How to record a screen on a Xiaomi phone

Today’s Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones have powerful features that not only allow you to take screenshots, but also record what is happening on the display in video format. This feature is built into the shell of MIUI (and the new HyperOS) by default, so device owners do not need to download third-party applications that are often overloaded with advertising.

Many users don't know that the standard functionality hides a few important nuances that can significantly improve the result of your work, such as adjusting resolution, frame rate or enabling touch display. In this article, we will discuss in detail how to activate screen recording, where to find hidden settings, and what to do if the video is not written or has no sound.

The image capture tool is useful for both creating learning materials and playing moments, as well as for fixing errors in applications or correspondence. Understanding the full capabilities of this module will turn your smartphone into a full-fledged video editing studio in your pocket. Let's start with the simplest thing: running the function through the control panel.

Quick launch through the notification panel

The most obvious and quick way to start capturing an image is to use the notification curtain. However, on many devices, this icon is hidden by default so that the interface is not cluttered. To activate, you need to swipe from top to bottom to open the control center and find the Screen Recorder icon there. If it is not, click on the three dots or edit button in the corner of the panel to add a widget to the main screen.

Once the icon has appeared, just tap it. There's a floating menu on the screen with a timer and control buttons. Here you can immediately start recording by pressing the red button, or go to the settings by touching the gear. The floating menu is convenient because it doesn't overlap the entire view, allowing you to see what's going on in the frame, and if necessary, stop the process with a single touch.

Interestingly, the system automatically determines which app you're in. If you run a game, the widget interface can change to offer optimized performance settings, especially for owners of Redmi Note or POCO F series models, where every drop of CPU resources is important during gaming.

Deep tuning of quality and parameters

Before you start recording, it is important to set the output settings correctly so that the final video meets your expectations. Standard settings are often focused on saving space, but for quality content, you should change them. Go to the recording widget settings (cog in the recording menu) and pay attention to the Quality section.

Here you will find some critical options. Video resolution directly affects picture clarity: for modern displays, it is better to choose 1080p or higher. Frame rate (FPS) determines the smoothness of movement: for static instructions, 30 FPS is enough, but for dynamic games, it is better to set 60 FPS if the device processor allows.

Also worth paying attention to is the encoding format. Most of the time, H.264 is used, which is compatible with all players. However, new models like Xiaomi 13 or Xiaomi 14 can support the more efficient H.265 codec (HEVC), which provides better quality with a smaller file size, although it requires more powerful hardware to play.

• 🎥 Permission: Choose 1080p or 2K Maximum image quality on large screens.
• 🎞️ Frequency of frames: 60 FPS It will provide a smooth play in the games, 30 FPS It's good for tutorials.
• 📉 Bitrate: adjust this setting manually if the standard values give a soapy picture.

Remember, high-setting requires more processing power. If you notice your phone starting to warm up or the game slowing down while you're recording, try lowering bitrate or frame rate. Balancing quality and performance is the key to successful recording.

Working with sound: microphone or system

One of the most common questions is how to record sound. Xiaomi's built-in recorder allows you to flexibly manage audio sources, making it a versatile tool. In the recording settings menu, you will find the item "Sound Source" with three main options, each of which has its own characteristics.

The first option is System Sound, which allows you to record what's going on inside your phone: music, game sounds, notifications, which is the perfect choice for gameplay or recording app-based video lessons. It's important to note that on some versions of Android and MIUI, recording system sound can be limited by security policies for certain applications (such as instant messengers or banking programs).

The second option is a microphone, in which case the phone will record all the external sounds: your voice, the noise in the room, the barking of the dog. This is useful if you want to comment on what is happening on the screen or record a lecture. The third option is a combination of both sources, but it does not work on all models and versions of the firmware.

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Use headphones with a microphone when recording from your voice, which will allow you to make comments without bringing the phone to your mouth, and improve the quality of the recording, as the microphone will be closer to the sound source.

If you choose to record through a microphone, make sure the room is quiet. Xiaomi's built-in microphones are sensitive but can capture unnecessary noise. For a professional result, it's better to use an external loop microphone connected via a 3.5mm connector or USB-C.

Additional functions: drawing and camera

Xiaomi's screen recording functionality goes beyond just capturing a picture. Real-time editing tools are available in the floating menu during an active session, which is especially useful when you need to highlight an important detail in a screenshot or video without editing it.

The pencil tool allows you to take notes directly over the image, so you can choose the color and the thickness of the line, and this is indispensable when you create training materials that point to a particular button or interface element, and all your movements will be recorded in the final video.

Another interesting thing is that you can add a picture from the front camera to the corner of the screen (Picture-in-Picture), which turns your recording into a full stream or vlog, you can comment on the actions on the screen, and your face will appear in a small window.

It's worth remembering that using a camera and drawing while recording in high resolution puts a serious strain on the processor. On budget models like the Redmi 12C or Redmi A series, this can cause a decrease in FPS. Watch out for the device's heating.

Where to look for saved videos and how to edit them

Once you've finished recording, the file is automatically saved to the gallery, and you can find it by opening the Gallery app and going to Screen records, and you can store all your videos, sorted by date, and you can also assign files clear names, often including the date and time of the recording.

Xiaomi's built-in gallery editor allows you to perform basic video processing immediately after recording. You can crop the beginning and end to eliminate unnecessary steps to start and stop the recorder.

If the built-in capabilities are not enough, the file is easy to export. It is stored in the device's memory along a path that usually looks like a "switch" file. /DCIM/ScreenRecorder/. Knowing this path, you can quickly find the video through the file manager and send it to the cloud or computer for more complex editing.

⚠️ Note: When you delete the Screen Recording app (if you somehow manage to do so via the ADB or third-party launchers, your records may not disappear, but access to them through a standard widget will be lost. MIUI needlessly.

For ease of sorting, it is recommended to periodically clean the folder with records. Video files, especially in high resolution, take up a lot of space. Regular transfer of important videos to a computer or external drive will help avoid overflowing memory of the smartphone.

Addressing common problems

Despite the system’s fine-tuning, users may encounter situations where recording does not start, interrupt, or go without sound, most often the problem lies in permissions or application conflict. If the recording button is inactive, check if you have an application that blocks screen capture (for example, Netflix or a banking application with DRM protection).

Another common problem is that there's no sound in the final file, so make sure the recorder settings are right for the sound source, so if you want to record the system sound, it needs to be on the settings, and the media volume doesn't have to be zero, and in some cases, just restarting the device helps.

Also worth mentioning is the time limit. Depending on the MIUI version and the free memory, the recording can automatically stop. The system does not warn you about the time limit in advance, so when recording long lectures or streams, it is better to break them into segments of 30-40 minutes, which also saves the phone from overheating.

• 🔇 No Sound: Check the sound source settings and make sure no silent mode is enabled.
• 🛑 Recording interrupted: maybe the place is over or the phone is overheated; close the background apps.
• 📉 Low quality: check bitrate settings and resolutions in the six menu