Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face the challenge of saving an image of the current content of the screen. Whether it’s important correspondence, bank transfer confirmation or just a funny meme from social networks, the ability to quickly take screenshots is a basic skill. Modern shells MIUI and HyperOS offer many ways to accomplish this task, from classic buttons to advanced gestures.
Many users have been using the standard method for years without even knowing there are more convenient alternatives available in their device. Understanding all the options available saves time and makes interaction with the gadget more comfortable. In this article, we will discuss each method in detail, and also consider the settings that can block the creation of images.
You don't have to be a technologist to learn these techniques. The interface is designed to be intuitive, but the hidden possibilities often go unnoticed. We'll help you unlock the full potential of your smartphone and teach you how to take screenshots in a split second in any situation.
Classical method using physical buttons
The most common and reliable method, which works on the vast majority of Xiaomi models, including old and new versions of Android, it does not require pre-tuning and is available immediately after purchasing the device.
It's important to keep the press synchronized. If you press one button before the other, the system might think of it as a command to call the shutdown menu or change the volume. Short press is the key to success. Don't keep your fingers on the buttons for long, easy enough, fast enough.
Once you've done the action, you'll hear the characteristic shutter sound of the camera (if the sound is on), and at the top of the screen, a smaller copy of the image will appear, which allows you to immediately edit or share a file without opening the gallery.
- 📱 Press the volume button “down” and the power button at the same time.
- ⏱️ Keep the buttons no longer than one second.
- 👀 Check the top corner of the screen for previews.
⚠️ Note: On some models with heavily curved screen edges (for example, the Mi Note series or the flagship Xiaomi) 13/14) The physical buttons may be inconveniently placed, so it's best to use alternative methods to keep the device from dropping.
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If you have thumbs or you wear a high-sided case, the classic method may be uncomfortable. Try adjusting the three-finger control, which we'll talk about below.
Using three-finger gestures
One of the most convenient features in the MIUI shell is the ability to create screenshots with a three-finger swipe, which is ideal for those who like to control a smartphone with one hand or keep it in an uncomfortable position when reaching for side buttons is problematic.
To activate this feature, you need to go to the system settings. The path may vary slightly depending on the firmware version, but the logic remains the same. You need to find the partition responsible for additional actions and gestures. By default, the function can be disabled, so you need to enable it manually.
Once activated, just swipe your three fingers down the center of the screen, and the system instantly reacts and saves the image, which is especially useful when browsing long web pages or news feeds when your hands are busy holding the device.
☑️ Tweaking the gesture with three fingers
There's a nuance to touchscreen sensitivity, and if you have a thick protective glass on or the screen is damaged, the system may not recognize the touch of three fingers at the same time, and in such cases, it's recommended to wipe the screen or slightly increase the force of the tap when swiping.
Control through notification curtain and floating window
The third way is to use the system interface elements: the control center (curtain) that is called by the swipe from top to bottom, often has a separate button to create a screenshot, which is true if the physical buttons on your device malfunction or crash.
In addition, the latest versions of HyperOS and MIUI 14/15 have a floating window that is called after you create a screenshot by any means, and you can choose from this menu to scroll through the page, edit or send to the messenger. This is not a separate method of creation, but an important processing tool.
Sometimes the button in the curtain may be missing. This is easy to fix by editing a set of tiles. Click on the edit icon (usually a pencil or three dots) in the top corner of the curtain and add the Screenshot icon to the active area. It will always be on hand now.
- 🔽 Swipe from top to bottom to open the control center.
- 🔍 Find an icon with a picture of scissors or a screen.
- 🖱️ Click on it for a snapshot.
Why does the button in the curtain not work in some applications?
Voice control and Google Assistant
For those who prefer voice commands, Xiaomi offers integration with Google Assistant.This may seem like a slow way, but it is indispensable when the user's hands are full or dirty.
To work, you need to activate the voice assistant and the “Ok Google” function in Google settings, and then at any time, even when the screen is off (in some modes), you can activate the assistant and say “Take a screenshot” or “Make a screenshot”.
This method is also useful for people with disabilities who have difficulty making accurate touches or pressing button combinations. Voice control in Android works consistently and recognizes commands even in the presence of background noise.
⚠️ Attention: Voice control requires an internet connection to handle the request most accurately. If you are in an area without a network, the command may fail or be executed with a delay.
It is important to note that when using voice commands, data privacy may be at issue as the request is processed by Google servers.Do not use this method for screenshots of sensitive information in public places where you may be heard.
Long screenshot: Capturing the entire page
One of the most popular features in the Xiaomi ecosystem is the ability to create long screenshots, or “scrolls”, which allows you to save the entire article, chat correspondence or product in the online store in one file, rather than a dozen individual pictures.
The process starts as usual: you take a standard screenshot in any of the ways described above. Immediately after that, in the upper right corner of the thumbnail that appears (preview), you click on an icon that resembles a scroll or arrow down. The system automatically scrolls down, stitching (gluing) the image.
You can stop scrolling at any time by touching the screen. If the page is very long, the system will stop itself when it reaches the end of the content or resolution limit. The resulting file is saved in the gallery as one long image.
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A long screenshot is the best way to save the context of a correspondence or an entire article, avoiding confusion from many individual files.
Sometimes, when you create a long screenshot, you may see gluing artifacts if there are floating elements on the page (widgets, ads, videos), in which case it is better to take a few regular screenshots or use the Save as PDF function in the browser.
Where are screenshots stored and how to edit them
Once created, the image is automatically stored in the device’s internal memory, the standard file path looks like Internal Memory/DCIM/Screenshots. The Xiaomi Gallery has a separate album for them, making it easier to search and sort.
The built-in image editor allows you to edit immediately after you create it, so you can cut the edges, draw arrows, add text, or blur sensitive data (such as card numbers or addresses), which is an important step before sending a file to the person you are talking to.
The default format is PNG, which provides high quality without losing detail. However, it takes up more space than JPG. If you take hundreds of screenshots daily, it makes sense to periodically clean the folder or set up sync with the cloud.
| Parameter | Default value | Possible changes |
|---|---|---|
| File format | PNG | JPG (through third-party applications) |
| The way to preserve | /DCIM/Screenshots | Can be changed in some launchers |
| Permission | Equal to screen resolution | Depends on the scale of the interface |
| Shutter sound | Included | You can turn off in "No Sound" mode. |
Screenshot editing is not just a pamper, it is a necessity for modern digital etiquette. Before you send a screenshot of the correspondence to a third party, make sure that it does not contain other people's personal information. Use the Blurring tool in the Xiaomi editor to hide such data.
Frequent problems and their solution
Users may find themselves in a situation where screenshots are not created, most often due to security restrictions in a particular application, banking programs, incognito browsers and streaming services block screen capture to protect data.
Another reason is overcrowded memory: If there's critically little space on the phone, the system won't be able to save the new file. Check the storage and free up at least 100 MB for stable operation.
It's also worth checking the special features settings, and if you have certain services for people with disabilities on, they can intercept the screen and conflict with the screenshot function. Try temporarily disabling them for verification.
- 🚫 Check if the screen capture app is blocked.
- 💾 Make room in the internal memory.
- ⚙️ Restart the device when the system freezes.
If neither method works, it may be a software shell failure, which can help reset the interface settings or, in extreme cases, a complete factory reset (don’t forget to back up the data!).