Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face the need to capture what is happening on the display. Whether it is creating a training video, fixing an error in the application or saving a bright moment from the game, the built-in functionality of the MIUI or HyperOS shell offers powerful tools for this. You do not need to look for third-party applications, since system tools are often more stable and have fewer restrictions.
Modern firmware versions allow you to capture not just a static image, but also capture an audio track, draw on top of a video in real time and choose a resolution. However, many users do not know where these features are hidden or why they do not work by default. In this material, we will discuss all the nuances, from basic inclusion to advanced codec settings.
The interface may vary slightly depending on the Android version and regional firmware, but the logic of the work remains the same across the brand ecosystem.We will look at both standard methods through the notification curtain and less obvious ways to activate through special features settings.
Activation of the function through the control center
The fastest way to start recording is to use the Quick Access Bar. On most current models with MIUI 14 and HyperOS shells, this element has already been added to the standard widget set. If you swipe from top to bottom, you'll see the Screen Record icon among other switches.
In some cases, especially on older devices or after resetting, this shortcut may be hidden, so to return it, you need to deploy the control center completely and press the edit button (usually the icon of a pencil or gear), in the open list of available buttons, find the desired one and drag it to the active zone.
When you click on the icon, you'll see a floating control menu that allows you to pause, end a recording, or take a screenshot in the process, and it's important to note that when you first start, the system will request permission to capture the image and sound, which you need to confirm.
☑️ Pre-recording checks
Make sure your device has enough free space, as high-resolution video takes up a lot of megabytes, and it’s also worth checking if Do Not Disturb mode is activated, which in some configurations can block system sounds that get into the recording.
Customization of quality and sound parameters
The quality of the final file depends on the selected settings. Go to the Settings menu and find the Screen Write section or call the recording widget menu and click on the gear. Here you can choose the resolution: 1080p, 720p or 480p. For modern high-pixel density displays, it is recommended to choose the maximum value.
The frame rate setting is a standard 30 fps, which ensures the smoothness of most interface animations. If your smartphone has a powerful processor and you plan to record dynamic games, you can set a 60 fps value, but this will increase the load on the battery.
⚠️ Attention: Entry in permission 4K Or 60 frames per second can cause the body to overheat if used for a long time.
Sound is critical. The system offers three options: Microphone, System Sounds, and No Sound. The Microphone mode will record all the sounds around you, including your voice, but the quality will depend on external noise. System Sounds allows you to capture audio directly from apps, which is ideal for tutorials.
Why isn't there a sound on the record?
For video bloggers, Microphone + System Sounds is useful, although it is not available on all firmware versions, in which case the internal audio is mixed with the user's voice, creating a full-fledged comment on what is happening on the screen.
Use through settings of special opportunities
If the widget in the curtain doesn't work for you or doesn't work properly, there's an alternative activation method that's especially useful if you need to start writing scripts quickly without having to move your fingers around the screen, which is based on Android's accessibility features.
Go to Settings → Advanced Settings → Special Features. Search the “Screen Record” option in the service list. Activate the switch and provide all the permissions requested. Then a floating button or the ability to call the volume button feature will appear in the special features menu.
- 📱 Allows you to start recording with a combination of buttons (for example, a long press of “Loudness up»).
- 🎙️ Often has more flexible sound source settings than a standard widget.
- ⚙️ It works even in applications where the standard curtain can be blocked.
Using this method gives you additional control, for example, you can set up a recording to run on a timer or schedule, if this option is supported by a particular version of the service, which is convenient for automating testing processes or creating long archives.
Consider that the special features service consumes a little more resources in the background, as it constantly monitors the state of the system for start commands. If you rarely use screen recording, it is better to keep this service off and activate only when necessary.
Comparison of embedded tools and third-party applications
Users often wonder if it is worth installing third-party software from Google Play? Xiaomi's built-in tools have evolved over the years to cover 95 percent of the user's needs.
| Parameter | Built-in MIUI application | Third-party applications (AZ Recorder, XRecorder) |
|---|---|---|
| Stability | High (systemic level) | Medium (depending on optimization) |
| Advertising | Absent. | Often present in the free version |
| Functional | Basic + Drawing | Extended (webcam, facial effects) |
| Impact on the battery | Optimal. | Could be high. |
The built-in recorder is perfectly integrated into the system, does not create conflicts with other processes and does not require unnecessary permissions. Third-party applications can offer a recording from the webcam (Picture-in-Picture), which is useful for streaming games, but this can cause lag on weak devices.
In addition, third-party programs often require permanent permissions to access files and overlays, which reduces the overall level of security of the device. Unless you need specific features like overlaying stickers in real time, standard Xiaomi functionality will be more than enough.
💡
For 90% of the tasks, the built-in Xiaomi app is enough. It is more stable, contains no ads and is better optimized for the Snapdragon and MediaTek processors used in these smartphones.
Addressing common problems
Despite the system's reliability, users can encounter bugs, and one of the most common problems is the lack of sound in the finished video, even though the settings have "System Audio," which is often due to Android's restrictions on recording sound from certain applications, especially instant messengers and banking services.
Another common situation is sudden recording termination, which occurs when the system lacks RAM. Optimizing memory in the background can kill the writing process to free up resources for an active application. To avoid this, add Screen Recording to the list of exceptions or fixed applications.
⚠️ Note: When recording protected content (Netflix, Disney)+, Some banking applications, the screen can turn black. It's not a bug, it's the technology. DRM, prevents copying of licensed video.
If the video gets twitchy, try lowering the bitrate or frame rate in the settings, and check if the Power Saving mode is on, which limits the processor's performance and can cause frames to skip when rendering the video.
In some cases, cleaning the cache of the Security app or updating Google Play Services components helps. If the problem is systemic and appeared after a firmware update, you should wait for a patch from the developers or reset the settings.
Where to look and how to edit ready-made records
When the process is complete, the file is automatically saved to the gallery, and usually a separate album is created called Screen Records or Screen Recorder. → DCIM → sc_recorder.
Xiaomi’s built-in gallery editor allows you to perform basic operations: cropping the beginning and end, overlaying music or changing the aspect ratio. For more complex editing, adding transitions or text, you’d better use specialized applications such as CapCut or InShot.
- 📂 Files are saved in format MP4 codeced H.264 or H.265.
- ✂️ The video clip is available immediately after the recording is completed via notification.
- 📤 You can share the file directly through the Send menu by selecting a messenger or cloud storage.
Remember to periodically check the record folder and delete bad takes. High-resolution videos quickly take up space, and after a month of active shooting, you may find that free disk space has been critically reduced.
💡
Use cloud services (Google Photos, Xiaomi Cloud) to automatically synchronize the screencast folder, which will save your records in the event of loss or breakage of your smartphone.