How to take a screenshot on Xiaomi Mi 5 Plus: the complete guide

Xiaomi smartphone owners often face the need to save the image from the screen, whether it is correspondence in the messenger, a route map or an important moment in the game. For the Xiaomi Mi 5 Plus model, which is based on the classic MIUI shell, there are many convenient tools for creating screenshots. Understanding all available methods will allow you to save time and instantly capture the necessary information without using third-party applications.

The screenshots on this device can be created using standard system key combinations, as well as through specialized gestures developed by Xiaomi engineers. Depending on the situation, you can choose the most comfortable option for you, whether it is using physical buttons, one-hand control or voice commands. In this article, we will discuss each of the ways in which you can master them to perfection.

It's worth noting that once an image is created, it automatically saves to the gallery, but it also offers advanced editing capabilities immediately after shooting. The MIUI interface allows you to quickly crop the excess, add text or send a file to the messenger without leaving the current context of the work, making the process not just copying the picture, but a full-fledged communication tool.

Using physical buttons for quick snapshots

The most tried and true method, which works on the vast majority of Android smartphones, including the Mi 5 Plus, is a mechanical keyboard combination. It is ideal in situations where the touch screen reacts slowly or when you need to take a picture as quickly as possible without being distracted by searching for a menu.

It is important to keep the right timing: pressing should be short-term, almost instantaneous. If you hold your fingers on the buttons too long, the phone may perceive this as a command to log into the off menu or restore mode, which will interrupt your plans. Once successfully executed, you will hear the characteristic sound of the camera shutter, and at the top of the screen a save notification will appear.

⚠️ Warning: If you press the volume button instead of the volume button, you won't get a screenshot. In some firmware versions, this action can start a voice recorder or change the volume of the media.

This method remains the most reliable, as it does not depend on sensor calibration or software settings. Even if the system is temporarily got stuck, the key combination often continues to operate at a low level, allowing you to fix an error or a message of failure.

Screenshots with three fingers and other gestures

MIUI is famous for its clever one-handedness, and three-finger screenshots are one of the most popular of these, especially when the phone is on the table or when the other hand is busy, and you have to swipe three fingers down the center of the screen to activate this feature.

However, this option can be disabled by default, so you need to activate it in the settings before using it. The path to the switch is as follows: Settings → Additional settings → Screenshot → Screenshot with three fingers. Make sure that the switchboard opposite this point is switched to the active position.

Using gestures requires a certain skill, as touching needs to be simultaneous and fast enough. If you swipe your fingers too slowly, the system can recognize this as scrolling a page or zooming an image. Regular practice will allow you to take screenshots on the Xiaomi Mi 5 Plus in just a fraction of a second.

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For a more accurate hit, try to swipe your fingers not at the edge of the screen, but closer to the central axis, where the sensor usually responds more stably.

There is also an alternative gesture available in some versions of the firmware: tapping two fingers on the screen.The principle is similar, but requires customization on the same menu. Experiment with both options to see which one (more appropriate) for your smartphone usage style.

Control through notification curtain and menu

If physical buttons are unavailable or damaged for some reason, and gestures don't work, you can always use the interface software. There's a built-in shortcut in the Mi 5 Plus notification curtain to create a screenshot, unlock the phone, swipe the control center from top to bottom, and find the icon with the image of the scissors.

This method is especially useful when the phone screen is contaminated or mocon and the sensor does not respond well to complex multi-touch gestures. Pressing the icon in the curtain guarantees 100% results, since it is a software command that does not depend on tactile sensors. Also, here you can find a button to record the screen if you want a video, not a static image.

You can't put a screenshot button on the home screen or in the widgets, but you can take it to the top of the curtain for quick access. Just tap on a pencil or an edit button in the curtain and drag the Screenshot icon into the active zone, which will take just a few seconds, but will make life much easier in the future.

Voice control and assistants

Modern technology allows you to control your smartphone without touching it, and the Xiaomi Mi 5 Plus is no exception. The built-in voice assistant Google Assistant or Mi Voice (depending on the region and version of the software) is able to execute a command to take a screenshot, which is ideal when your hands are busy or dirty, for example, during cooking or repair.

To activate, you just say "Ok Google" (or hold the home/menu button if configured) and clearly say "Take a screenshot" or "Take a screenshot." The system recognizes the command, emits an audible signal and saves the image. The accuracy of recognition depends on the quality of the microphone and the absence of extraneous noise.

The use of voice control also opens up opportunities for people with disabilities, making the smartphone more accessible.Voice commands work even in a locked state (with appropriate security settings), which adds another layer of versatility.

⚠️ Attention: Voice control requires an active internet connection to process a request by Google or Xiaomi servers. Without the network, the command may not execute.

Long screenshot and extended functions

One of the most popular features in MIUI is the ability to create long screenshots, or "scroll shots." This is indispensable when you need to save all the correspondence in the messenger, a long article in the browser or a contact list. After you create a regular screenshot (any of the ways described above), a thumbnail appears at the top of the screen.

This thumbnail will have a Scroll button (or an icon with arrows down) and you click on it and you will start automatic scrolling mode. The screen will slowly move down, grabbing new content and stitching it with the previous frame. You can stop the process at any time by touching the screen.

The quality of the final image depends on the resolution of the Mi 5 Plus screen and the stability of the application, the content of which you save. In some cases, for example, in secure banking applications or incognito browser mode, the creation of screenshots can be blocked by the security system in order to protect your data.

Where to look and how to edit saved files

Once you've taken a screenshot, the system saves it to a special folder, and you can find the image by opening the Gallery app and going to the Screenshots album. The path to the file in the file system usually looks like this: /storage/emulated/0/DCIM/Screenshots or /storage/emulated/0/Pictures/Screenshots.

Once you've created a picture, if you click on a notification or thumbnail, you open up the built-in editor, and you have the basic tools available here: cropping (Crop), marker drawing, adding text and stickers, and this allows you to quickly highlight important information before you send a file to the person you're talking to without installing third-party apps.

Screenshot files take up space in memory, so it's recommended that you periodically audit and delete the extra. The gallery has a "Clean Up" feature that automatically finds similar images, blurred photos and old screenshots, suggesting that you free up space.

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Regular cleaning of the folder with screenshots helps to free up precious space in the internal memory of the smartphone and speeds up the work of the gallery.

Remember that screenshots containing sensitive information (passwords, SMS codes, card data) should be deleted immediately after use or hidden in a hidden folder (the “Hidden Album” in the MIUI Gallery), accessible only by fingerprint or pin code.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)