How to take a screenshot on Xiaomi Redmi 7A: all methods

Screenshots are a basic feature of any modern smartphone, but budget device owners often have questions about the specifics of the controls. The Redmi 7A, despite its availability, features a MIUI shell that offers many options for capturing an image, but not all of them are obvious to the beginner. Standard methods may not work due to random changes in settings or features of the hardware implementation of buttons.

In this guide, we will take a look at all the screenshots available, from the classic keyboard combination to advanced features like finger-painting across the screen. There is no physical home button on Redmi 7A, so you don't need to use the methods associated with it. You will learn to quickly save information from the display for later use in messengers or social networks.

And then we'll also look at the typical situations where the system doesn't respond to commands, and how to fix those problems. Understanding the way Xiaomi works will make you feel more confident when you're using the device. Let's move on to the actual description of the methods.

Classical method using physical buttons

The most common and reliable way, which works on 99% of Android smartphones, involves pressing two hardware keys simultaneously. On the Redmi 7A, these buttons are located on the right side of the case, you need to press the volume down and the power button.

It's important to follow the correct algorithm so that the system can register the command, press the buttons almost simultaneously, with a minimum interval, and if you press one button much earlier than the other, the phone will perceive this as a separate action, such as changing the volume or locking the screen.

Once the combination is successfully performed, the device will emit a characteristic camera shutter sound (if the sound is on), and the screen will blink. At the top of the display, a notification will appear about the created screenshot with a thumbnail, which indicates that the screenshot is saved in the gallery.

Sometimes users complain that the method does not work the first time, this may be due to protective covers that protrude too much above the buttons and prevent full pressing. Take off the case and try to repeat the operation, making sure that the fingers are tightly pressing the keys.

Screenshot via Quick Settings menu

If the physical buttons are faulty or busy (e.g. while playing), you can use a software interface. The MIUI shell has a special screen capture utility available through the notification curtain, which is especially convenient when you need to take a picture without the risk of accidental volume change.

To start, lower the curtain from top to bottom to open the notification bar. Then swipe again or click on the edit icon to expand the full list of available toggles. Among the many icons, find an item called Screenshot or a picture of scissors.

When you click on this icon, you'll have the same effect that you would have when you use the buttons, the screen will blink and the image will be saved, and it's completely software-based, so it doesn't depend on the state of the mechanical parts of the smartphone, and it's a great alternative if the volume buttons start to get stuck.

⚠️ Attention: If you don't see the screenshot icon in the top row, it may be hidden.Click on the edit icon (usually a pencil or gear) and drag the Screenshot button from the bottom list to the active area.

Using the settings menu also allows you to take pictures of long pages, if this feature is supported by the current application. After creating a screenshot through the menu, a “Scroll” button can appear on the thumbnail, allowing you to capture the content below the visible area.

Gesture Management: Painting with a Finger

One of the most convenient features of the MIUI shell is the ability to create screenshots using a three-finger swipe, which is not enabled by default on some versions of the firmware or can be accidentally disabled by the user, so it must be activated in the settings.

To turn on this mode, go to Settings, then select Advanced Settings and find Screenshot. Here you need to activate the "Three Finger Screenshot" switch, and then swipe three fingers from top to bottom across the screen to take an instant shot.

This method is especially popular among those who actively use social networks and instant messengers, it allows you to quickly save a correspondence or post with one hand, but it is worth considering that in the horizontal orientation of the screen (when watching a video), it can be physically inconvenient to perform this gesture.

There's also a variation of this method, drawing a V with two fingers, which is similar, but requires less screen space, and choose the one that you find more ergonomic for daily use.

Voice control and Google Assistant

Modern smartphones, including the Redmi 7A, have powerful voice assistants, so if your hands are busy or you're in a situation where touching the screen is uncomfortable, you can use voice commands, which requires pre-setting and an active Internet connection.

To use this method, you need to activate Google Assistant. Say "OK, Google" or hold the Home button (if virtual) or the power button for a long time to activate the listening. Then clearly say the command "Take a screenshot" or "Screenshot of the screen."

The assistant will process the request and perform the equivalent of pushing buttons, which may seem slower than mechanical methods, but it is indispensable in certain use cases, and it demonstrates the ability to integrate artificial intelligence into everyday tasks.

• 🗣️ Activate the assistant with a voice or button.
• 📸 Say the command "Take a screenshot».
• 💾 Wait for confirmation and sound of saving.
• 📂 Check the gallery to access the file.

It's worth noting that voice control may not work in some high-privacy applications, in which cases the system will ignore the command or report that an action is not possible, which is normal behavior designed to protect your personal data.

Long screenshot and extended functions

The MIUI shell offers a feature to create long screenshots, which allows you to capture web pages or correspondence as a whole, scrolling down the screen. After taking a regular screenshot with any of the methods described above, note the thumbnail in the corner of the screen.

The thumbnail will have a button with an arrow down or a "Scroll" button, and you click on it, you start automatic scrolling, and the phone will scroll down, take a series of pictures and glue them together into one long picture, and you can stop the process by touching the screen.

This feature is extremely useful for saving articles, recipes or long dialogues, but the quality of the final image can depend on the complexity of the layout of the page. Sometimes the text at the joints of the glues can look blurry or intermittent.

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For the best quality of a long screenshot, try to keep the content on the page static while scrolling. Avoid scrolling through the video or animated elements.

Once you have completed the long screenshot, it is also saved in the gallery. You can edit it by cropping off the extra parts or adding annotations, right in the standard Xiaomi editor.

Where to look for saved images and work with files

Once you have created a screenshot, it is important to know where to find it. By default, all screenshots are stored in the device's internal memory in a special folder, and can be accessed through the Gallery app or the Explorer file manager.

The Gallery app usually has a separate album called Screenshots, where images are sorted by date of creation. If you use a file manager, the path to the file will be as follows: Internal Memory → MIUI → Gallery → cloudScreenshots or simply DCIM → Screenshots depending on the Android version.

Understanding folder structure is useful if you want to transfer screenshots to your computer or free up space on your phone.The files are PNG format, which provides high quality lossless, but takes up more space than JPG.

If you take a lot of screenshots often, it is recommended to clean this folder periodically, as high-resolution images can quickly take up free space. In Redmi 7A, with its limited amount of internal memory, this is especially true.

Solution and troubleshooting

Despite the simplicity of the process, users can face a variety of problems, sometimes screenshots don't save or buttons don't respond, often because of a lack of free memory or a software failure of a particular application.

If the screenshot is not created, check if the phone is full, and make sure that the date and time settings are set to automatic mode, as time desynchronization can cause errors in the Android system services.

⚠️ Note: In some banking and copyrighted content applications (e.g. Netflix), screenshots are blocked at the security level, in which case you will get a black screen instead of an image.

Another reason could be a conflict of third-party launchers or design themes. If the problem comes after you install a new theme, try going back to standard. Resetting button settings in the special features menu can also help restore functionality.

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If none of the software methods work, check the physical condition of the buttons. Sticking or oxidation of contacts is a common cause of mechanical failure.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)