Users of the popular Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 smartphone often wonder how to quickly and efficiently capture the contents of the screen. Unlike some other manufacturers, the Chinese giant has implemented many unique tools for working with images in its MIUI shell. Understanding all the available methods allows you to save time and get exactly the result that you need at a particular time.
Screenshots may be required to save correspondence, fix an error in the application, or simply share interesting content with friends. Standard methods work consistently, but knowing the alternatives helps in situations where physical buttons are busy or damaged. In this article, we will take a detailed look at each option available so you can choose the most convenient for yourself.
Modern smartphones offer flexibility, and the Redmi Note 9 is no exception, and you can use not only physical keys, but also gestures, voice controls, and special menus, which is especially true if you are actively using the device for work or entertainment and you need instant access to the system functions.
Classical method using physical buttons
The most common and time-tested way to capture a screenshot on any Android device, including Xiaomi, is a combination of hardware keys. It works even if the touch screen is temporarily unresponsive or freezes. To perform the action, you need to simultaneously press the on and off button.
It's important to press the keys briefly, literally "dashed" so that the system perceives it as a command, not as a long clamping. If you hold the buttons too long, the smartphone can go into off mode or start the voice assistant. On the Redmi Note 9 model, the keys are located on the right side of the body, making them convenient for grabbing the thumb of the right hand.
Once you successfully execute the command, you will hear the characteristic sound of the camera shutter (if the sound is on), and the screen will blink. In the upper right corner, you will see a thumbnail of the created image that can be immediately edited or sent, which is a basic method that every smartphone owner should know.
☑️ Checking buttons
It is worth noting that in some gaming applications or when watching video in full screen mode, the system reaction may be slightly delayed, in such cases, it is recommended to repeat the press a little more confidently, and also make sure that your device does not activate third-party launchers that can intercept control of the buttons.
Control through notification curtain and quick access panel
If you're not comfortable using physical buttons for some reason, MIUI offers a software analog, so you can add a special screenshot icon to the quick access bar, and you need to unlock the device and swipe the notifications from top to bottom.
At the top of the screen, you'll see a series of icons. If you don't have the right button, look for a pencil icon or three dots (depending on the firmware version) to edit the tiles. In the menu that opens, find the screenshot element and drag it to the active zone. Now, it takes just one tap to create a copy of the screen.
This method is especially useful when the smartphone is lying on a table or connected to a docking station, and reaching for the side buttons is inconvenient. In addition, a software call eliminates the risk of accidental volume change or locking of the screen during the process.
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Place the screenshot icon in the top row of the control panel so that it can be reached with the thumb of one hand without changing the grip of the device.
Once you add a shortcut, it becomes as simple as possible: you just open the content you want, you lower the curtain, you click on the icon, and the system instantly responds by saving the image to the gallery, and many users prefer this method for its visibility and not having to remember the combinations.
Finger Drawing: Three-Finger Screenshot gestures
One of the most convenient features of the MIUI shell is the ability to create a screenshot with a gesture. You can swipe three fingers across the screen from top to bottom, and the system automatically saves an image of the current area. This feature is not active by default and requires pre-tuning.
To activate this mode, go to the Settings menu, then select the Additional section and find the Screenshot option. Here you need to enable the option "Three-finger screenshot." Once activated, you can use this method in any interface, except for some secure applications, such as bank clients.
Why can't a gesture work?
The advantage of this method is that it's fast and doesn't have to use the side of the device, which is especially true for models with large screens like the Redmi Note 9, where it's hard to reach the buttons with one hand, and it's intuitive and it quickly becomes a habit.
Also, the gesture settings often feature the "Screenshot of the area" option, which is that if you hold three fingers on the screen a little longer, the system will suggest you choose a specific area to save, rather than the entire screen, which is a unique opportunity for those who often share snippets of correspondence or articles.
Using the Google Assistant voice assistant
Xiaomi Redmi Note 9 owners can use the built-in voice assistant to take screenshots, ideal when hands are busy or the device is in an awkward position, just say the phrase "Ok Google" or activate the assistant with a button, and then say "Take a screenshot".
It recognizes the voice command and executes the action instantly. It is important that the interface language and voice input language match or are properly configured in the Google app, a technique that demonstrates the power of smart interaction with a smartphone.
Voice control is especially useful in situations where the phone is mounted in a car or on a holder. You don't have to remove the device to capture the navigation instruction or the incoming message. Just give the command and the task will be completed.
Now, this method requires an active Internet connection to work, because voice requests are often processed on the company's servers, but most of the time, the delay is minimal and does not interfere with the process.
Long screenshot and image editing
Long screenshot (or scrolling screenshot) is an indispensable tool for saving long pages of websites, instant messengers or contact lists. After you create a regular screenshot (any of the methods described above), a thumbnail appears at the top of the screen.
In this thumbnail, you have to press the down arrow button or the Scrolling icon. The device will automatically scroll downwards, capturing new areas and combining them into one long image, and you can stop the process at any time by touching the screen.
The built-in MIUI editor allows you to make the necessary edits immediately after you create an image, so you can cut the edges, add text, pictures, or highlight important points with a marker, all of which are available without installing third-party applications.
| Method | Speed. | Convenience | Features |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buttons | Tall. | Average. | It always works. |
| Curtain. | Medium | High. | Requires customization |
| Gesture. | Very high. | Maximum. | I need training. |
| Voice. | Depends on the network. | High. | Hand-free mode |
Editing long screenshots has its nuances: If a page is very long, the quality of the final image can be reduced to save memory, but the text usually remains readable, and this is the only way to keep the structure of a long correspondence or article in one file.
Solving and working with files
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the screenshot is not created, most often this is due to the protection of content in certain applications, such as banking programs or streaming services (Netflix, Spotify), in which case the screen may simply blink, but the file will not save, or a black frame will appear.
There may also be problems with a lack of free memory: If the Redmi Note 9's internal storage is overcrowded, the system will not be able to write a new file, in which case you need to free up space by removing unnecessary videos or applications. You can check the free space in Settings → About Phone → Storage.
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If a screenshot is not created in a specific application, it is likely an Android security limitation that cannot be circumvented by standard means without root rights.
All images created are saved in a standard gallery folder. The path to files usually looks like Internal Memory → DCIM → Screenshots or MIUI → gallery → cloud → screenshots. From there, they can be easily found, sent via instant messengers or uploaded to cloud storage.
⚠️ Note: When using the Long Screenshot feature, make sure that the page scrolls smoothly. If the content is loaded dynamically (news feed), the automatic scrolling may not have time to load new items, and empty spaces will appear in the final file.
⚠️ Warning: Do not use third-party apps to create root-right screenshots unless urgently needed. MIUI and lead to the refusal of banking applications.
Regularly cleaning the folder with screenshots helps keep the gallery in order. Many users forget about this, and after a year they accumulate thousands of unnecessary images. Use built-in cleaning tools or sort files by date.