You can take a screenshot of Xiaomi smartphones in a matter of seconds -- if you know the right key combinations or the hidden MIUI features. But what if the standard way doesn't work? Or if your Redmi Note 12 has a broken power button? Or maybe you want to save not just a static frame, but a long screenshot of the page you're scrolling?
In this article, we’ll look at all the current ways to capture screenshots on Xiaomi, POCO and Black Shark devices, from classic button combinations to obscure firmware chips. And also find out why sometimes screenshots don’t save in the gallery and how to fix it. Whether you have a Xiaomi 13 Ultra with the latest version of MIUI 15 or a budget Redmi A2, the instructions will work for all models.
Method 1: Classic button combination (on 99% of devices)
The most reliable and versatile method is the use of physical buttons, which works on all Xiaomi smartphones, regardless of the model and version of the firmware.
- 📱 Power button (on/off) – usually located on the right.
- 🔽 Volume reduction button - on the same side end.
The algorithm is simple:
- Open on the screen what you want to capture (message, page in the browser, game).
- Press the power button and the volume down button at the same time.
- Hold them for 1–1.5 seconds until you hear the characteristic shutter sound (if the sound is on) and see the save animation.
⚠️ Note: On some models (e.g, POCO F5) Holding the buttons too long can cause the switch-off menu, and if it does, release the keys and try again, but with a shorter press.
☑️ Checking before screenshot
Where to look for a finished screenshot? By default, all screenshots are saved in the folder:
Gallery → Albums → ScreenshotsOr on the way to the file manager:
/storage/emulated/0/Pictures/Screenshots/Method 2: Three-finger gesture (fastest, but not on all models)
If you're tired of pressing buttons, turn on the screenshot with a gesture — swipe three fingers down from top to bottom — a technique that works on most devices with MIUI 10 and newer, but may not be available on some budget models (e.g. Redmi 9A).
How to turn on:
- Go to Settings → Additional → Special features → Gestures.
- Find the "Three-finger screenshot" and activate the switch.
- (Optional) In the gesture settings, you can choose whether there will be vibration when triggered.
💡 If the gesture doesn’t work the first time, try it:
- 🖐️ Swipe your fingers faster (slow movement may not be recognized by the system).
- 📏 Start the gesture just above the middle of the screen.
- 🔄 Reboot your phone if the function suddenly stops working.
⚠️ Note: On some models (such as Black Shark 5), the default three-finger gesture is responsible for starting the game mode, in which case you will have to choose another method or reassign the gesture in the settings.
Method 3: Voice command (for those who like to control voice)
If you have Google's voice assistant on or Xiaomi's XiaoAI on, you can take a screenshot with just one phrase, which is convenient when hands are busy or buttons are not available.
Instructions for Google Assistant:
- Activate the assistant with your voice (OK, Google) or hold the Home button.
- Say, “Take a screenshot” (or “screenshot”).
- Confirm permission to access the screen (when you first use it).
For XiaoAI (only works on Chinese firmware or global ones with an installed application):
Press the search button (or say “Hao Lei”) → (Chinese for “screenshot”)🔊 Important: Voice commands don’t work in all apps (such as banking or overlay-locked games) and make sure the assistant has permission to access the screen in the security settings.
Why doesn’t the voice assistant take a screenshot?
Method 4: Quick settings panel (for MIUI 12 and later)
The latest versions of MIUI (starting with 12) have a handy screenshot button right in the notification bar, which saves you when physical buttons don’t work or are uncomfortable to press.
How to use:
- Swipe your finger down to open the notification panel.
- Find the screenshot icon (usually a scissor or a rectangle with lightning) if it isn't, click on the pencil and add it to the panel.
- Tap the icon – the picture will be taken instantly.
📌 Key point: On some devices (e.g, POCO X5 Pro) The screenshot button in the Quick Settings panel is hidden by default:
Open the notification panel → Press Edit (pencil icon) → Drag the Screenshot into active icons| Xiaomi model | Availability of a button in the default panel | Whether editing is required |
|---|---|---|
| Xiaomi 13/13 Pro | Yes. | No. |
| Redmi Note 12 | No. | Yes. |
| POCO F4 GT | Yes (in game mode) | No. |
| Black Shark 5 | No. | Yes (only in Shark Space) |
Method 5: Long screenshot (for scrollable pages)
A regular screenshot captures only the visible part of the screen, but what if you want to save an entire web page, correspondence in Telegram or a list in Mi Fit? for this purpose, MIUI has a feature “Scrollable Screenshot”** (or “long screenshot”).
How to do this:
- Take a regular screenshot of any of the above methods.
- Immediately after the thumbnail appears in the lower right corner, click on it.
- In the editor that opens, select “Scroll”** (the icon with down arrows).
- Wait until the system automatically scrolls the page and connects the frames.
- Click "Ready" to save the result.
⚠️ Warning: The feature doesn't work in all apps! this is where it's guaranteed to be supported:
- 🌐 Browsers (Chrome, Mi Browser, Firefox).
- 💬 Messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp, Viber – but not in secret chats!).
- 📄 Reading applications (WPS Office, Google Docs).
And here's where it doesn't work:
- 🎮 Games and applications with screenshot protection (banks, some social networks).
- 📺 Video players (YouTube, Netflix) DRM-defense).
💡
If a long screenshot is cropped in the wrong place, try to manually stop scrolling by touching the screen during the capture process.
What to do if screenshots are not saved?
Sometimes screenshots are taken as if they were taken (sound is there, animation is there), but the gallery doesn't have them.
| Problem. | Reason. | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Screenshots don't appear in the gallery | Screenshots folder damaged | Restart your phone or create a folder manually through a file manager |
| There is a sound, but the picture is not saved. | Lack of memory | Clear the cache or transfer files to the memory card |
| Screenshots are taken, but empty (black screen) | DRM protection in the application (banks, Netflix) | Use another method (e.g., shooting a second device) |
| Function disabled by administrator | Work Profile (MDM) established | Please refer to IT-department or delete the profile in the settings |
🔧 Deployed recovery instructions:
- Check the Pictures/Screenshots folder through Files (the gallery may not be updated).
- Delete the Gallery app cache** (Settings → Apps → Gallery → Storage → Clear cache).
- If memory is a problem, transfer the screenshots to an SD card or to the Mi Cloud.
- On some firmware (e.g. Chinese), screenshots are saved by default to /DCIM/Screenshots/ instead of /Pictures/.
Bonus: Screenshots in games and secure applications
Many games and banking apps block screenshots because of data protection, but there are workarounds:
- 🎮 For games: Use the built-in screen recording (Notification Panel) → Record the screen, and then take a screenshot of the video.
- 🏦 For banks: Take another device and take a picture of the screen (be sure to turn off notifications!).
- 🖥️ For PC: Connect your phone to your computer via Mi PC Suite and take a picture through ADB:
adb shell screencap -p /sdcard/screen.png⚠️ Note: By taking screenshots in banking applications, you may violate the security rules of the service. Some banks (for example, Sberbank Online) block an account for such actions.
💡
If the app blocks screenshots, it's not a bug, it's a security measure. Avoid blocking only in extreme cases and at your own risk.