Owners of Xiaomi and Redmi devices often face the need to quickly save an image from the display, whether it is correspondence, a screenshot of an article or an error in the application. Standard methods known from other Android smartphones work here, but the shell MIUI or HyperOS offers advanced functionality that greatly simplifies the process.
Knowing all the ways you can do it will save you time and perform complex tasks like taking long screenshots or recording video from a screen in a single touch. In this article, we will explore not only the basic combinations of buttons, but also the hidden features of the system that are often overlooked by users.
We'll discuss how to set up handy gestures, use voice control, and what to do if screenshots are no longer saved in the gallery, and we'll also focus on the specific interface settings that are specific to the Chinese manufacturer's ecosystem.
Use of physical buttons and classical methods
The most obvious and time-tested way to take a screenshot on any Android device, including Xiaomi, is by pressing two hardware keys at the same time. You need to press the volume button and the on button at the same time. It is important to press them synchronously: if you first press the volume and then lock, the smartphone will simply reduce the sound and the screenshot will not be taken.
Once the action is successfully completed, the characteristic camera shutter click is heard, and a notification will appear at the top of the screen to create the shot. At this point, the capture area is highlighted, and you have a few seconds for additional actions, such as cropping or sending a file.
This method works even when the touch screen is temporarily unresponsive or the system has crashed because it is tied to the hardware level. However, on large smartphones, it can be difficult to reach both buttons with one hand, so it is worth considering alternatives.
Some users prefer to use the optional menu, calling the control panel (swipe top-down or bottom-up, depending on the navigation settings) and finding the Screenshot icon (usually looking like scissors), which is especially handy if you have already opened the notification curtain.
⚠️ Attention: With frequent use of physical buttons, there is a risk of mechanical wear or sticking, especially on budget models with tight buttons.
Setting and using gestures with three fingers
MIUI is famous for its convenience, and one of the most popular features is to create gesture screenshots. You can set the system to take a screenshot with three fingers from top to bottom of the display, which is much faster than finding buttons on the case.
To activate this feature, go to Settings → Additional settings → Keyboard shortcuts. Here you select Screenshot and check the box against the option “Three fingers”. Once activated, the system will respond to three fingers touching anywhere on the screen, except for some secure applications (for example, banking).
There's also an extended version of this gesture, which is to take a long screenshot, and if you don't take it away with your three fingers and hold it for a split second, you start scrolling, and the screen automatically starts scrolling down, capturing the entire contents of the page, whether it's a long text message in the messenger or a browser article.
☑️ Checking the gesture settings
It should be noted that the sensitivity of the sensor on different models of the Redmi Note or Mi may be different. If the gesture is not triggered the first time, try to swipe your fingers a little faster or, conversely, press them tighter to the surface of the display.
Voice control and Google Assistant
For those who prefer not to touch the screen, voice control is ideal. Xiaomi has a Google Assistant preinstalled on its smartphones, which can take screenshots on command. Just say "Ok Google" (or press and hold the home/power button to activate), and then say "Take a screenshot" or "Take a screenshot."
The assistant will instantly execute a command, beep, and show a preview of the image, which is especially useful when the user's hands are busy or dirty, for example, during cooking or repairs. You can also use the built-in voice assistant Xiao AI (in global versions may be unavailable or require a change of region), which works on a similar principle.
Voice control requires a stable internet connection to handle a request on Google servers, although basic commands can work offline if the corresponding language data pack is loaded into the device’s settings in advance.
Long Screenshot: Creating long images
Long Screenshot is one of the most useful features for saving web pages, correspondence and documents, and unlike a standard image, it allows multiple screens to be stitched together into a single long image, which can be run in two main ways.
The first way is through the standard menu after you've created a normal screenshot, and when you've taken a picture (by button or gesture), the top right corner of the preview will have an icon in the form of a scroll or arrows down, and when you click on it, the system will automatically scroll down, and you can stop scrolling at any time by touching the screen.
The second way is through the "Additional" menu in the quick action curtain or through gesture settings, and some users don't know that a long screenshot can be taken by selecting the appropriate mode in the editing menu immediately after capture, which allows you to immediately cut off the excess from the top and bottom before you start scrolling.
Files created in this mode can have significant weight and non-standard resolution, so when sent via messengers (for example, WhatsApp or Telegram), they can compress more than usual, losing the readability of small text.
| Method | Activation rate | Convenience | Risk of error |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buttons (Loudness + Power) | Medium | High. | Low. |
| Three-finger gesture | Tall. | Very high. | Medium (needs habit) |
| Voice command | Low. | Average. | High (noise, internet) |
| Notification curtain | Low. | Low. | Low. |
Editing and markup immediately after shooting
Once you've created a screenshot, Xiaomi has a thumbnail pop-up, and if you click on it, it opens up a built-in image editor that allows you not only to crop the frame, but also to add arrows, text, blur (to hide personal data) and stickers.
Blur is particularly important for security, and before you send a screenshot of a correspondence or document, you can smear phone numbers, addresses, or passwords right in the editor's interface without installing third-party apps. It's a built-in MIUI security feature.
Text recognition (OCR) is also available, and if you have text in a screenshot, the editor can suggest you copy it to a clipboard or translate it, making the smartphone a powerful tool for working with information, allowing you to quickly extract data from pictures.
All changes are saved either as a copy or overwrites the original, depending on the option chosen when leaving the editor.
⚠️ Attention: When using editing tools, monitor the quality of the final image. JPEG It can lead to “digital noise” and artifacts.
Where are the screenshots stored and how to find them
By default, all images created are stored in the device’s internal memory in the /Pictures/Screenshots folder. The standard Gallery app has a separate album for them called Screenshots, which is usually at the top of the album list or in the Devices section.
If you use Google Photos or Xiaomi Cloud, screenshots can automatically sync to the cloud.This is convenient for freeing up space on your phone, but it’s worth remembering that the quality of compression in the cloud can be reduced if you don’t have an original storage subscription connected.
To quickly access the latest images, you can use the recent widget on your desktop or contact the File Manager Explorer, where files are sorted by date of creation, and the most recent ones will be at the top of the list.
Problem Solving: Why You Can't Take a Screenshot
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where a screenshot is not created or saved, most often due to security restrictions Android. Bank applications, incognito modes in browsers and some streaming services block the ability to capture the screen, in which case instead of the image you will receive a black screen or a notification of the ban.
Another common reason is a lack of free memory: if the internal storage is overcrowded, the system cannot physically write a new file, in which case you need to clear the cache or delete unnecessary files, and the problem can lie in the failure of the system process "System UI".
If screenshots stop working after a firmware update, try resetting the interface settings or checking permissions for system applications. In rare cases, restarting the device in safe mode helps to avoid conflict with third-party launchers.