Xiaomi’s current smartphones, including the Redmi and POCO series, provide users with a variety of ways to capture the current content of the display, a feature known as screenshot, which has become an integral part of everyday use of the gadget to save important information, correspondence or game moments. Unlike many other manufacturers, the Chinese brand has introduced MIUI and the new HyperOS advanced functionality for working with screen images.
Users often face the need to quickly save information, but do not know all the intricacies of the system. Standard methods can be inconvenient in certain situations, for example, when it is difficult to press a combination of buttons with one hand or you need to save a long web page. Understanding all the options available will allow you to work with the device as efficiently as possible and save time in critical situations.
In this article, we will take a closer look at each screenshot method available, look at the built-in editing tools, and answer frequent questions, learn how to customize the activation methods you want and why some combinations may not work on your particular device.
Classical method using physical buttons
The most common and versatile method, which works on the vast majority of Android smartphones, including Xiaomi products, requires no pre-setting and is available immediately after the device is turned on.
To create a picture, you need to press the volume down button and the lock button. It is important to press them almost simultaneously, with minimal delay between presses. If you press the power button for too long, the system may consider this as a command to call the turn off menu or activate the voice assistant Google Assistant.
Once you've done the action, you'll hear the characteristic shutter sound of the camera (if the sound is on), and a thumbnail of the image will appear in the top corner of the screen. The system will automatically save the file in the gallery to the Screenshots folder. This method is ideal for those who prefer tactile response and are used to standard Android logic.
- 📸 Instant results without interface delays.
- 🔋 Minimal impact on battery charge compared to software methods.
- 🖐️ Requires the use of two hands or good finger coordination.
- ⚙️ It works even in safe mode and when some interface elements freeze.
⚠️ Note: On some models with a side fingerprint scanner combined with a power button, pressing too hard or for too long can trigger an emergency call menu. SOS. Be careful when you press.
Three-finger gesture control
The MIUI shell is famous for its advanced control features, and one of the most popular is to swipe screenshots, which is especially useful when the phone is on the table or when the second hand is busy, activating the function by swiping three fingers from top to bottom in the center of the screen.
To take advantage of this feature, you need to make sure that it is enabled in the system settings. By default, the function can be activated, but on some global versions of firmware it must be enabled manually. The path to setting is usually: Settings → Additional settings → Screenshot or Settings → Special features → Screenshot.
The three-finger gesture works very smoothly and requires no physical effort, but it may not work if you use a low-quality security glass that violates the multi-touch, or if you have an application that is currently open with a high-priority input, such as a bank.
- 👆 Ease of use with one hand in a horizontal position.
- ⚡ High speed of system response to gesture.
- 🚫 It may not work on screens with poor sensor calibration.
- 🛡️ Often blocked in applications with high security requirements.
☑️ Checking the operation of gestures
Use of notification panel and quick access
If physical buttons are uncomfortable and gestures don't work, you can always use the system's software interface. There's a separate shortcut in the notification curtain of Xiaomi and Redmi to create screenshots. This method is especially useful when the smartphone screen is damaged and the buttons are unstable.
To access the feature, swipe from top to bottom to open the control center, and find an icon with a picture of a scissors or camera, and if you don't see it on the first page, swipe left or click on the edit button (usually in the form of a pencil) to add a shortcut to the active zone, which will take just a few seconds, but will make it much easier to do.
The advantage of this is that it's visually obvious and doesn't have to remember the combinations, and you can often quickly edit the last shot you took from the same menu, but if the screen is locked or you're in a full-screen game, you'll have to unlock the device or turn the game down first.
You can also add a Screenshot widget directly to your desktop, which makes the icon a full-fledged trigger button, an approach that is often used by people with disabilities who have difficulty performing complex finger manipulations.
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Add a screenshot widget to your desktop if you have a broken volume button – this will be your main button for taking screenshots.
The function of long screenshot and scrolling
One of the most sought-after features in Xiaomi’s ecosystem is the ability to create long screenshots (scrolling), an indispensable tool for saving instant messengers, long browser articles, or product lists in online stores, and instead of taking dozens of individual frames, you get one single image.
Immediately after you create a normal screenshot (in any of the ways described above), a preview appears in the top corner, and it will have a button with a down arrow or the words "Scroll" on it, and when you click on it, the system automatically starts to scroll down the screen contents, capturing new information, and the process stops when you touch the screen or reach the end of the page.
It's important to understand that the scroll function doesn't work in all applications, it's active in browsers, gallery, some settings and messengers, but it may not be available in games or applications with custom layout, and in such cases, the scroll button simply won't appear or will be inactive.
| Parameter | A typical screenshot. | Long screenshot. |
|---|---|---|
| File format | PNG / JPG | PNG (vertical panorama) |
| File size | Small (up to 2MB) | Medium/Large (up to 10+MB) |
| Support for applications | 100% applications | Limited (browsers, chats) |
| Editing | Basic | Pruning, highlighting areas |
Voice control and assistants
Modern technology allows you to control your smartphone without using your hands using voice commands, and on Xiaomi devices this is done through the Google Assistant voice assistant or the built-in Xiao AI (in Chinese versions), which is especially true in situations where the user’s hands are busy or dirty.
To take a screenshot with a voice, just say, "Ok Google, take a screenshot" or "Ok Google, screenshot." The system recognizes the command, emits an audible signal and saves the image. To work properly, you need a stable Internet connection, because the processing of the request often takes place on the company's servers.
This method may seem slow compared to buttons, but it benefits from smart home scenarios or device demonstrations, and voice control helps people with hand-motor impairments fully enjoy all of their smartphone functions.
Why is the voice assistant not responding to the command?
Editing and tools after creation
Once you've created a screenshot, Xiaomi has a powerful editing menu that allows you not only to save the image, but also to prepare it for sending, and the built-in editor offers tools for cropping, drawing, adding text and stickers.
One of the key features is the ability to blur sensitive information, so you can highlight the area with passwords, card numbers or personal data and apply the "blueprint" effect, which is critical for security when posting screenshots on social networks or chat rooms.
There's also a watermarking feature with the device model and time of creation, which is popular with reviewers and enthusiasts, and all changes are applied in a non-destructive way until the final save, allowing you to roll back at any time.
- ✏️ Drawing by hand with various brushes and flowers.
- 📝 Adding text blocks with font selection.
- 🔒 The Quick Data Blurring Tool (Privacy.
- 📐 Precise cropping with netting binding.
⚠️ Warning: When editing screenshots with important information, always check the result before sending. The blur tool can leave readable edges if you don't completely cover the area.
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The built-in screenshot editor in MIUI/HyperOS is one of the most functional on the Android market and often replaces the need to install third-party image processing apps.