How to take a screenshot on Xiaomi: full instructions

Owning a modern Xiaomi or Redmi smartphone involves the use of many functions, and one of the most popular is the creation of screenshots. Often users need to save correspondence in the messenger, fix an error in the application or share an interesting moment from the game. Standard methods of the Android operating system work flawlessly here, but the proprietary shell MIUI or HyperOS offers additional features that significantly expand the functionality.

In this article, we will take a closer look at all the ways you can create screenshots, from classic keyboard shortcuts to advanced methods like long scrollable images, and learn how to set up easy access to this feature and what to do if standard buttons stop responding to your actions, and the information will be useful for both beginners and experienced users who want to optimize their experience with the device.

It's worth noting that the interface may vary slightly depending on the firmware version and the specific model of your gadget, but the basic principles of the system remain unchanged over the years. Let's look at the basic options for capturing images from the display that are available to you right now.

Using physical buttons to screenshot

The fastest and most time-tested way to take a screenshot is to use a combination of mechanical keys on the device body, which works even if the touch screen is temporarily unresponsive or frozen, you need to press the on and off button at the same time, you don't need to hold them for long, just a short press lasting about 0.5-1 second.

It is important to keep the synchrony of the pressing. If you press the volume button before the power button, the system can perceive this as a command to switch the track or change the sound level. On Xiaomi Mi and Redmi Note models, this method is the main one and works in 99% of cases, including the bootloader menu and some system screens where touch gestures are blocked.

Once you've done the action, you'll hear the characteristic snap of the camera shutter, and in the upper right corner of the screen, you'll see a thumbnail of the image you've taken, and this thumbnail lets you quickly edit or share a file without opening the gallery. If the shot didn't work the first time, try changing the rhythm of the tap to make it sharper and more simultaneous.

⚠️ Note: On some models with very sensitive volume buttons, frequent use of this combination can lead to the accidental switching on of the recorder or control of music if the fingers slip.

⚠️ Note: If your device has a protective case with thick sides, make sure that it does not block the movement of the buttons, otherwise it will be physically impossible to take a screenshot without removing the protection.

The Three-Finger Method: A Handy gesture in MIUI

MIUI is famous for its unique gestures, and one of the most useful is to take a screenshot with three fingers across the screen, which allows you to take pictures with one hand, which is especially convenient when watching news feeds or reading long articles. To activate this mode, you need to go to settings, select the "Additional Features" section and find the "Three-finger Screenshot".

Once you turn on the feature, just swipe three fingers down the display, and the system will instantly respond with an audible signal and create a snapshot. This method is especially popular among users of the large Redmi Note and Xiaomi Mi Max smartphones, where it is difficult to reach the buttons on the upper end. The gesture works in almost all applications except those that have a special data protection mode.

There's also an extended version of this gesture that allows you to take long screenshots. If you don't let them go right away with your three fingers and you delay them for a split second, you might have an additional area or scroll mode menu, but the standard behavior is to create a normal frame. If the gesture doesn't work, check if you're in the High Sense mode or protective films that can distort the multi-touch.

Create long screenshots through the menu

Sometimes one screen isn't enough to capture all the information, like a long Telegram chat or a browser article, and for that, Xiaomi has a Long Screenshot or Scrolling feature. After you take a regular screenshot by any means, there's a floating thumbnail window in the upper right corner, and at the bottom of this window is a scroll icon or arrows pointing down.

By pressing this button, the system automatically scrolls down the screen, stitching the image into one long tape, and it continues until you hit the stop button or reach the end of the page, which is a very useful feature for saving checks, contact lists, or routes in the navigator.

The finished image is saved in the gallery as a single file format PNG or JPG with high vertical resolution. Note that the text quality on very long screenshots can be slightly reduced due to compression algorithms, so for important documents it is better to use the standard mode or applications for scanning.

Control Panel and voice assistant

If the buttons are busy or damaged and the gestures are not set up, a notification curtain comes to the rescue. Swipe down to open the control center, and find the Screenshot icon. It looks like a scissor or a screen image. Pressing this icon instantly creates a snapshot of the current contents of the display. This method is universal and works on any Pad tablet or POCO smartphone.

Another modern way is to use a voice assistant like Google Assistant or XiaoAI. Just say, "OK, Google, take a screenshot," or "Take a screenshot," and the system will execute a command, which is especially handy when your hands are busy, like cooking or working at a computer, and the phone is on the table.

To activate voice control, make sure the microphone is allowed for use by the assistant and the assistant is enabled in the system settings. Voice commands work even on a locked screen, if the appropriate permission is given in the security settings.

Where screenshots are stored and how to manage them

All images are automatically saved to the gallery's system folder. In the Gallery app, you'll find a separate album called Screenshots or Screenshots. Here, files are sorted by date of creation, allowing you to quickly find the image you want. The standard file path on the file system is /storage/emulated/0/Pictures/Screenshots.

File management is possible right from the gallery: you can delete failed frames, send them through instant messengers or edit by adding text and drawings. The built-in MIUI editor allows you to blur sensitive information, such as card numbers or addresses, before sending.

If the device’s memory is crowded, old screenshots can be transferred to your computer or to Google Photos’ cloud storage, Mi Cloud. Automatic synchronization will help save important data even in the event of loss or breakage of your smartphone.

The solution: why not get a screenshot

Sometimes users are faced with a situation where screenshots are not created, which may be due to security restrictions in certain applications, such as banking applications, incognito mode in the browser or streaming services like Netflix block the creation of screenshots to protect copyright and user data, in which case the screen may simply flash black and the file will not be saved.

It can also be a lack of free memory: if the storage is full, the system will not be able to write a new file. Check the space in the Memory section and if necessary, clear the cache or delete unnecessary videos. Another rare cause is a malfunction of the Media Scanner system process, which can be fixed by restarting the device.

If the problem is system-like and the buttons don't respond anywhere, try resetting special features or checking for system updates. In rare cases, cleaning the Gallery or System UI app cache through the developer menu helps.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)