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

Owners of the legendary flagship Xiaomi Mi 5 often face the need to save the image from the screen, whether it is correspondence in the messenger, an interesting article or the result of the game. Despite the fact that the device was released a few years ago, its operating system MIUI provides powerful tools for working with multimedia, which remain relevant today. Understanding all available methods of creating screenshots will allow you to significantly speed up the interaction with your smartphone and make the process of saving information as convenient as possible.

In this article, we will take a closer look at not only the standard keyboard combinations, but also less obvious ways, such as using the notification bar and voice commands. Screenshots on Xiaomi Mi 5 can be taken in many ways, and the choice of the specific method depends on your habits and current situation. We will also touch on the topic of gesture settings, which is available on the latest versions of the firmware, and analyze exactly where the received files are stored.

The special thing to note is that MIUI has its own unique features that make it different from pure Android. For example, once you've created a picture, you have the ability to instantly edit an image or create a long version of it. On the 5.15-inch Xiaomi Mi 5, it's convenient to use a combination of physical buttons, because they're arranged ergonomically. Let's move from theory to practice and look at each method in detail.

Classical method: a combination of physical buttons

The fastest and most reliable way that works on any Android device, including the Xiaomi Mi 5, is to use the smartphone’s physical keyboard.This method requires no pre-setting and is available immediately after the device is turned on.

It is important to keep the synchrony of pressing: if you press one button before the other, the smartphone can perceive this as a command to call the power menu or change the sound level. The combination of buttons should be done with a short but confident press. Visual confirmation of the success of the action will be the characteristic sound of the camera shutter (if the sound is on) and animation of the screen folding into a corner.

⚠️ Warning: Don’t press the buttons too long, otherwise the Xiaomi Mi 5 may activate the device’s switch-off or reboot menu, which will interrupt your current activities.

Once you've created the image, you'll see a thumbnail at the top of the screen that will open the editor when you click on it, which allows you to quickly crop the image or make markup without going to the gallery. If the thumbnail doesn't show up, check the notification settings, which may be hidden to save battery life.

Many users prefer this method because of its tactile return and predictability. On the Xiaomi Mi 5, the buttons have a clear stroke, which minimizes the number of false positives. However, if the smartphone screen is damaged or you use a bulky case, physical pressing can be difficult, and then it is worth turning to software methods.

Use of the Quick Settings Panel (Curtains)

If using physical buttons is uncomfortable for some reason, MIUI offers a great alternative through the software interface.You can take a screenshot directly from the notification panel, which is especially true if the volume buttons on your Xiaomi Mi 5 have a backlash or are unstable.

In the quick settings menu that opens, you need to find the scissors icon, which can be on the first page or hidden in the second menu by swiping to the left. If you don't see this icon, click on the edit button (usually a pencil icon or three dots in the corner) and drag the Screenshot element into the active zone.

The good thing about this method is that it completely eliminates mechanical interference with the body of the device, and the notification panel responds to touch instantly, and the likelihood of an error is minimized, and it also allows you to take screenshots with one hand, which is often necessary in transport or when the second hand is occupied.

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Add the Screenshot widget to the top of the notification bar for instant access, as in the standard configuration it is often in the second row.

It is worth noting that on some custom firmware or older versions of MIUI, this feature may have been called differently or not, but for the official Xiaomi Mi 5 software, it is standard. After clicking on the icon, you will hear the same sound and see the same animations as when using the buttons.

Customization and use of gestures (Three fingers)

One of the most convenient features of the MIUI shell is the ability to create screenshots using gestures. On the Xiaomi Mi 5, this functionality can be available by default or require activation depending on the version of the installed firmware, the essence of the method is to conduct three fingers from top to bottom on the screen.

To activate this feature, you need to go to the system settings. The path usually looks like: Settings → Additional settings → Screenshots. In this menu, you need to tick the box opposite to the item "Three-finger screenshot." Once this option is enabled, the system will respond to the corresponding movement.

Using a gesture requires some skill, especially on a 5.15-inch screen where the maneuvering space is limited. The three-finger gesture should be smooth and pass through a significant portion of the screen. If the system does not respond, try to increase the speed or press your fingers closer to the display.

The advantage of this method is that it is aesthetically pleasing and doesn't have to reach for the buttons on the body, which is especially valuable when the smartphone is in a thin sliding case where the buttons can be broken, but if you have In your pocket mode, the touchscreen sensitivity can be reduced and you have to make a gesture with more confidence.

Voice control via Google Assistant

Modern smartphones, including the Xiaomi Mi 5, have powerful voice control capabilities. If your hands are busy or the device is far away but connected to a microphone (for example, through a headset), you can use the Google Assistant.

Once activated, say "Take a screenshot" or "Take a screenshot." The system recognizes the request and performs an action identical to pressing physical buttons. This method may seem less convenient in a quiet environment, but it is indispensable in situations where physical contact with the screen is difficult.

It is important that the device has Google Assistant enabled and Russian speech recognition configured. Also, the function may require an active Internet connection, since voice command processing often occurs on the company’s servers. On Xiaomi Mi 5, this feature works stably if you have installed current versions of Google services.

⚠️ Warning: Voice control may not work if the app is enabled with enhanced security or if you are in a bank app with screenshot protection.

Using voice commands opens up new possibilities for people with disabilities or in specific smartphone environments, demonstrating how flexible the Android operating system can be in conjunction with the MIUI shell. Try this method at least once to assess its convenience in everyday use.

Creating long screenshots (scrolling)

Often, you need to save not just one frame, but an entire page of a site, a long correspondence or a document. A standard screenshot in this case will not work, because it will trim information. Xiaomi Mi 5 features a “Long screenshot” or “Scroll”, which allows you to “stitch” several screens into one long image.

The process starts as usual: you take a screenshot in any convenient way (buttons, gestures or through a curtain), immediately after that, a thumbnail will appear in the corner of the screen. It will have a button with the image of the scroll or arrows down. Press it, and the screen will automatically scroll down, capturing new content.

You can stop the process at any time by touching the screen or waiting for the end of the page. The long screenshot is saved as a single file in the gallery, which is very convenient for demonstrating dialogues or instructions. The quality of the final image remains high, as the Xiaomi Mi 5 uses a matrix with good resolution.

This feature is especially useful when saving web pages where it is important to see context, or correspondence in messengers where you need to show the history of communication in its entirety. It is worth considering that when you create a long screenshot, the load on the processor and RAM Xiaomi Mi 5 increases, so on very heavy pages there may be a slight delay.

Where to look and how to edit saved images

Once you've successfully created a screenshot, it automatically stores it in the device's memory. By default, all screenshots are placed in a separate folder in the gallery, so you don't mix them with the photos you've taken on the camera, and you can find them by opening the Gallery app and selecting Screenshots.

The file structure on Xiaomi Mi 5 also allows you to find these images through any file manager. The path to the folder is usually as follows: Internal memory → DCIM → Screenshots or MIUI → gallery → cloud → screenshots, depending on the firmware version and synchronization settings. Knowledge of the path is useful when connecting a smartphone to a computer to transfer files.

The built-in MIUI editor offers a wide range of processing tools, and once created, you can:

• ✂️ Cut the extra edges and change the proportions of the frame.
• 🎨 Draw with a marker or add text over the image.
• 🔢 Add serial numbers or time stamps.
• 📤 Instantly share the file through messengers or social networks.

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The folder with screenshots syncs with the cloud Xiaomi Cloud and Google Photos, if enabled the appropriate option, which guarantees the safety of data even if you lose your phone.

Editing screenshots on Xiaomi Mi 5 is fast thanks to system optimization, you can add important notes right at the time of creation, which eliminates the need to run third-party applications, which makes the process of working with information on the smartphone as efficient and holistic as possible.

Problem Solving and FAQ

Despite the simplicity of the process, users sometimes face difficulties, such as not creating a screenshot in certain applications (banking programs, incognito mode) for security reasons, and sometimes the screenshot button in the curtain is inactive (gray), in which case, check whether the Do Not Disturb mode or guest mode is enabled, which may limit the functionality.

If you notice that the quality of the screenshots has fallen, check the screen resolution settings. On the Xiaomi Mi 5, there is a Full HD matrix, and the pictures should be clear. Blurring can only occur when you zoom in on a finished image or use third-party, unoptimized launchers.