Redmi smartphones have long proven themselves to be reliable devices, but the MIUI interface has its own features that can be confusing for beginners. Owners of the Redmi 5 model, which runs on Android, often look for ways to capture the image from the screen for subsequent sending or saving. Standard operating system methods work here, but are supplemented by proprietary utilities from Xiaomi, which extend the functionality.
Screenshots are a basic function that you need to save correspondence, paychecks, or game highlights. With MIUI, this process is as flexible as possible, you can use physical buttons, special gestures, voice assistants, or even one-handed control, and understanding all the options available will allow you to work with the device much more efficiently and faster.
In this article, we will take a closer look at each method available, focusing on the nuances specific to Xiaomi Redmi 5. We will look not only at standard combinations, but also at hidden features that often go unnoticed.
Classical Method Through Physical Buttons
The most common and quickest way that most Android users are familiar with involves using mechanical buttons on the body of the gadget. On Redmi 5, this combination works steadily and requires no pre-tuning. You need to press the volume button and the power button at the same time.
If you press the buttons too long, the phone may perceive this as a command to call the emergency call menu or turn off the device. The mechanical buttons on this model have a clear stroke, so the press must be sure, but fast. After successful execution of the action, you will hear the characteristic click of the camera shutter, and at the top of the screen will appear a thumbnail of the shot.
⚠️ Warning: Do not push too hard on the buttons, especially the volume key, as the mechanism may be sensitive to excessive physical impact, which will eventually lead to backlash.
The image is instantly saved in the gallery. The path to the file usually looks like: Gallery → Screenshots. This stick stores all the images created by this method. If the thumbnail does not appear, check if the device memory is full, since the system buffer can block the creation of new files if space is not enough.
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If the buttons on the body are tight, try pressing them with your finger pads at the same time, rather than your thumb, to ensure uniform pressure.
Use of notification curtain and control menu
For those who prefer software solutions or whose physical buttons may be faulty, MIUI offers a handy built-in tool. At the top of the screen is a control panel, often called a "curtain." By swiping from top to bottom, you will open a quick settings menu. Among the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi icons, there is often a "Screenshot" button (or "Scanvare Snap").
If you don't see the icon right away, try swiping again or clicking on the menu edit button (usually a pencil or three dots). In the list of available widgets, find "Screenshot" and drag it to the active area. Now it takes just one touch to create a copy of the screen, which is especially convenient when the phone is lying on the table or used with one hand.
- 📱 Open the notification panel with a swipe from top to bottom.
- 🔍 Find the screenshot icon in quick access tiles.
- 🖱️ Click on the icon to instantly create an image.
- 💾 Check the thumbnail in the corner of the screen for confirmation.
This method extends the life of mechanical buttons, which is important for devices that have been in use for several years, and eliminates the risk of accidentally turning on the alarm clock or other functions that can be tied to side keys in certain applications.
Setting and using gestures with three fingers
One of the most convenient features of MIUI is the ability to create screenshots through a gesture. On Redmi 5, this functionality is built into the system, but by default it can be disabled. To activate it, you need to go to settings. The path is as follows: Settings → Additional settings → Screenshot.
In the menu that opens, you'll see the three-finger switch, activate it, and then just swipe your three fingers down the screen at any moment to take a picture, which is ideal for situations where the phone is lying on a flat surface or when the second hand is busy, and the gesture is recognized quickly and has little or no failure.
☑️ Checking gesture settings
It is worth noting that the touchscreen sensitivity on the Redmi 5 is quite high, so the movement should be smooth, but not too slow. If the system does not respond, try to increase the speed of wiring with your fingers. Also make sure that there is no low-quality protective film on the screen that can distort the multi-touch signal and prevent the recognition of three touch points at the same time.
⚠️ Note: The gesture may not work in some full-screen games or applications where the system blocks standard gestures to avoid accidental interface taps.
Voice control and Google Assistant
Modern smartphones allow you to control most functions with voice. Xiaomi Redmi 5 is no exception and supports work with Google Assistant. If you have voice search set up, you can just say the command "OK, Google, take a screenshot" (or "Make a screenshot" in English).
This method is particularly useful in situations where touching the screen is impossible or uncomfortable, such as when hands are busy or dirty. Voice control requires an active internet connection to process the request by Google servers, although basic commands can work offline if the corresponding package is loaded onto the device.
To activate the function, make sure that the voice assistant is allowed in the Google account settings. Also check if the "Ok Google" option is enabled in the Google app. This will allow you to call the assistant without pressing the buttons, just by saying a phrase. The system response rate depends on the processor performance and the current load on RAM.
Why isn't the voice working?
Long screenshot and extended features
Often, you need to capture not only the visible part of the screen, but also the content below, such as long correspondence in the messenger or an article in the browser. Redmi 5 implements a scrolling screenshot. After you create a normal shot (in any of the ways described above), a thumbnail appears in the upper corner.
Click the Scrolling button (or the down arrow icon) in this thumbnail. The screen will automatically scroll down, capturing new areas. You can stop the process at any time by pressing the screen or stop button. This creates a single long image that is very easy to read and transmit.
The length of this image is limited by system parameters. You can usually capture about 3-5 screens in a row. If the content is too long, the system will automatically crop it up or prompt you to make several files. The quality of the final image remains high, but the file size can be significant.
| Method | Speed. | Convenience | Dependence |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buttons | Tall. | Average. | Mechanics |
| Curtain. | Medium | High. | Interface. |
| Gesture. | Tall. | Very high. | touchscreen |
| Voice. | Low. | Specific | Internet |
Where to look and how to edit saved photos
Once you've taken a screenshot, it's important to know where to find it. All images automatically go to the Gallery system app, and inside it, a separate album is created called Screenshots, which is a standard storage that can be synced to the cloud if the option is enabled in the Mi Cloud.
Right in the MIUI gallery, there's a powerful editor built in. You open the picture, click "Change." Here you can cut the edges, draw the arrows, add text, or blot out sensitive information (such as card numbers or passwords), and the toolkit allows you to quickly prepare the image for publication on social networks or sending it to colleagues.
Android File System Stores These Files Along the Way /storage/emulated/0/Pictures/Screenshots. If you connect your phone to your computer through USB-And you can find this folder and copy the files directly, which is useful for backing up or transferring a lot of images.
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All screenshots are saved by default to internal memory in the Pictures/Screenshots folder, the location, so clean this directory periodically.
Troubleshooting and troubleshooting
Sometimes users are faced with the fact that the screenshot is not created, the most common reason is a lack of free memory. If the internal storage is crowded, the system can not write a new file. Check the free space in the Settings → Memory section and delete unnecessary applications or videos.
Another reason may be content protection: Some apps, such as banking clients or streaming services (Netflix, Kinopoisk), block screenshots for security and copyright reasons, in which case you'll see a black image or a notice of ban, and it's not a phone malfunction, it's an app security policy.
- 📉 Check the free space on the disk (you need at least 100 MB).
- 🔒 Make sure the app doesn’t block screen shooting.
- 🔄 Restart the device if there is a system failure.
- 🛡️ Check the access rights in the security settings MIUI.
If the persists problem is after checking all the items, try resetting the gallery app settings. Go to Settings → Apps → All apps → Gallery → Clean. This won’t delete your photos, but will return the program settings to factory settings, which often resolves software conflicts.