How to take a screenshot on Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro: all ways + hidden MIUI features

Why screenshots on Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro are not as easy as it seems

Smartphone Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro, released in 2018, became one of the first flagships of the company with the help of the company. AMOLED-It's a display and a fingerprint scanner underneath the screen, but despite the advanced stuffing, many users still have problems taking screenshots, and it's not the hardware constraints, it's the firmware features. MIUI — Xiaomi’s branded shell, which is regularly updated and changes the logic of the standard functions.

If you’re used to the classic Power + Volume Down button combination, as on most Android devices, the Mi 8 Pro can be unstable, because of MIUI optimization for gesture interfaces and conflicts with the POCO Launcher shell (if installed), and after upgrading to MIUI 12/13/14, some screenshots disappear from the menu or begin to behave unpredictably, for example, screenshots of scrolling pages can crop the bottom part, and pictures with a black screen can be saved in a gallery.

In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to take a screenshot on the Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro, including hidden MIUI features that are not documented in the official instructions, and also explain how to fix typical errors - from the lack of a sound to the problems with saving files to the Mi Cloud.

Method 1: Classic button combination (Power + Volume Down)

It’s a versatile method that works on 90% of Android smartphones, including the Mi 8 Pro.

• 🔘 Simultaneous press: Press the Power button (right) and Volume Down (left) for 1-2 seconds. The screen blinks, the shutter sound (if not turned off), and the screenshot is saved in the gallery.
• ⚡ The problem is MIUI 12+: On newer versions of firmware, this combination may conflict with a Google Assistant call. If voice search opens instead of a screenshot, go to Settings. → Annexes → By default. → Assistant and voice input and disable Google Assistant.
• 📱 Alternative for left-handed: If it's uncomfortable to press buttons with both hands, try using Power + Volume Up - on some versions MIUI It works, too.

⚠️ Note: On the Mi 8 Pro with unlocked bootloader (unlocked bootloader) Power combination + Volume Down can accidentally start Fastboot mode. To avoid this, press the buttons strictly at the same time without delay.

If the screenshot is not saved, check:

1. Free storage space (MIUI requires a minimum of 500 MB for temporary files)
2. Permissions for the Screenshots app in Settings → Apps → Permissions.
3. Sync settings with Mi Cloud – sometimes screenshots are saved only to the cloud, not to the local gallery.

Method 2: Three-finger gesture (hidden MIUI function)

One of the most convenient ways that not all Xiaomi owners know about is that the Triple-Tap Screenshot feature allows you to take a screenshot with three fingers across the screen from top to bottom, but by default it is turned off!

To activate:

1. Go to Settings → Additional functions → Gestures.
2. Find the screenshot by triple touch and turn on the switch.
3. (Optional) In the same menu, you can adjust the gesture direction: top down or bottom up.

Advantages of the method:

• ✅ Works in any application, even in games (unless gestures are blocked).
• ✅ No need to use physical buttons – convenient for devices with worn-out keys.
• ✅ You can take a screenshot with one hand (if the screen is not too large).

⚠️ Note: On some versions MIUI This gesture conflicts with the Smart Assistant function (swipe down). If the screenshot doesn't work, turn off the Smart Assistant in Settings. → Home screen.

If the gesture doesn't work:

• 🧹 Clear the app's cache Settings in Settings → Annexes → All applications.
• 🔄 Reboot your smartphone – sometimes MIUI Resets gesture settings after updates.
• 📱 Check if there is a third-party shell (like Nova Launcher) that can block system gestures.

Method 3: Notification panel (fast access)

The most reliable method that works even if everyone else is disabled, in MIUI, the screenshot button is built into the notification curtain, but you have to add it to the quick access bar first.

Instructions:

1. Swipe down from the top edge of the screen to open the notification bar.
2. Slap the icon. ⚙️ Edit (or Pencil in older versions) MIUI).
3. Find a screenshot and drag it to the active area (usually the first 6-9 cells).
4. Save the changes.

Now to take a screenshot:

1. Open the screen you want (for example, a chat in Telegram or a page in Chrome).
2. Swipe down to open the curtain.
3. Slip on the screenshot icon (usually looks like a scissors or a rectangle with lightning).

Advantages of this method:

• 🔧 It works always, even if the gestures are turned off or the buttons are not working.
• 📁 Allows you to immediately edit the screenshot after creation (trimming, drawing, adding text).
• 🔄 You can take a screenshot of the page being scrolled (if the function is supported by the application).

Method 4: Voice command (for lazy people)

If you're too lazy to push buttons or make gestures, you can use the voice assistant. On the Mi 8 Pro, this works through Google Assistant or XiaoAI (a Xiaomi brand assistant).

Instructions for Google Assistant:

1. Activate the assistant with your voice (OK, Google) or hold the Home button.
2. Say, Take a screenshot or a screenshot.
3. Confirm the action (if required).

For XiaoAI (only works on Chinese firmware or with an installed application):

1. Hold the power button or say (Xiao Ai Tongxue).
2. Say: (jiétú - "screenshot" in Chinese).

⚠️ Note: Voice commands may not work if: 🔇 The microphone for Google or XiaoAI is turned off in the permission settings. 🌐 No Internet connection (assistants need cloud services to recognize). 🔊 Do not disturb or on the plane. 💡If the voice assistant doesn't recognize the command, try saying it in English, "Take a screenshot." Sometimes it works better than in Russian. Method 5: Screenshot of the scrolling page (long screen) On the Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro, you can take screenshots of the scrollable pages (such as long chats or websites), but only through the notification bar or special applications. How to take a long screenshot: Take a regular screenshot in any way (except voice) immediately after the thumbnail appears in the lower right corner, tap it. In the editor that opens, select the Scrolling icon (or Long Snapshot). Wait for the page to scroll down and click Ready. Restrictions: ❌ It doesn’t work in some apps (e.g. Instagram, TikTok). ❌ It can crop the bottom if the content loads dynamically (for example, VKontakte tape). ❌ V MIUI 14 sometimes saves a screenshot in low resolution. If the standard method doesn't work, use third-party apps: 📱 LongShot – Supports scrolling in most apps. 📱 Scroll Capture – allows you to manually adjust the capture area. 📱 Stitch & Share — glues multiple screenshots into one long. Why does scrolling work in some apps?Some applications (e.g., banking or content-protected messengers) block access to scrollable content through the Internet. API Android. This is done for safety, to prevent data leakage, and in such cases, only manual gluing of screenshots in the graphics editor will help. Even on a reliable device like the Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro, screenshots can get problems. Here are the most common ways to fix them: Problem 1: Screenshot is kept black. MIUI, lesions: 🔄 Conflict with a dark topic (try switching to a light topic in Settings) → Display). 📱 Failure of the graphics driver (helps reboot or reset settings Settings) → System system → Resetting settings → Reset the interface settings). 🛠️ Damage to system files (if the problem occurs after the update, try rolling back to the previous version) MIUI via Fastboot). Problem. 2: No shutter sound If screenshot is taken but without the characteristic click: Check if the sound is turned off in Settings → Sound. → System sounds. Make sure that Do Not Disturb or Vibration is not activated. If the sound is turned off for screenshots only, reset the Screenshots app settings to Settings → Annexes → All applications → Screenshots → Warehouse → Reset, problem. 3: Screenshots not saved in gallery Possible causes and solutions: 📁 Check the folder. Pictures/Screenshots through the file manager, sometimes MIUI It does not include screenshots in the main gallery. ☁️ If sync with Mi Cloud is enabled, screenshots can only be saved to the cloud. → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud → gallery. 🚫 Some apps (such as Netflix or banking) have been blocked from taking screenshots for security reasons. 💡If the screenshots are no longer saved after the update MIUI, Try clearing the cache and data of the Gallery and Screenshots app, often solving the problem without resetting the settings. FAQ: Frequent questions about screenshots on Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro Can I take a screenshot in Safe Mode? Yes, but only with a combination of Power buttons + Volume Down. Safe Mode gestures and notification bar are disabled, as it only downloads system applications. How to change the format of screenshots from the PNG on JPEG? By default. MIUI saves screenshots in PNG (without loss of quality, to change the format to JPEG (smaller file size, you need: Install a file manager with conversion support (e.g., file manager, FX File Explorer. Or use the Screenshot Type app from Google Play (requires root rights). Without root access, you can't change the default format. Why screenshots in games are made with artifacts? This is because many games use OpenGL or Vulkan to render graphics. MIUI It doesn't always capture these images correctly, causing blurring or color distortions. Solutions: Turn off vertical sync (V-Sync) in the game. Reduce the graphical settings in the game (e.g., turn off anti-aliasing). Use third-party screenshot apps, such as: AZ Screen Recorder (it captures the screen differently) How to take a screenshot with the help of ADB? If the sensor is not working, you can take a screenshot through your computer using Android Debug Bridge (ADB): adb shell screencap -p /sdcard/screen.png Then copy the file to PC: adb pull /sdcard/screen.png C:\Users\YourName\Desktop For this you need: Enable debugging by USB In Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI (slip 7 Once, then return to the additional settings. → For developers). Connect your phone to your PC and confirm your trusted device. Where are screenshots stored on Xiaomi Mi 8 Pro? By default, they are saved to /storage/emulated/0/Pictures/Screenshots/ If the folder is empty, check: /storage/emulated/0/DCIM/Screenshots/ (in some versions of MIUI). Mi Cloud (if sync is enabled). Download folder (if screenshot is taken through some third-party applications).