How to take a screenshot on Xiaomi Redmi 8 Pro

Modern smartphones like the Xiaomi Redmi 8 Pro offer users a variety of ways to capture what’s happening on the display. Whether it’s important correspondence, a screenshot of an in-app bug, or just a funny meme, the need to save a screen image arises daily. Unlike many other devices, the MIUI shell provides advanced screenshot functionality that goes far beyond just pressing two buttons.

Many owners of gadgets in this series do not even know what capabilities are hidden in the standard interface of the system. You can not only take static pictures, but also record video from the screen, create long panoramas of web pages or use voice commands for hands-free control. Understanding all available methods will allow you to save time and interact with the device as efficiently as possible.

In this article, we will take a closer look at every screenshot method available on the Redmi 8 Pro. We will look at classic keyboard shortcuts, handy gestures, control through the notification panel and even the voice assistant. We will also focus on settings that will help automate this process and make it more comfortable for everyday use.

Classical method using physical buttons

The most common and common way for most users to create a screenshot is to use a physical key combination. On the Xiaomi Redmi 8 Pro, as on most Android devices, this feature is responsible for the simultaneous compression of the volume and power buttons. This method works always, regardless of whether the screen is locked or any application is running, making it the most reliable option in critical situations.

To take a picture, you have to press Volume Down and Power at the same time. An important caveat is that the pressing has to be brief, almost instantaneous. If you hold your fingers on the buttons for longer than one second, the system will consider this as a command to call the switch off menu or reboot the device, so you need some skill and clarity of movement.

Once you've done the action, you'll hear the characteristic shutter sound of the camera (if the sound isn't turned off), and the screen will blink for a split second. At the top of the display, you'll see a thumbnail of the image you've taken that can be edited or sent immediately. The image is automatically saved to a gallery in the Screenshots folder, where it's easy to find through the file manager.

⚠️ WARNING: If you wear a case with high sideways or thick buttons, make sure you can press both keys at the same time.In some security accessories, accessing the buttons can be difficult, leading to the off menu being accidentally turned on instead of a screenshot.

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For ease of pressing, try holding the phone with one hand, and the second quickly tap on the side buttons, or use the “pluck” method, clamping the phone with your palm.

This is a universal standard for the Android operating system, which requires no setup and is available immediately after the device is turned on, but for those who are not comfortable with physical interaction with buttons or are located in a difficult place, there are alternative software solutions.

Using gestures to create screenshots

The MIUI shell on the Redmi 8 Pro is famous for its advanced gesture control features, one of the most popular being the three-finger method, which allows you to take a screenshot with a simple swipe down the display, which is especially convenient when using a smartphone with one hand or when physical buttons are inconvenient.

By default, this function can be disabled, so you need to go to the settings to activate it. Open the Settings menu, then select the Additional section and find the Screenshot. Here you need to activate the switch next to the Three Fingers option. After you turn it on, just swipe three fingers from top to bottom on any part of the screen so that the system captures the image.

This method is especially useful when browsing long lists or web pages, as it is less invasive than clicking buttons. In addition, in the same settings menu, you can choose an action for long-term three-fingers, for example, you can configure a long swipe to immediately start the mode of creating a long screenshot (scroll), which significantly speeds up the work with the content.

• 🖐️ A standard swipe three fingers down takes a regular snapshot of the current screen.
• 📜 Long-term holding three fingers down automatically triggers scroll mode to create a panoramic image.
• ⚙️ The sensitivity of the gesture can be adjusted in the engineering menu if the standard settings do not respond to touch.

The use of gestures makes interaction with the interface smoother and more modern, but it is worth considering that in some applications, especially games or programs with active use of multi-touch, a random gesture with three fingers can interrupt the gameplay or cause unwanted action.

Screenshots via control panel (Stork)

Another convenient way that is often overlooked by new Xiaomi users is to take screenshots through a quick action panel popularly known as a “curtain” – a method that is ideal when the smartphone screen is dirty, wet from the rain, or when the sensor is not responding correctly and you can’t use gestures or buttons.

To access this feature, you need to swipe from top to bottom of the screen to fully deploy the notification panel and switches. Among the Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and flashlight icons, you need to find an icon with a picture of scissors or a camera, signed as Screenshot. One tap of this icon instantly creates a snapshot of the current contents of the display.

If you don't see such an icon in the front row, chances are it's hidden in the second row or even removed from quick access.To add it, click on the edit button (usually a pencil icon or three dots in the top right corner of the panel) and drag the Screenshot icon into the active zone.This will only take a few seconds, but will save you a lot of time in the future.

The advantage of using a curtain is that it's completely visually controlled, and you see that you're pressing, and you eliminate the random triggers that you can do with physical buttons or gestures, and it doesn't require any physical strength or precision, which is important for people with limited motor skills.

⚠️ Note: When you create a screenshot through a curtain on the screen, the Quick Settings menu itself may remain visible unless you roll it down before pressing. Always remove the panel completely down before activating the function.

Voice control and Google Assistant

Voice control technology has come a long way, and the Redmi 8 Pro is no exception. Google Assistant's built-in assistant lets you take screenshots without touching the screen at all. This can be useful if your hands are busy, dirty or your phone is in a hard-to-reach place but connected to the headset.

To use this method, you need to activate the voice assistant. This can be done by saying the phrase "Ok Google" or "Hey Google" (if the function is activated in the settings), or by long pressing the home button (if you use button navigation) or swiping from the corner of the screen (when you navigate gestures).

The system will instantly execute a command and save the image. that in some versions of the MIUI shell or under certain privacy settings, the voice assistant may request confirmation before performing the action or not have access to this feature at all without additional permissions.

Voice control is not just a gimmick, it's a really working accessibility tool, it allows people with disabilities to fully use their smartphones, and it's also an impressive way to showcase the capabilities of their gadget to friends and acquaintances.

Long screenshot and scrolling mode

One of the most popular features in modern smartphones is the ability to create long screenshots, or “slugs.” On the Xiaomi Redmi 8 Pro, this feature is built-in natively and works perfectly, it allows you to capture all correspondence in the messenger, a long article in the browser or the tape of the social network in one vertical image.

The process begins with creating a normal screenshot in any convenient way (buttons, gestures or curtains). Immediately after the thumbnail appears in the corner of the screen, under it or on the side, an additional button with a down arrow or a scroll icon will appear, pressing this button will automatically scroll down the page.

The system will scroll through the content itself and stitch it into a single image, and you can stop the process at any time by touching the screen, and if the page is very long, the system can pause or stop automatically when the end of the content or the technical length limit of the image is reached.

• 📱 Works in browsers, notes, messages and most social networks.
• ⏹️ Does not work in applications where content is not scrolled (for example, static pictures or full-screen videos).
• ✂️ After creating a long screenshot, it can be cut in the editor, removing unnecessary empty fields.

This feature makes sharing information much easier, and instead of sending a dozen individual pictures to a chat, you send one long sausage that's easy to browse and read, which is especially valuable in business correspondence and technical information.

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Scrolling mode automatically aligns the joints between frames, but artifacts can appear on dynamic content (video, GIF).

Screen recording instead of static shot

Sometimes static images are not enough, and you need to capture the process in dynamics. Redmi 8 Pro features a built-in screen recording function that allows you to create video files of what is happening on the display, an indispensable tool for creating training videos, showing bugs in games or recording video greetings.

The screen recording function is usually in the same quick action panel ("curtain") as the screenshot button. The icon is called Screen Recording and looks like a video camera. When you first start, the system will request permission to record audio and images. You can choose whether to record sound from the microphone (your voice and ambient noise) or system sound (game or video sounds).

In the recording settings, you can choose the resolution and frame rate. For the Redmi 8 Pro, the best choice is 1080p resolution and 60 fps if the processor handles the load, or 30 fps to save space and battery life. The recorded video is saved in the gallery in a separate Screen Recorder folder.

⚠️ Warning: Recording the screen in high resolution and with the microphone on quickly consumes battery power and can cause the case to heat up.

Unlike third-party applications, the built-in recorder is optimized for the Snapdragon processor installed in this model, which ensures smooth video without jerking, and it can add drawings on top of video in real time, which is useful for creating instructions.

Settings and editing screenshots

Once the image is taken, MIUI offers powerful tools to process it. Immediately after you create a screenshot, if you click on the thumbnail, you will open a built-in editor, you can crop the image, add text, arrows, stickers, and even blur sensitive information (function "k" or blur).

In the system settings (Settings → Additional → Screenshot), you can change the file save format. JPG is used by default, but for screenshots with text or graphics, it is better to switch to PNG. This format takes up more space, but provides a lossless quality without compression artifacts, which is critical for the clarity of small text.

You can also turn off the shutter sound if you want to take screenshots silently, such as in a movie theater or in a meeting. However, be aware of the laws of etiquette and legislation regarding recording private conversations. Another useful option is to remove the screenshot from the gallery immediately after it is sent to the messenger, which helps maintain order in the memory of the phone.

The ability to properly configure save and edit settings allows not only saving space in the memory of the Redmi 8 Pro, but also making screenshots more informative and presentable. Don’t neglect the ability to add an explanatory arrow or highlight important text with a marker right at the time of creating a picture.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)