Budget smartphone owners often face the need to capture the information displayed on the display. Xiaomi Redmi 9C, based on the shell MIUI, offers users a variety of options for this task. Unlike some other devices, there is no single universal button, but there are several effective combinations and software solutions. Understanding all available methods will allow you to quickly save any data, whether it is correspondence, map of the terrain or gameplay moment.
The main challenge for beginners is the variety of firmware versions that can be pre-installed on the device when sold. Global ROM and China ROM may have minor differences in the layout of interface elements. However, the basic principles of the Android system remain unchanged. We will look at the most relevant ways that are guaranteed to work on current versions of the software.
It's worth noting that taking a screenshot isn't just about fixing an image; it's the first step to editing, cropping, or sending important information to an interlocutor. On Redmi 9C, this process is optimized for fast work even with the less powerful MediaTek Helio G35 processor. We'll go through each method in detail so you can choose the one that's most convenient for you.
Use of physical control buttons
The most common and fastest way available on any Android device is a combination of mechanical keys. On the Xiaomi Redmi 9C case, the power and volume buttons are located on the right side. To create a screenshot, you need to press the on and off button at the same time. It is important to press them sharply and simultaneously, rather than sequentially.
If you hold the buttons too long, the phone may perceive this as a command to call the off menu or voice assistant.A short, confident tap will cause a characteristic camera shutter sound and a visual flash of the screen.A thumbnail will appear in the upper corner confirming the successful saving of the image in the gallery.
⚠️ Warning: Don't push buttons too hard. Mechanical switches on budget models can be sensitive to physical impact, and excessive pressure will eventually lead to them unwinding.
This method is good for its versatility, but has one drawback: on large screens, such as the 6.53 inch Redmi 9C, it is sometimes difficult to get your fingers on both buttons at the same time, especially if the phone is in a case.
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If volume buttons are used to control music or video, a brief tap of the combination may interrupt playback, it is better to pause the content before creating a screenshot.
Screenshot through the notification curtain
The MIUI interface provides easy access to system functions through the control panel. To use this method, you need to swipe from top to bottom to open the notification curtain. At the bottom of the screen, you'll see a number of quick access icons, and you'll find an icon with a picture of scissors or a camera, which is called "Screenshot."
If you don't see the icon right away, try swiping a number of icons to the left or clicking on the edit button (usually a pencil icon or a tripod). In the Quick Access editing menu, you can drag the screenshot shortcut to the visible area of the panel, which will allow you to always have the function at hand without having to reach for the buttons on the case.
The use of a software button is especially important when one of the physical buttons is faulty or is engaged in another process.In addition, this method eliminates the risk of accidental change in the volume of the media during a game or watching a video.
Three fingers function and gestures
MIUI is famous for its advanced gesture control features, and one of the most useful is the ability to take a screenshot by swiping three fingers from top to bottom across the screen, which is not activated by default on all firmware versions, so you need to enable it in your settings yourself.
To activate, go to Settings → Additional Features → Screenshot. Check the box against the "Three-finger screenshot" option, and once you turn on this option, a simple three-finger swipe on any part of the screen will instantly create a snapshot, which is especially useful when using your phone with one hand.
However, it should be noted that on the Redmi 9C with its diagonal and HD+ resolution, three-finger conduction may not always be accurate. If the fingers are too close to each other, the system may not recognize the gesture, and this method may conflict with navigation gestures in some applications.
☑️ Customization of gestures
Creating screenshots through the Camera app
Many users don’t know, but Xiaomi’s standard Camera app has a built-in screenshot-taking feature.This may sound strange, but the logic is simple: you can “photograph” the contents of the screen using the camera’s software capabilities, although technically it works through the system’s image-making API.
To do this, open the Camera app and go to “More.” In the list of additional modes, you can often find the option “Screenshot” or similar if it was added by developers in your version of MIUI. However, a more common scenario is the use of widgets or quick commands inside the camera interface when viewing a photo, but to create a snapshot of the current screen, this method is less direct than buttons.
However, some regional firmware features a Long Screenshot feature via the edit menu after a normal photo, but this refers more to processing. For direct screen capture through the camera icon on the desktop, this works rarely and depends on the specific version of the launcher. A more reliable analog is the use of the multitasking menu.
In the menu of running applications (the button “Menu” or swipe from the bottom with retention), sometimes the “Screenshot” button appears under the thumbnail of the open window, which allows you to save the state of the application without unfolding it to the full screen, which is useful for keeping confidential information in the background.
Long screenshot and extended functions
One of the most popular features in the Xiaomi Redmi 9C is the ability to create long screenshots, or “scrolls”, which allows you to save the contents of a long web page, correspondence in a messenger or a document that does not fit on a single screen. After creating a regular screenshot (buttons or gestures), a thumbnail appears in the upper corner.
In this thumbnail, you quickly click on the "Scroll" button (the icon with arrows down). The system will automatically start scrolling the contents of the page down, taking pictures and gluing them into one long picture. The process will stop when you touch the screen or reach the end of the page. The quality of the final image may be lower than the original due to compression.
| Method | Speed. | Convenience | Risk of error |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buttons | Tall. | Average. | Low. |
| Curtain. | Medium | High. | Low. |
| Three fingers. | Tall. | High. | Medium. |
| Voice. | Low. | Low. | High-pitched |
A long screenshot is a powerful tool, but it requires a stable system. If the application you're taking the picture in freezes while scrolling, the process will stop, and it's also worth remembering that very long images can take up a significant amount of memory and slowly open in some galleries.
Secrets of a Long Screenshot
Voice control and Google Assistant
Modern smartphones allow you to control the system voice. Redmi 9C is active voice assistant Google Assistant. To take a screenshot with a voice, you need to say the phrase “Ok Google” or hold the button home for a long time (if the navigation is set with buttons), and then say “Take a screenshot” or “Make a screenshot”.
This method may seem inconvenient in a noisy place or when you need to keep sensitive information that you don't want to voice, but in situations where your hands are busy or dirty, voice control is the only way out, and the accuracy of recognition depends on the quality of the microphone and the setting of the system's language.
It is worth noting that the voice assistant may not work if the screen is turned off or locked, since the Android security policy prohibits access to the screen content in sleep mode.
⚠️ Attention: Voice commands can be activated by accident if the phone is lying upside down and there is a conversation with similar phonetic commands nearby.
Third-party applications and utilities
If standard features aren't enough, Google Play offers hundreds of apps to create screenshots, and programs like Screen Master or LongShot offer advanced functionality: creating collages, recording screens with sound, automatically creating screenshots on a schedule.
Using third-party software requires special permissions, the application must access "Above Other Applications" and permission to record the screen. Without this, Android system restrictions will not allow the program to take a picture. Be careful when installing such utilities and download them only from trusted sources.
Some applications may conflict with the MIUI shell, causing lags or increased battery consumption. Xiaomi's built-in tools are usually more stable and do not require additional software installation. It makes sense to resort to third-party solutions only for specific tasks, such as automatically scrolling pages in applications that block a standard long screenshot.
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The built-in MIUI features cover 99% of the user’s needs, and installing third-party applications is only justified for highly specialized tasks, such as automation or recording video from the screen.
Where are the screenshots stored and how to find them
Once a screenshot is successfully created, the file is automatically stored in the device's memory. The standard path to the folder is: Internal Memory → DCIM → Screenshots. In some versions of the firmware, the folder may simply be called Screenshots at the root of the internal memory or reside in the MIUI → gallery → cloud → screenshots folder.
You can find the images you've saved through the Gallery app, and you can create a separate Screenshots folder, where you sort files by date, and you can easily find the image you want from hundreds of photos, and you can edit it right away, draw arrows on it, or cut it off.
Screenshot files take up space in memory, and if you take them often, they can fill up the storage quickly. Check this folder regularly and delete unnecessary images. The default save format is JPEG, but in some camera or application settings you can find the PNG format that provides better quality without loss.