Screenshots are one of the most basic but critical features of any modern smartphone. Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco devices often look for ways to capture information quickly, but standard methods may not be obvious to beginners or change with a firmware update. The MIUI shell and the new HyperOS offer an expanded arsenal of screen imaging tools that go far beyond just saving a picture.
In this article, we will take a look at all the screenshots available, from classic buttons to advanced automation scenarios, how to take long page shots, use a timer, and manage your voice, and understanding these nuances will allow you to work with your device as efficiently as possible, saving time on routine operations.
Standard key combinations and gesture control
The fastest and most reliable way to take a screenshot on any Android device is to use a physical button combination. On Xiaomi smartphones, this feature is embedded in the operating system itself and works even in safe mode. You need to simultaneously press the power button and the volume button. You don't need to hold them for long: just a short press lasting about 0.5 seconds.
If you find it uncomfortable to physically push the buttons or the keys are damaged, the system offers an alternative, gesture control, which is especially popular among users who appreciate speed and minimalism. To activate this option, go to the Settings menu, select the Additional section and find the Screenshot. Here you need to switch the Three Finger Slider to the active position.
Once the gesture is activated, the process of creating a copy of the screen becomes intuitive: just swipe three fingers from top to bottom down the center of the display. The system instantly responds with characteristic sound and vibration, saving the image in the gallery. It is important to note that the sensitivity of the touchscreen can require confident, but not too fast movement.
There is also the option of adjusting the gesture area if you don't like the standard area. Some users prefer to start the gesture from the edge of the screen instead of the center, and you can choose to change the size of the area and adjust the parameters to your device's grip from the same settings menu.
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If the three-finger gesture doesn't work, try to increase the speed of movement or, conversely, make it smoother. Also make sure that there is no protective film on the screen with heavily rounded edges that can interfere with multi-touch.
Use of notification curtain and control panel
For those who prefer a visual interface and don't want to memorize combinations, the ideal method is to call through the control panel, which is especially convenient when the phone is on the table or you hold it with one hand, and it is difficult to reach the side buttons. Swipe from top to bottom (or from bottom to bottom, depending on the interface settings) to open the control center.
In the menu that opens, find an icon called Screenshot, which usually looks like a scissor or a square. One tap of this button will instantly create a snapshot of the current content of the screen. If the desired icon is not on the first page of the widgets, click on the edit icon (usually a pencil or three dots) and add a shortcut to the active zone.
The advantage of this method is that it is clear and there is no risk of accidentally pressing other buttons, but there is a nuance: if the screen is open modal window of the curtain or menu, the screenshot can capture it, and not the main content of the application, in such cases, it is better to close the unnecessary menus first.
The secret of the fast panel
It's worth mentioning that in the new versions of HyperOS, the widget logic has been reworked for greater ergonomics. Now the control panel is divided into two parts: notifications on the left and switches on the right. The default screenshot button is on the right side, making it easier to access the thumb of the right hand.
Voice control and Google Assistant
Modern technology allows you to control your smartphone fully voice, and taking screenshots is no exception. This is ideal for situations where your hands are busy or the device is far away.
To take a voice shot, just say the trigger phrase. For Google Assistant, it's the command "OK, Google, take a screenshot" or "Take a screenshot." The system recognizes the command, emits the shutter sound and saves the image. It's important that the microphone is active and has access to the Internet to process the request in the cloud.
The built-in XiaoAI assistant (relevant to Chinese firmware) also supports this feature, but requires language adjustment. In global versions of MIUI reliance on Google, Assistant remains the most stable solution. Voice control is especially useful for people with disabilities.
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Voice control of screenshots works even when the screen is locked, if the assistant settings allow execution of commands on the locked device.
The quality of speech recognition is directly dependent on diction and no extraneous noise. If the command is not executed the first time, try to speak clearly or bring the phone closer to your mouth. Also make sure that the Google app settings include Voice Match for quick response.
Long screenshot and page scrolling
One of the most sought-after features in Xiaomi's ecosystem is the ability to create long screenshots, or "scrolls," which is an indispensable tool for saving correspondence, web pages, articles and documents that don't fit on a single screen. After you create a regular shot, a thumbnail with additional buttons appears in the corner.
Click the Scroll button (usually indicated by the down arrows), and the device will automatically start scrolling the content downwards, gluing the frames into one long tape.The process continues until you hit the stop button or reach the end of the page.
This feature does not work in all applications; it is active in browsers, instant messengers, notes and gallery, but may not be available in banking applications or DRM-protected video services for security reasons, in which case the scroll button will be inactive or absent.
| Parameter | A typical screenshot. | Long screenshot. | Scrolt-shot. |
|---|---|---|---|
| Format of conservation | PNG/JPG | PNG (vertical) | PNG (vertical) |
| Image length | Screen size | Unlimitedly. | Up to 100,000 pixels |
| Support for applications | |||
| Time of creation | Instantly. | Depends on the length. | Depends on the length. |
When you take a long screenshot, it's important to keep your phone still. Any sudden movement or change in the contents of the screen (such as a notification) can interrupt the process or create artifacts in the image. If this happens, the procedure will have to be repeated.
Timer and delayed screenshot
The timer feature allows you to take a screenshot after a given time period (3 or 5 seconds) a unique feature that is rare in standard Android but has become the standard for MIUI. It is useful when you need to capture a pop-up menu, context window or process that disappears when you touch the screen.
To activate the timer, open the screenshot creation menu (via the control panel or settings) and select the watch icon. Once you click on the shooting button, the countdown will start. You will have a few seconds to open the desired menu, turn off the control panel or perform another action that you need to fix.
This mode is also convenient for creating training materials or screencasts, where it is important to show the sequence of actions without unnecessary hands in the frame. Timer gives time to prepare the interface: remove unnecessary notifications, open the desired tab or fold the keyboard.
☑️ Checklist for the perfect screenshot with a timer
Note that during the countdown, the screen may darken or flash, signaling readiness. Don't be alarmed by this, this is the normal behavior of the system. Once the countdown is complete, a sound is heard, and the image is saved in the album "Screenshots".
Automation and scenarios in the "Security" app
For advanced users, Xiaomi offers a powerful tool called Security, which hides the "Scenarios" section, and you can set up automatic screenshots when certain events occur, which allows you to automate routines, such as saving the screen when the battery is low or when a particular application is launched.
To create this scenario, open the Security app, scroll down to Scripts and click + Create. As a trigger condition, select, for example, "Time" or "Start the application." Then, as an action, select "Take a screenshot." You can even combine the conditions for more complex algorithms.
This automation is useful for monitoring errors in applications, logging, or simply storing information quickly without unnecessary movements, such as setting up a script so that the phone takes a screenshot of itself every day at 9:00 a.m., fixing a schedule or schedule.
⚠️ Warning: Be careful with automatic scripts. If you set up a screenshot every time you unlock the screen or every call you make, the phone's memory can quickly fill up with hundreds of unwanted images. Always test the script before you use it all the time.
Scripts work in the background and have little or no effect on device autonomy, but they require permanent permissions to access the screen and file system. When you upgrade the system, access rights may be reset and the script will need to be reconfigured.
Where to look and how to edit saved images
All screenshots created by default are saved in the DCIM/Screenshots or Pictures/Screenshots system folder. The Gallery app has a separate album for them, which makes it easier to search. Immediately after you create a picture, a thumbnail appears in the corner of the screen, clicking on which the built-in editor opens.
The MIUI and HyperOS editors allow you to do basic things like cropping, drawing, adding text, stickers, and blurring sensitive information. Magical erasure (available on AI-enabled models) allows you to remove excess objects from photos directly on a screenshot, which is especially useful when preparing images for publication on social networks.
Images can be immediately sent via messengers, saved to the cloud Mi Cloud or Google Photos, or recognize text through the OCR function. The system itself will offer to recognize the text if the screenshot has clear letter characters, which eliminates the need to print information manually.
⚠️ Note: When sending screenshots to messengers (WhatsApp, Telegram), the image quality may be reduced due to compression. Use Document mode to transfer important details or documents or send the original without compression.
Check the screenshot folder regularly and delete the extra. Screenshots often contain sensitive information (codes, correspondence, addresses), so keeping them publicly available or sharing them with third parties can pose risks to your digital security. Use the Hidden Album feature for sensitive data.