How to take a screenshot on Xiaomi Redmi Note 5

Xiaomi smartphones have long proven themselves as devices with rich functionality, but even experienced users sometimes have difficulties with basic operations. The question of how to capture the image from the screen on the Redmi Note 5 model remains one of the most frequent searches, especially given the variety of versions of MIUI firmware.

This model, which came to market a few years ago, is still in use today because of its price-performance balance, and the presence of an infrared port and a metal case. Understanding all the ways you can take a screenshot will save you time and make the process of using the gadget more comfortable.

In this guide, we will take a detailed look at every action algorithm available, including those that many owners do not even know about, learn how to set up automatic saving, where to look for ready-made files, and what to do if the standard button combination stops working.

Standard combination of physical buttons

The fastest and most time-tested way to capture a current image on a display is by pressing two physical keys simultaneously. On the Redmi Note 5, as on most Android devices, a bundle of Volume and Power buttons is responsible for this function. It is important to observe the correct timing: pressing should be short-term, but synchronous.

If you hold the buttons too long, the system may see this as a command to force a reboot or activate the voice assistant, which will lead to the opposite result.If executed correctly, you will hear the characteristic click of the camera shutter (if the sound is not turned off), and at the top of the screen will appear a smaller copy of the image taken.

Some users complain that the first time you don't get to the right beat, in this case, it is worth training on the desktop to develop muscle memory, and also make sure that the protective glass or case does not interfere with the full pressing of the keys, as thick bumpers often shift the point of contact.

• 📱 Press the volume down button and the lock button at the same time.
• ⚡ Hold them for less than a second, then let them go.
• 🔔 Check the notification in the curtain about successful creation.
• 🖼️ Click on the thumbnail to go straight to editing.

💡

If you have thumbs, it is more convenient to first press the volume button, and a split second to add a power button so as not to touch the screen.

Use of notification panel and swipe

For those who are physically uncomfortable reaching for buttons or getting damaged, MIUI has a software method in place, and there's a label in the notification curtain that allows you to take a single-touch shot, which is especially relevant when the phone is on the table or connected to the dock.

To activate this feature, you need to open the control center (swipe down from the top edge of the screen) and find the Scissors icon or Screenshot icon. If you don't see it among the first icons, flip the panel to the right or click on three dots/edit to add this element to a prominent place.

An even more advanced method is the use of gestures, and you can activate a feature in the system settings that allows you to take screenshots by simply tapping on the screen or swiping with three fingers, which makes the process really magical and instantaneous.

But remember, activating gestures requires calibrating the touchscreen sensitivity, and if you have a thick protective glass on, the system may not recognize a triple touch or swipe with three fingers the first time.

• 👇 Lower the notification curtain down by swipe.
• ✂️ Find and click the screenshot icon».
• 🖐️ Or swipe three fingers down the screen.
• ✅ The image will be saved in the gallery instantly.

Setting up an extended screenshot menu

MIUI is famous for its custom approach to system functions. Unlike pure Android, it has a special menu that appears immediately after a screenshot is created, which allows you not only to save a picture, but also to send it immediately, edit it or take a long screenshot.

To adjust the behavior of this menu, go to Settings, then select Additional (or Advanced Settings) and find the Screenshot subsection, which contains key settings that affect your experience.

This section allows you to turn off the shutter sound if it interferes, or change the format of the save, and it adjusts the duration of the thumbnail after you take a picture, and if you often accidentally touch the thumbnail and go to the editor instead of just taking a photo, reduce the time it takes to show it.

⚠️ Attention: The Smooth Scrolling feature for creating long screenshots may not work properly on sites with lazy content loading, where images only appear when you scrolle through.

Special attention should be paid to the Long Screenshot function. After the usual creation of the picture, in the menu that appears, select an icon that resembles a scroll or arrow down. The phone will automatically scroll the page and glue the contents into one long picture.

Voice control and Google Assistant

Modern smartphones allow you to control many functions without hands, and the Redmi Note 5 is no exception. If your hands are busy or dirty, the Google Assistant comes to the rescue, which is especially convenient when you need to save information from the screen urgently, and physical access to the buttons is limited.

To activate, simply say "Ok Google" or "Hey Google," and then say "Take a screenshot" or "Make a screenshot." The system recognizes the request and performs the action just as if you pressed buttons. The accuracy of recognition depends on the quality of the microphone and the absence of background noise.

You can also use the built-in MIUI voice control capabilities if the Google Assistant is not installed or active. In voice settings, you can assign special commands to run certain scenarios, including taking screenshots.

Using voice commands can be slower than pressing buttons because of the time it takes to recognize speech, but in situations where hand sterility or convenience is important, this method becomes uncontested.

• 🎤 Activate the assistant with a phrase or button.
• 🗣️ Say the command “Take a screenshot” clearly».
• ⏳ Wait for confirmation of the action.
• 📂 Check the result in the gallery.

Where to look and how to edit saved files

Once you have successfully created an image, the system saves it to a special folder. By default, all screenshots go to /storage/emulated/0/Pictures/Screenshots. The standard Gallery app creates a separate album for them, which is usually at the top of the list.

You can use a built-in editor to work with files quickly, which allows you to cut edges, overlay text, draw arrows, and blur sensitive information, and these tools are built directly into the browsing interface, eliminating the need to install third-party applications.

If you plan to send screenshots through messengers, it is worth knowing that MIUI sometimes automatically compresses images to save traffic. To maintain maximum quality when sending, it is better to use the File function in Telegram or send it via Mi Drop (now Xiaomi Share).

💡

Use the PNG format for screenshots with text or graphs to avoid JPEG compression artifacts.

Frequent problems and their solution

Despite the stability of the system, users may encounter situations where screenshots are not created, most often due to software limitations of specific applications, such as banking applications or incognito mode in the browser block the creation of screenshots for security reasons.

In such cases, you may see a black screen instead of the expected image or hear a sound, but the file will not survive.This is not a malfunction of the phone, but a security mechanism of the Android operating system, which respects the privacy policies of financial institutions.

Another common problem is a lack of free memory, where if the internal storage is overcrowded, the system simply won't be able to write a new file, in which case you need to clear the cache or delete unnecessary files before you try again.

⚠️ Attempts to bypass screenshot protection in banking applications using third-party software can lead to the blocking of the account by the bank’s security service.

If the buttons are physically good but not responsive, try rebooting the device, which will reset the temporary errors in the touchscreen and button drivers, and in rare cases, you need to reset to factory settings, but this is a last resort.