Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphone owners often face the challenge of capturing what is happening on the display. Whether it’s creating a training video, fixing a bug in the game or saving a rare moment from correspondence, the built-in tools of MIUI and HyperOS allow you to do this without installing third-party software. However, the standard feature often raises questions, especially when it comes to capturing an audio track. Many users activate the recording, but end up with a silent video or file where only ambient noise is heard, not the system sound.
The problem lies in the nuances of the Android operating system, which strictly delineates data flows. To record the screen on Xiaomi successfully and contain the right audio tracks, you need to properly configure the sound source before shooting. In this article, we will discuss in detail how to activate the function, choose between the microphone and the system sound, and also solve the typical problems with the lack of audio in the saved videos.
Xiaomi’s modern shells offer flexible customizations to tailor the process to specific tasks. You can record the internal sounds of the app, comment on actions via a microphone, or use both sources simultaneously. Understanding the logic of how these modes work will help you create quality content without having to look for complex workarounds or use root rights.
Activation of the standard screencast tool
The first step to create a video is to call the system widget. In the MIUI and HyperOS shells, it is built deep into the system and is accessible through the control panel. First, unlock the device and swipe top-down from the top right or left corner of the screen to open the notification bar. If the desired icon is not on the first page, scroll left or click on the edit button (usually a pencil or tripont icon) to add the "Screen Record" label to the active menu.
Once you find the icon, click on it. The screen will have a floating preview window with a timer and control buttons. This is where you need to make the initial setup before you start the main shoot. The interface may vary slightly depending on the firmware version, but the basic logic remains the same for all models, whether it is a budget Redmi Note or flagship Xiaomi.
It is important to note that in some regions or on certain versions of Android, the feature may be hidden or restricted by content rights holders.If you see a message when you try to run that you are unable to record due to DRM policy, this means that a particular application (such as Netflix or the banking sector) blocks the capture of the image at the security level.
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If the Screen Record icon is missing after the system update, check the control panel settings in the Notification Panel → Order of icons section and return it to a prominent place.
Configuring sound sources: Microphone or System
The key thing most users are interested in is choosing the audio source: The recording settings menu (usually called by clicking on a microphone icon or a gear in a floating window) has three main modes available, and understanding the difference between them is critical to getting the desired result.
Microphone mode records all the external sounds that enter the phone speaker. This is ideal for creating video comments when you explain your actions in voice. However, in this mode, system sounds (music in the game, messenger notifications) will not be recorded unless they are played through the speaker loud enough to be picked up by the microphone, which will create an echo effect and low quality.
System Sounds (or Device Sound) captures the digital audio stream directly from the operating system, which ensures crystal-clear quality of the music and effects in games. However, in this mode, your voice will not be heard because the microphone is turned off to avoid feedback, a mode that is not available in applications that use VoIP (calls via WhatsApp, Telegram), due to Android privacy restrictions.
Why do some apps not have sound when recording?
- 🎙️ Microphone: Records user voice and sounds from the environment, ignoring system audio.
- 🔊 System sound: Records only internal audio devices (music, game sounds), microphone is disabled.
- 🔇 No Sound: Video is created entirely without audio track, which is useful for creating GIF-animations or quiet demonstrations.
To switch between modes in the floating recording window, tap the microphone icon. Each time you click, you change status: microphone on, microphone turned off (system sound) or completely shut down. On Android 11 and above, System Sound mode becomes available automatically without the need to connect headphones, unlike older versions of MIUI.
Detailed setting of video quality and parameters
Before you start recording, you should check the technical parameters of the file you create. Go to the function settings (cog in the screen recording menu). Here you will find the resolution and frame rates. The choice of resolution directly affects the file size and the load on the processor. For most tasks, the optimal choice is 1080p, since this is the native resolution of most smartphone screens.
Frame rate (FPS) determines the smoothness of video. The standard 30 frames per second value provides good interface smoothness and is suitable for training videos. If you plan to record dynamic games where every millisecond matters, it makes sense to switch to 60 FPS, if your processor is able to process it without losing performance in the application itself.
☑️ Pre-recording checks
You can also activate touch display in settings, which visualizes the taps on the screen in white circles, which is very useful for tutorials, where you want to show where to click, but for gameplay or movies, it's best to turn off this feature so that the white dots don't block the view.
| Parameter | Recommended value | Impact on outcome |
|---|---|---|
| Permission | 1080p (FHD) | Balance of File Quality and Size |
| Frequency of personnel | 30 FPS | Standard smoothness, less load |
| Bitreit | High (12 Mbps) | Better picture quality, more weight |
| Orientation | Portrait/Landscape | Depends on the content being shot. |
Keep in mind that high settings require more resources. If you notice strong lags or heat during recording, try lowering bitrate or frame rate. This is especially true for mid-range devices, where the processor may not be able to handle simultaneous rendering of heavy duty. 3D-graphics and video coding in high resolution.
Use of third-party applications for advanced functions
While the standard Xiaomi tool is functional, it has limitations, such as not being able to draw on a screen in real time or pause while recording. For users who need advanced functionality, the market offers many alternatives. Popular applications like AZ Screen Recorder or XRecorder often have more flexible codec and bitrate settings.
When using third-party software on Xiaomi, you need to be prepared for aggressive energy saving. MIUI and HyperOS like to kill background processes, which can lead to a sudden recording stop in the middle of an important moment. To avoid this, after installing the application, you need to go to the battery settings and allow auto-start, as well as turn off energy savings for a particular recorder.
Another advantage of third-party solutions is the ability to stream live to platforms like YouTube or Twitch, as well as built-in editors for cropping and overlaying text immediately after recording. However, free versions of such programs often contain intrusive ads or watermarks, which can be critical for creating professional content.
Problems: No sound or black screen
One of the most common problems is that there's no sound in the finished file, despite the right settings. Often it's an application conflict. If you have a music player or podcast running in the background, the system can prioritize playback, but not record, or vice versa, block the recording of the system sound because of the busy audio channel.
⚠️ Note: When recording calls or video conferencing (Zoom, Skype), the system sound of the interlocutor will not be recorded for privacy reasons.
And users are also exposed to a black screen when trying to record secure content (Netflix, Disney+, some banks), not a phone bug, but a DRM (Digital Rights Management) technology, which is not software-based on an unrooted device, and the only option is to shoot the screen on another device's camera, although the quality will be much lower.
If the sound is interrupted or cracked, check if the processor is overloaded. Close all unnecessary tabs in the browser and background applications. Sometimes it helps to reboot the smartphone before starting a long recording session, which frees up the cache and normalizes the work of audio drivers.
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The black screen in video apps is a protection against piracy, not a malfunction of your Xiaomi.
Where to find and how to edit the finished records
Once the recording process is complete (by pressing the red stop button in the floating window), the file is automatically saved to the gallery. Xiaomi's standard Gallery app has a separate album, Screen Recorder or Screen Records, where all your videos are stored, making it easier to find the right video from hundreds of photos.
The built-in gallery editor allows you to do basic cropping: remove the extra at the beginning and at the end where you were distracted by preparation. There is also a framing feature available if you need to change the proportions of the frame. For more complex editing, overlaying music or titles, files are better exported to specialized video editors such as CapCut or VN, which are perfectly optimized for mobile platforms.
Files are stored in the device memory along a path that can be found through the conductor: Internal storage → DCIM → ScreenRecorder. Knowing this path, you can easily transfer video to your computer through USB-cable or send to cloud storage to free up space on the phone.