Modern smartphones allow you to instantly capture any moment in digital life, whether it is a correspondence, a travel map or a gaming record. For owners of budget but reliable Chinese-made devices such as the Redmi 4X, this process can have its own peculiarities depending on the version of the MIUI firmware. Users often look for quick ways to capture the contents of the display to share information or save important data.
In this article, we will take a look at all the available screenshot techniques for Xiaomi Redmi 4X. You will learn about classic keyboard shortcuts, hidden shell features and additional tools that will simplify graphics, and will also touch on the issues of editing images immediately after they are created.
Although the Redmi 4X has been around for a few years, it remains popular for its autonomy and usability. Understanding the nuances of MIUI will allow you to tap into the full potential of the gadget. Below are step-by-step instructions to help you in any situation.
Classical Method Through Physical Buttons
The most common and time-tested way to capture a screen image on any Android smartphone is by pressing mechanical keys simultaneously. On the Redmi 4X, like most Redmi devices, this is a combination of volume down and lock buttons, which works even when the system responds to late-touch touches.
To take a picture, you need to press and hold both buttons for a short time. It's important not to hold them too long, otherwise the shutdown menu or voice assistant may activate. The screenshot will be taken at the moment of light vibration response and the characteristic sound of the camera shutter, if the sound is on.
After the action is successfully performed, a thumbnail will appear at the top of the display, and a corresponding message will appear in the notification curtain. The image is automatically saved to the gallery in the Screenshots folder. This method is universal and works in all applications, including games and browsers.
💡
If the screenshot does not work the first time, try to press the buttons a little faster or, conversely, hold them for a fraction of a second longer - the sensors on different instances of the model may have different sensitivity.
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where a screenshot is not created, this can be due to a software failure of a particular application or the protection of content. In such cases, the system can simply ignore the click or emit an error sound. Rebooting the device often solves the problem of temporary interface glitches.
Use of notification curtain and menu
The second most popular method, which is particularly useful when using a phone with one hand is difficult, is the use of a software menu. In the MIUI shell installed on the Redmi 4X, there is a built-in shortcut to create screenshots, which allows you to capture the image without having to reach for the side edges of the case.
To activate this method, you need to unlock the phone and swipe from top to bottom to open the control center. In the quick settings grid, you need to find an icon called "Screenshot" or "Screenshot." If there is no icon in the first window, you should pull the menu again or click on the edit button to add the icon to a prominent place.
Once you click on the icon, the device will emit a characteristic click, and the screen will blink, and the image will be stored in memory, which is ideal for those who are afraid of damaging mechanical buttons or use a protective case that makes it difficult to access them.
- 📱 Open the notification curtain with the swipe down.
- 🔍 Find the icon "Scissors" or "Screenshot».
- 🖱️ Click on the icon for an instant snapshot.
It is worth noting that in some versions of the MIUI firmware for Redmi 4X, this shortcut may be called differently or not in the standard set, in which case it can be added through the tiles editing menu, which is called by prolonged pressing or swiping to the side.
Three fingers function and other gestures
The MIUI shell is famous for its clever features to improve the user experience, and one of the most convenient is to take screenshots with gestures. On the Xiaomi Redmi 4X, you can customize the creation of a picture by swiping three fingers across the screen from top to bottom, which looks spectacular and is performed very quickly.
To activate this option, you need to go to the system settings. Find the section responsible for additional functions and turn on the "Three-finger screenshot" switch. Once activated, just swipe your three fingers over any area of the display, and the phone will take a picture.
This method is especially useful when the phone is on the table or holding in one hand and it is convenient to make sweeping movement with the other hand, but it is worth remembering that in some heavy games or applications with an active touch interface, this gesture can conflict with control.
It is important to consider that the sensor sensitivity on the Redmi 4X may require a certain speed of fingers. If a screenshot is not created, try changing the speed of movement or the density of the fingers pressing against the screen.
Screenshots through the menu of running applications
The third built-in method, which not all Xiaomi owners know about, is hidden in the menu of running applications. This is convenient when you want to take a picture of the very window that is currently active without turning it down.
Click on the Menu button (square or three bars depending on navigation settings) to open a list of open programs. At the top of the active application card or in the corner of the screen, a scissor icon can be located.
If the icon is not in the standard form, try pressing and holding the application card or swiping down the card (depending on the version of MIUI). In the context menu that opens, select the option “Screenshot”. This action will instantly save the image to the gallery.
| Method | Speed. | Convenience | Availability |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buttons | Tall. | Average. | Always. |
| Curtain. | Medium | High. | Always. |
| 3 finger gesture | Very high. | Very high. | Requires customization |
| Appendix menu | Low. | Low. | Depends on the version. |
This may not work in some system applications or with an open settings menu, as the multitasking menu itself is a system process.
Long screenshot and extended features
One of the most popular features in MIUI is the ability to create long screenshots, or “scrolls,” which is an indispensable tool for saving long correspondence in messengers, articles in the browser or contact lists. On Redmi 4X, this feature is built-in by default.
Immediately after you take a normal screenshot (in any of the ways described above), a thumbnail appears at the top of the screen, and there's a button on it that shows the scroll or arrows down, and you click on it, and you start scrolling mode. The phone automatically scrolls the contents down, stitching the screen into one long picture.
The process continues until you touch the screen or reach the end of the page, and the result is a single image that can be very high, which saves time and eliminates the need to glue many individual frames together.
☑️ Algorithm for creating a long screenshot
⚠️ Note: When creating long screenshots in “infinite tape” applications (e.g. social networks), the process may not stop automatically.
The quality of the final image with a long screenshot may be slightly lower due to software processing and compression, but for reading text and viewing information, this is quite enough. Files with long screenshots take up more space in the memory of the device.
Where to look and how to edit pictures
Once you’ve taken a screenshot on Xiaomi Redmi 4X, it’s important to know where to find it and how to quickly get it in order. All images are saved by default in the Gallery system app, where they are sorted by date and highlighted in a separate album.
Open the Gallery app and go to Screenshots. It stores all your screenshots. The MIUI shell offers a built-in editor that allows you to crop, add text, draw arrows or blur sensitive information right after you've created a screenshot.
To edit, open the image and click on the Change button (usually the icon of a pencil). You can use drawing tools, add stickers, or change the size of the canvas. After making changes, remember to click Save to keep the edits.
- 🖼️ Open the Gallery appendix».
- 📂 Go to the album "Screenshots».
- ✏️ Click "Change" to edit.
Also, files can be found through the file manager on the path Internal drive. → MIUI → Gallery → cloud → screenshots or just Pictures/Screenshots, Depending on the file structure of a particular version of Android, knowing the paths is useful when connecting your phone to your computer.
Solving and setting parameters
Sometimes Redmi 4X users have problems creating screenshots, such as the image may not be saved if the phone runs out of free memory, in which case the system will issue a notification, and you can free up space by deleting old files or applications.
Another common problem is that you can't take a screenshot in certain applications, like bank clients or Incognito mode in your browser, which is not a bug, but a security measure that protects sensitive data from leakage, and in such cases, the screen may just blink, but the file will not be created, or there will be a black square in the place of the image.
Why does the screenshot appear black in some apps?
If neither method works, check the special features settings. Sometimes third-party applications that intercept screen control (such as video recording or remote access programs) may block the standard screenshot function.
⚠️ Note: When using third-party launchers or themes, the screenshot function may not work properly. If you encounter errors, try switching to the standard Classic theme to check for the update.
To diagnose problems, you can also check for system updates. From the Settings menu → About Phone → System Update, make sure that the latest available version of MIUI is installed for your model. Updates often contain interface bug fixes.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
Why is the screenshot not saved in the gallery?
Can I take screenshots in incognito mode?
How to turn off the shutter sound when screenshot?
What format are screenshots saved on Redmi 4X?
💡
Knowing all the ways to create screenshots on Xiaomi Redmi 4X allows you to choose the most convenient option for a specific situation, whether it is a one-handed game or the need to quickly copy long text.