On the Xiaomi Mi 9 Pro, the on button is located on the right side, and the volume control is on the left. To get the result, you need to press the volume button and the power button at the same time. The action should be short and sharp, resembling a light click, not a long retention.

If you hold the buttons too long, the phone may perceive this as a command to call the off menu or start Google Assistant. When the command is successful, the device will emit a characteristic camera shutter sound (if the sound is on), and the screen will blink. In the upper right corner, a thumbnail of the image will appear, which can be immediately edited or sent.

⚠️ Warning: If you press the volume button with the power, the phone will try to take a photo to the front camera, not a screenshot.

This method works even if the touch screen is temporarily unresponsive or freezes, but if the physical volume button is backlashed or damaged, it may not work the first time, and in such cases, you should look for software alternatives that do not require mechanical action on the device body.

β˜‘οΈ Check before using buttons

Done: 0 / 4

Using the Quick Settings Menu

For those who are uncomfortable reaching for buttons or prefer to control through the interface, the system has a special function in the notification curtain. To activate it, you need to swipe from top to bottom of the screen, opening the control panel, and among the quick access icons, you need to find an item called "Screenshot" or "Screenshot".

If you don't see the icon in the front row, swipe the panel to the left or click on the edit button (usually a pencil icon or three dots). In the editor's menu, drag the screenshot shortcut to the active zone, and then it takes literally one second and one tap to create copies of the display content.

This method is particularly handy when you are in full-screen video viewing or playing, and the side buttons can be locked by the game mode.It also eliminates the risk of random media volume changes during the process, which sometimes happens when using physical keys.

πŸ’‘

Add the Screenshot widget to your desktop for even faster access without opening the notification curtain.

Screenshots with three fingers and gestures

One of the most convenient features of the MIUI shell is the ability to take pictures with a three-finger swipe. This feature can be disabled by default, so you need to activate it in the settings. To do this, go to the "More", then select "Screenshots" and activate the "Swipe with three fingers" switch.

Once activated, just swipe your three fingers from top to bottom across any part of the screen. The system instantly recognizes the gesture and saves the image. This is ideal for anyone holding the phone with one hand or when the other is busy. The gesture works in almost all applications, including browsers, gallery and social networks.

It's important to note that the gesture needs to work properly, so that the touch area is large enough, so if you have a rounded-edge protective glass or a thick case, you may feel less sensitive, so you might want to swipe your fingers a little faster or tighter to hold them against the display.

πŸ“Š What way to create screenshots is more convenient for you?
Buttons.
Three fingers
Through the menu
Voice.
Not using.

Voice control and assistants

Modern smartphones allow you to control many voice functions, and the Xiaomi Mi 9 Pro is no exception. You can use the built-in Google Assistant or the Chinese Xiao AI assistant (if the region allows) to take a touchless screenshot. Just say the phrase "Ok Google, take a screenshot" or "Take a screenshot."

This method is especially useful in situations where hands are busy or dirty, such as when cooking or working with documents. Voice command is processed quickly, and in a couple of seconds you will get the finished image. Stable work requires a stable Internet connection, since the processing of the request often takes place on servers.

You can also set the assistant to activate by short command or shaking the device, which further speeds up the process, but it is worth remembering that in noisy rooms, it can be difficult to recognize the command, and the phone may not perform the action the first time.

Long screenshot and extended functions

Often, you need to save not only the visible part of the screen, but the entire page as well, such as a long list of contacts or an article in the browser. After you create a normal screenshot (in any of the ways described above), a thumbnail appears in the top corner, click on it, and then select an icon that resembles a scroll or arrow down, with the caption "Scroll" or "Extend screenshot".

The device will automatically start to scroll down, adding new sections to the image, so you can stop the process at any time by touching the screen, or wait for the end of the page, and automatically glue all the pieces together into one long, high-quality picture.

Some versions of MIUI also have text recognition (OCR) right after you've created a picture, so that the system can automatically extract text from a picture, allowing you to copy or translate it, making a screenshot a powerful tool for working with information.

Why does the long screenshot end?
A long screenshot can be interrupted if dynamic elements, videos or floating ad units are encountered on the page, and the system perceives the change in page structure as the end of the content.

Where are the pictures stored and how to find them

All images you create are automatically saved to the device gallery. To access them, open the standard Gallery app and go to Screenshots, where files are sorted by date of creation, and the most recent ones are at the top of the list. The path to the file system is usually /MIUI/screenshot/.

If you use cloud services like Google Photos or Mi Cloud, your images can automatically sync to the server.This allows you to access stored data from any other device, whether it's a tablet or a computer. Check your sync settings to make sure important data isn't lost when you change phone.

The table below compares the main characteristics of different screenshots so you can choose the best one for yourself:

MethodSpeed.ConvenienceDependence on software
ButtonsTall.Average.Low.
Menu (Stork)MediumHigh.Medium
Three fingers.Very high.Very high.Tall.
Voice.Low.SpecificTall.

πŸ’‘

The fastest way to use it is with a three-finger gesture, but buttons remain the most reliable option when the interface is getting stuck.

Solution and troubleshooting

Sometimes users are faced with a situation where screenshots are not taken, which can be caused by several reasons: First, some applications, especially banking ones (such as Sberbank Online or Google Pay), block the ability to take screenshots for security reasons, in which case the screen will simply remain black or a notice of ban will appear.

Second, the problem may be a lack of free memory: If the internal storage of Xiaomi Mi 9 Pro is crowded, the system will not be able to save the new file. Check the available space in the settings and if necessary, clear the cache or delete unnecessary files.

⚠️ Note: If screenshots are no longer saved after the system update, try resetting the Gallery or Screenshots app settings through the application management menu.

It’s also worth checking if Do Not Disturb mode or special game modes are turned on, which can block certain features to prevent accidental taps.

Can I take screenshots in incognito mode?
In most browsers and incognito applications, screenshots are blocked at the Android level for privacy purposes.
Why does the screenshot appear black in some apps?
It's an Android security mechanism called FLAG_SECURE. Applications that work with sensitive data (banks, messengers with secret chats) prohibit screen capture to prevent leakage of information.
How to change the format of saving screenshots?
By default, the Xiaomi Mi 9 Pro saves images in JPG format to save space. In some versions of MIUI, you can change the format to PNG through the engineering menu or special applications to maintain quality without loss, but this requires developer rights.
Where did the screenshots go after the update?
When you update your firmware, the folder structure changes sometimes. Check the /Pictures/Screenshots/ or /DCIM/Screenshots/ folder. It is also possible that the.nomedia file in the folder hides the images from the gallery - it needs to be deleted through the file manager.