How to take a screenshot on a Xiaomi smartphone: all the ways from MIUI 12 to HyperOS

Taking a screenshot on Xiaomi smartphones seems like a simple task — until you encounter unexpected nuances: Some models require you to pinch physical buttons, others support gestures with three fingers, and new versions of MIUI 14 and HyperOS have voice commands, and even experienced users sometimes miss hidden features, such as the ability to take a scrolling screenshot of a long web page or automatically save a screenshot to the Mi Cloud.

In this article, we’ll look at all the current ways to create screenshots on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices, from classic button combinations to obscure firmware chips. We’ll focus on common bugs (such as why the screenshot isn’t saved) and the differences between old and newer versions of the shell. If you’re using an Android 13/14 smartphone with HyperOS, here’s the current instructions – many of the guides on the web are outdated after the 2023-2026 updates.

1. Classic method: power and volume buttons

The most versatile method, working on all Xiaomi models - from the Redmi 4X (2017) to the flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra (2026).

1. Open on the screen what you want to capture (application, web page, settings).
2. At the same time, press and hold the power button (on/lock) and the volume button.
3. Hold them for 1-2 seconds until you hear the camera shutter sound and see the save animation.

⚠️ Note: On some models (e.g, POCO F5) The sensitivity of the buttons is high – if you pinch them too long, you can turn off the screen or start Google Assistant.

Where to look for a finished screenshot? By default, the pictures are saved in the folder:

/storage/emulated/0/Pictures/Screenshots/

Or through the gallery: open the Photos app → Screenshots album.

2. Three finger gesture (the fastest way)

The three-finger screenshot feature is available on all devices with MIUI 9 and later (including HyperOS), which allows you to take a screenshot in one motion without pressing a button.

1. Go to Settings → Additional functions → Gestures.
2. Find the screenshot item with three fingers and switch on the switch.
3. Test: swipe down the screen with three fingers at the same time (no matter what – you can large, index and middle).

🔹 Advantages of the method:

• 👍 It works even with faulty power/volume buttons.
• 👍 You can take a screenshot with one hand (on large screens).
• 👍 There is no risk of accidentally turning off your phone or launching a voice assistant.

⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Redmi Note 12 Pro)+) The gesture may conflict with the "Swipe down for the notification panel" function. If the screenshot doesn't work, check if it's disabled in the gesture settings or if it's blocked by another action.

💡

If the gesture is too sensitive, you can select the swipe direction in the settings, top-down only, or any one, which will reduce the number of random screenshots.

3. Screenshot using the notification panel

A little-known but convenient way is to use a button in the Quick Settings panel, suitable for users who often take screenshots and want to avoid button or gesture clamping.

How to set up:

1. Deploy the notification panel (swipe from top to bottom).
2. Click on the icon. ⚙️ (Edit) in upper right corner.
3. Find the screenshot button (usually hidden in the second tab) and drag it to the active area.
4. Now, when you deploy the panel, you will see an icon of scissors - tap on it will instantly take a screenshot.

🔹 When is the method useful:

• 📱 If you have a broken power or volume button.
• 🎮 During games (no need to interrupt gameplay to clamp buttons).
• 🔄 When creating screenshots frequently (for example, for work or training).

Limitation: The button only appears in the extended notification bar (swipe with two fingers or two steps with one finger) and will not appear in compact form (one swipe).

4. Voice command (for MIUI 12+ and HyperOS)

With the release of MIUI 12, Xiaomi added support for voice commands for screenshots through Google Assistant or built-in Xiao AI. This is especially handy if hands are busy or buttons are not available.

How to activate:

1. Make sure that Google Assistant is enabled (Settings → Google → Assistant settings).
2. Say the phrase, “OK Google, take a screenshot” or “Hey Google, take a screenshot.”
3. Wait 1-2 seconds and the picture will be taken automatically.

🔹 nuance:

• 🗣️ It only works when connected to the Internet (the team is processed by the cloud service).
• 🔇 In some regions (for example, Russia), the voice assistant may not support screenshots – check the available commands in the settings.
• 📵 On models without Google services (such as Chinese firmware versions) use Xiao AI team "".

5. Scrolling screenshot (long shot)

If you want to save a full web page, instant messaging, or a long list, use Scrolling Screenshot (also known as Scrolling Screenshot or Long Screenshot) and it’s available on all devices with MIUI 10 and later.

How to do this:

1. Take a regular screenshot of any of the above methods.
2. Immediately after the thumbnail of the picture appears in the lower right corner of the screen, click on it.
3. In the open editor, tap the icon ↓ (Scroll).
4. The screen will automatically scroll down to capture a new piece, repeat until you reach the end of the page.
5. Click Ready to save a long screenshot as one image.

🔹 Limitations and advice:

• ❌ It doesn’t work in some apps (e.g. TikTok, Instagram) because of content protection).
• ⚠️ In the browser, Mi Browser can crop dynamic content (for example, a news feed).
• 📏 Maximum screenshot length – up to 10 screens (depending on model).

📌 Scrolling screenshot is saved as a separate file in the same Screenshots folder, but with the mark " scroll" in the title.

6. Screenshot via ADB (for developers)

If standard methods don’t work (e.g., on custom firmware or after a system crash), you can take a screenshot via ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which requires a connection to a computer, but is guaranteed to work even on a locked screen (if debugging is enabled over USB).

Instructions:

1. Turn on Developer Mode on your phone: go to Settings → About Phone and tap on MIUI Version 7 times.
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and activate Debugging over USB.
3. Connect your phone to your PC through USB-Cable (use the original cable for stability).
4. On your computer, open the terminal (Windows: Cmd, macOS/Linux: Terminal) and type:

adb devices


adb exec-out screencap -p > screenshot.png

The screenshot will be saved in the folder from where the command was launched.

🔹 When you need it:

• 🔧 To diagnose screen problems (for example, if the display does not respond to touch).
• 🖥️ With remote help (you can take a screenshot on the phone of a relative on TeamViewer).
• 📱 On devices with damaged buttons or sensors.

💡

ADB-screencap captures only the visible area of the screen. ADB You will need additional scripts or applications like scrcpy.

Problem Solving: Screenshot is not saved or working

If the screenshot is not created or disappears, check out these points:

⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 13T Pro) screenshots in privacy-protected applications (banks, messengers with secret chats) can be blocked at the system level, in which case a notification will appear: “Screenshot not allowed for security reasons".

If the problem persists, try:

• 🔄 Reboot the phone.
• 📱 Update the firmware to the latest version (Settings) → The phone. → Updating the system).
• 🛠️ Reset gesture settings (Settings) → System system → Resetting settings → Reset your gesture settings).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions