The Chinese brand’s smartphone owners often face the need to capture the contents of the screen, whether it’s correspondence, a web page or the result of a game. The standard Android operating system has basic functionality, but the MIUI shell and its current version of HyperOS offer advanced capabilities for working with screen images. Understanding all available methods allows you to save time and make the process of storing information as convenient as possible for the user.
In this article, we will take a look at every available way to take screenshots, from classic physical buttons to advanced gestures and voice commands. You will learn how to set up automatic scrolling for long pages and where to look for saved files once created. The flexibility of interface settings allows you to tailor control to each owner’s personal habits.
We will also discuss the common problem of not responding to standard commands, often because of software failure or locking in security settings, and the correct system configuration is the key to the stable operation of all media tools.
Classical method using physical buttons
The most common and reliable way, which works on the vast majority of models, including the budget Redmi series and the flagship Xiaomi Mi, is to press two buttons simultaneously. You need to press the volume down key and the power button (lock the screen).
It's important to keep the right sequence and synchrony of the pressing. If you press the buttons too long, the phone may perceive this as a command to call the emergency call menu or force reboot. Short touch is key to successful operation.
⚠️ Note: On some models with heavily curved screen edges (2.5D The buttons may be asymmetrical, so be careful not to touch the touchpad with your finger when you press.
After you successfully perform the action, a notification with a thumbnail will appear at the top of the display. By clicking on it, you can immediately go to edit or submit the file. If there is no notification, check the Gallery → Screenshots folder, where all the pictures are saved by default.
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If the buttons are pressed tightly because of the protective case, try removing it before creating a screenshot to avoid lubricating the image due to hand shaking.
Using three-finger gestures
The MIUI shell provides a unique way to create screenshots with a three-finger swipe on the screen, which is considered the most convenient method for controlling, since it does not require searching for physical buttons on the case. To activate the function, you need to go to the settings menu and select Additional settings → Keyboards → Screenshot.
Once you activate the option, just swipe your three fingers from top to bottom over any area of the screen, and the system instantly recognizes the gesture and saves the image, which is especially effective when the phone is lying on the table or when the second hand is busy, and the response rate to such a gesture is usually higher than the mechanical push of buttons.
- 📱 Open the settings and find the additional functions section.
- 🖐 Select the option "Three-finger screenshot" and activate the switch.
- 👆 Check the work by swiping your fingers on your desktop or browser.
There are variations of this gesture, depending on the firmware version. In some cases, the system suggests choosing the direction of the swipe or its combination with other actions. Experiment with the settings to find the most comfortable use case for you.
Control through notification curtain and sidebar
For those who prefer visual control, the system has a special button in the control center, swiping from top to bottom from the right corner of the screen, you open the quick action panel, where the icon "Screenshot" (usually looks like scissors), pressing it instantly takes a picture of the current content.
An additional tool is the Sidebar, which is called by a swipe from the edge of the screen, and you can add a screenshot widget to it, which allows you to take pictures even in applications where standard methods can be blocked by security, which is often found in banking applications or incognito-mode messengers.
The access bar is set up via the Settings menu → Special Features → Sidebar. Here you can select the applications in which the panel will be active and add the necessary tools, the flexibility of this method allows you to create a personalized set of functions for quick access.
☑️ Quick access settings
Voice control and assistants
Today’s Xiaomi smartphones are equipped with powerful voice assistants like Google Assistant or Xiao AI (depending on the region). To take a screenshot with your voice, just say the phrase “OK, Google, take a screenshot” or activate the assistant with a button and voice a command, which is ideal when your hands are busy or dirty.
Voice control requires a stable Internet connection to handle the request by cloud servers, and in the assistant settings, you can fine-tune the sensitivity and the recognition language, and the accuracy of command recognition directly affects the speed of the task.
Voice commands can also be used to perform serial actions, such as taking a screenshot and sending it to the messenger immediately, and by combining voice control with other functions, you can significantly improve productivity with a smartphone.
⚠️ Warning: Voice commands may not work in high privacy applications where the system blocks screen and audio recording.
The function of long screenshot and scrolling
One of the most useful features in Xiaomi’s ecosystem is the ability to create long screenshots, which lets you capture the entire web page, chat chat or document as a whole, automatically scrolling down. After you create a normal screenshot, click on the “scroll down” button in the menu that appears.
The system will automatically scroll through the screen, capturing new areas, stopping when you touch the screen or reach the end of the page, and saving the image as a single, high-resolution file is an indispensable tool for saving articles, recipes, or long dialogues.
The quality of the final image depends on the original screen resolution and the number of elements scrolled. With very long scrolling, the system can automatically reduce the quality or break the image into parts to optimize the file size.
Limitations of a long screenshot
Comparison of methods and technical features
Different screenshot techniques have their advantages and disadvantages depending on the situation: physical buttons are versatile but require mechanical action; gestures are convenient but require customization; voice control depends on the Internet; understanding these nuances helps you choose the best way.
Below is a table comparing the main characteristics of different methods of creating screenshots on Xiaomi devices.
| Method | Speed. | Convenience | Dependence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buttons (Loudness + Power) | Tall. | Average. | No. |
| Three-finger gesture | Very high. | High. | MIUI settings |
| Notification curtain | Medium | High. | Access to the menu |
| Voice command | Low. | Specific | Internet |
The choice of method also depends on the device model. On larger flagships (Xiaomi 13/14 Pro), it is more convenient to use gestures to reach the buttons. On compact models (Redmi Note), classic buttons remain the fastest option.
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For maximum efficiency, set up several methods at once: gestures for everyday use and buttons as a backup option.
Where to look for saved screenshots and how to edit them
Once created, the image is automatically saved to the gallery. The standard file path is: Internal Memory → MIUI → Gallery → Cloud → Screenshots or just Gallery → Albums → Screenshots. In the file manager, the path can look like /storage/emulated/0/DCIM/Screenshots.
The built-in editor allows you to do basic things like cropping, adding text, drawing with a marker or blurring sensitive information. The editing tools in MIUI are powerful enough not to require installing third-party apps for easy processing.
To organize order, it is recommended to regularly sort screenshots or transfer them to cloud storage. Large volumes of images can occupy a significant place in the memory of the device, especially if they are taken in high resolution.
⚠️ Note: When cleaning memory through the built-in optimizer, be careful not to accidentally delete important screenshots unless they are marked as favorites.
Problem Solving: Why the Screenshot Doesn't Work
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the screenshot is not created, this can be due to several reasons: a crowded memory, a software failure or a lock in a particular application.
If the problem is systemic, try restarting the device. In rare cases, resetting the interface settings or updating the system to the latest version helps. DRM-Protection in streaming services (Netflix, Film Search) is not a mistake - it is a staff restriction for the protection of content.
If neither method works, check to see if Do Not Disturb mode or special access modes are enabled that may limit the functionality of the system, and make sure that the system does not have conflicting software for recording screens from third-party developers.