Screenshots on Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones are a basic feature that can be required at any time, from saving correspondence in the messenger to fixing an error in the banking application. Unlike many other manufacturers, Xiaomi in its MIUI shell and the new HyperOS has provided many ways to accomplish this task, far beyond the standard keyboard combination.
However, despite the abundance of features, there are times when standard methods don’t work or the user is simply unaware of the hidden capabilities of their system. For example, few people realize that you can set up a screenshot by simply tapping on the case or highlighting the area with your finger. In this article, we will discuss in detail all available options, from classic to advanced, and also look at how to edit and transfer the resulting images.
It’s important to understand that the layout of menu items and the names of some features may vary slightly depending on the version of Android and the MIUI shell installed on your device. However, the logic of the system remains the same for the entire model range, including the budget Redmi series and the flagship Mi.
Classical Method Through Physical Buttons
The most common and reliable way, which works on 99% of Android devices, including Xiaomi smartphones, is to press two physical keys simultaneously. On modern models without a mechanical home button, this is a combination of the on and off button and the volume reduction key.
To take a picture, you have to press the Power and Volume Down buttons at the same time. The key here is synchrony. If you press the volume button before or later on the power button, the system will take this as a command to call the switch menu or change the sound level. The press should be short, like a light hit, not a long hold.
Once you've done the action, you'll hear the characteristic shutter sound of the camera (if the sound is on) and the screen will blink, and a notification of the created file will appear at the top of the display, and a thumbnail in the corner to quickly move to editing, a method that is versatile and requires no pre-tuning, making it ideal for emergencies.
- 📱 Press the on button (right or top) and the volume down button (left) at the same time.
- ⏱️ Hold them for a split second until the screen blinks.
- 🔊 Check for shutter or vibration sound to confirm.
- 🖼️ Click on the notification for quick editing.
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If you have In-pocket mode on or your phone is down, the physical button method may not work because the sensors are locked, and in such cases it is better to use voice control or unlock the screen before trying.
Use of three fingers and other gestures
MIUI is famous for its advanced gesture control features, which significantly speed up interaction with the interface. One of the most popular is to take a screenshot by swiping three fingers from top to bottom across the screen, a feature that is especially convenient when the smartphone is lying on a table or used with one hand, since it does not require finding side buttons.
By default, this option can be disabled, so you need to activate it in the system settings. The path to the function is usually hidden in the additional settings section. Once turned on, you just need to swipe three fingers over any part of the screen where there are no active text input fields to instantly get a picture.
⚠️ Note: A three-finger gesture may conflict with the functions of some reading apps or browsers where the three-finger zoom menu is called. If a screenshot is not created, check if the gesture is blocked by another application.
In addition, new firmware versions have the ability to create a screenshot through the recent apps menu (swipe from the bottom up and hold or menu button). At the top of the open app card, a scissors icon appears, and clicking on it allows you to take a picture of the current state of the program without leaving multitasking mode.
Configure and activate additional methods
For those who want to fully automate the process or look for alternatives, the system offers a number of additional options, which require a single visit to the settings menu, after which they become available in one click, and this is especially true for users with large smartphones, where reaching the top corner of the screen can be difficult.
First of all, you should pay attention to the function “Tap on the back panel” (if supported by the model) or “Fast access”, and you can also put the screenshot widget on the desktop or in the notification curtain for instant access.
- Go to Settings → Additional → Screenshots.
- Activate the “Three Fingers” switch to enable the corresponding gesture.
- Enable the option “Add to Control Panel” to have access to the screenshot button in the curtain.
- For older models with the button “Menu” you can assign a screenshot to long press this button.
The Long Screenshot feature deserves special attention. After you create a regular shot, a button with arrows down appears in the corner. By pressing it, you can scroll down the page, capturing content that does not fit on one screen, which is indispensable for saving correspondence, articles or long lists of goods.
☑️ Checking the screenshot settings
Voice control and Google Assistant
Today’s Xiaomi smartphones feature powerful voice assistants that let you control your device without touching the screen, which is especially useful when your hands are busy or the screen is dirty. The main tool here is Google Assistant, which is built into the default system, or Xiao AI’s own voice assistant (depending on the region).
To create a screenshot, you just have to say, "OK, Google, take a screenshot," or "Take a screenshot," and it recognizes the command, it emits an audible signal, it saves the image to the gallery, and it's important that the microphone is active and the recognition language matches your speech.
This method has its limitations: it won’t work if the phone is in Do Not Disturb mode with voice input disabled, or if you’re in an app with heightened security requirements (like banking) where screen recording is banned at the system level.
- 🎙️ Activate the assistant with a phrase or hold a button.
- 🗣️ Say the command “Take a screenshot” clearly».
- ✅ Wait for confirmation in the form of animation or sound.
- 📂 Find the file in the gallery or album "Screenshots».
Why can't the voice assistant hear the command?
Remotely creating screenshots via PC
For advanced users and developers, there is the ability to control the smartphone screen and create screenshots through the computer, which is convenient for creating instructions that require high image quality, or for archiving data without using cloud services. The main tool here is debugging over USB and ADB (Android Debug Bridge) utilities.
Before you start, you need to activate the developer mode. To do this, go to Settings → About Phone and quickly click on the build number (MIUI Version) seven times. After that, the “Developers” option will appear in the “Additional” menu, where you need to turn on “Debugging by USB”.
adb shell screencap -p /sdcard/screen.png
adb pull /sdcard/screen.pngThis command takes a snapshot of the current screen and stores it to the root of the internal memory, after which the second line of code transfers the file to the computer. There are also graphical shells for ADB, such as Scrcpy or Mi PC Suite (outdated but functional), which allow you to see the screen of the phone on the monitor and take screenshots with a click of the mouse.
| Method | Difficulty | PC required | Quality. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buttons | Low. | No. | Standard. |
| Gestures (3 fingers) | Low. | No. | Standard. |
| Voice. | Medium | No. | Standard. |
| ADB/PC | Tall. | Yes. | No compression. |
⚠️ Warning: When connecting to a computer in debugging mode, always confirm the request for trust of that computer on the smartphone screen. Connecting to unknown PCs can lead to data leakage.
Where to look and how to edit screenshots
Once created, the image is automatically stored in the device's internal memory. Standard file path: Internal memory → DCIM → Screenshots (or) MIUI → screen_shot The Gallery app has a separate album for them, making it easier to find.
And right after you take a screenshot, you get a floating window in the corner with a thumbnail, and you click on it, and you get to the editor, where you can:
- ✂️ Cut off the extra edges of the image.
- 🖊️ Add pictures, text or arrows with marker.
- 📝 Blurr confidential information (the “Magic” function»).
- 📤 Immediately send the file to the messenger or social network.
Magic Crop is especially useful: it automatically recognizes text in a screenshot and allows you to copy it to the clipboard, avoiding the need for manual typing, and the editor can automatically improve the readability of documents, making the background whiter and the text more contrasting.
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Automatically save to the Mi Cloud or Google Photos cloud ensures that your screenshots are not lost even if your phone breaks or loses.
Frequent problems and their solution
Sometimes users find that screenshots are not created, most often due to Android security restrictions, such as in banking applications, incognito browser mode or when viewing protected content (Netflix, Kinopoisk), the system blocks the creation of screenshots, in which case you will see a black screen instead of an image.
Another common cause is overcrowded memory, where if the device doesn't have any space left, the new file won't be able to write, and third-party launchers or design themes that conflict with system capture processes can also cause problems.
If screenshots stop being created suddenly, try restarting the device. In rare cases, cleaning the Gallery app cache or resetting the interface settings helps. If nothing helps, check for system updates, as new patches often fix similar bugs.