Screen recording on Xiaomi: how to enable built-in function and bypass the limitations of MIUI

Screen recording on Xiaomi smartphones is a useful feature for creating gameplay, saving streams, demonstrating application performance or fixing errors. However, many users are faced with the fact that the option is either absent from the menu or works with restrictions: no sound, low quality or recording is interrupted after 3 minutes. The reason lies in the MIUI policy, where the screen recording function can be hidden or blocked depending on the region of the firmware, the device model (Redmi Note 12 Pro+, POCO F5, Xiaomi 13T) or the system version.

In this article, we’ll look at all the current ways to enable screen recording on Xiaomi, including official methods through Quick Settings and Game Turbo, as well as alternative solutions for devices where the function is disabled by default. Special attention will be paid to problems with sound, time limit and compatibility with popular applications like TikTok or YouTube. If you tried to record the screen through standard means, but received a notification “Screen recording is not available” – here you will find workarounds.

1. Standard method: recording through the notification panel

On most Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI 12 and later, screen recording is available directly from the notification panel. This method is the easiest, but it does not work on all models (for example, some firmware for the POCO M5 or Redmi 10A may not have a button).

1. Swipe your finger down from the top edge of the screen to open the notification panel.

2. Swipe down again to turn the full panel around.

3. Find the Screen Record button (the dot-in-a-circle icon) If it's not there, tap the pencil icon (Edit) and add it manually from the list of inactive buttons.

• ✅ Pros: does not require the installation of third-party applications, recording is conducted in high quality (up to the end of the year) 1080p).
• ❌ Cons: on some firmware records only system sounds (without a microphone), time limit (3-10 minutes).
• ⚠️ Restriction: does not work in banking applications and some games (e.g, PUBG Mobile or Genshin Impact).

If the button is not there even after editing the panel, then your firmware does not support this method.

2. Record through Game Turbo (for gamers)

The Game Turbo feature is originally designed to optimize games, but it has a built-in screen recording tool that often works even where the standard method is disabled, which is suitable for devices on MIUI 11-14, including the Redmi K50, Xiaomi 12 and POCO X4 Pro.

Instructions:

1. Open the Game Turbo app, if you don't have one, install it through Google Play.
2. Run any game or app that supports recording (like YouTube or Chrome).
3. In the upper left corner of the screen, a floating Game Turbo panel will appear.
4. Select the camera icon (or Screen Recording) and confirm the recording start.

Make sure Game Turbo is enabled in settings |Close background apps for stable operation |Check availability (minimum 1GB) |Disable power saving mode

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Important: in Game Turbo, you can configure the sound source, system sound, microphone or both.

1. During recording, tap on the Game Turbo floating panel.
2. Select "Record settings."
3. Activate the "Record game sound" and "Record from microphone" switches.

⚠️ Note: On some models (Redmi) 9A, POCO C40) Game Turbo recording can automatically stop when you lock the screen. To avoid this, turn off autolock in the display settings.

3. Alternative applications for screen recording

If the built-in methods don't work, you should look at third-party applications. We tested 5 popular solutions and selected those that work stably on Xiaomi without root rights.

To install any of these applications:

1. Download APK from the official website (for example, AZ Screen Recorder) or through Google Play.
2. When you first start, grant permissions to Record the screen and access the microphone.
3. In the application settings, select the resolution (1080p recommended for balance of file quality and size).

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If the application does not see the sound of the system, try to turn on the developer mode and activate the option “Debug by” USB». Sometimes it helps to get around the limitations. MIUI.

On devices with MIUI 14 and later, some applications (such as Mobizen) may require additional permission to “Display over other apps.” To enable it, go to Settings → Applications → Special Rights → Overlay over other windows and activate the switch for your recorder.

4. Screen recording via ADB (for advanced users)

If none of the above methods worked, you can try enabling a hidden screen recording function via ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which is suitable for Xiaomi on any firmware, but requires a connection to a computer. The advantage of the method is that it bypasses the limitations of MIUI and allows you to record the screen without third-party applications.

What you need:

• 🖥️ A computer with installed Xiaomi drivers and ADB Tools.
• 📱 Xiaomi smartphone with the developer mode enabled (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI — tap 7 times).
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect your phone to your computer and select File Transfer Mode (MTP).
2. Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the folder with ADB.
3. Enter the command to check the connection: Adb devices must appear serial number of your device.
4. Enable screen recording by command: adb shell screenrecord /sdcard/record.mp4 To stop recording, press Ctrl + C.
5. Copy the video to your computer: adb pull /sdcard/record.mp4

⚠️ Attention: Recording through ADB It doesn't capture the default system sound, and it requires additional software like SoundAssistant or root rights, and it's also stored in low quality (about the same time). 4 Mbps), which can be corrected by the parameter --bit-rate.

5. Solving Sound and Limitations Problems

One of the most common problems with recording a screen on Xiaomi is the lack of sound, which is due to MIUI's policy, which blocks audio capture in some modes. Here's how to fix it:

If the system sound is not recorded:

• 🔊 Use applications like this. AZ Screen Recorder with the option to capture internal sound (requires activation in settings).
• 🎧 Connect your headphones via Bluetooth or 3.5mm jack – sometimes this “cheats” the system and the sound starts to be recorded.
• 🔧 Turn on the developer mode and activate the option “Disable the absolute volume level” → Additionally. → For developers).

If the recording is interrupted after 3 minutes:

• ⏱️ In a standard recorder. MIUI The time limit can be removed through ADB: adb shell settings put global screenrecord_long_press true
• 📱 Install a third-party application (such as XRecorder) where there are no limits.
• 🔄 Reboot your phone before recording – sometimes it resets the restriction timer.

If the recording is delayed or slowed:

• 📉 Reduce the permit to 720p or lower bitrate in the application settings.
• 🗑️ Close the background applications through Settings → Annexes → Cleanup.
• 🔋 Connect your phone to charging – screen recording heavily loads the processor.

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On devices with a Snapdragon processor (e.g., Redmi) K60, POCO F5) Screen recording is more stable than on models with MediaTek (Redmi 10, POCO M4). This is due to the optimization of drivers in MIUI.

6.Record the screen on older Xiaomi models (MIUI 10 and below)

If you have an older device like the Redmi 5, Xiaomi Mi A2 or POCO F1 on MIUI 9-10, standard screen recording methods may not be available at all.

Method 1: Using Google Play Games

The Google Play Games app has a built-in recorder that works even on older versions of Android:

1. Install Google Play Games from the Play Market.
2. Open the app and select any game (you can use the browser as a “game”).
3. Slip on the video camera icon in the top menu.

Method 2: Rooting and Xposed module

For advanced users who are ready to get root rights, there is a module Xposed Screen Recorder Enabler that unlocks hidden recording functions.

• ⚠️ Loss of guarantee.
• ⚠️ Risk of “bricking” the device.
• ⚠️ Does not work on devices with a locked bootloader (Xiaomi) 11T, Redmi Note 11 Pro+).

Method 3: Connecting to a PC via scrcpy

Scrcpy utility allows not only to control the phone from a computer, but also to record the screen in high quality:

1. Install scrcpy on your PC and connect your phone to ADB.
2. Start the recording by command: scrcpy --record file.mp4
3. To capture sound, use additional software like VB-Audio Virtual Cable.

7. Comparison of methods: which one to choose?

To determine the best way to record your screen on your Xiaomi, use the table below. Consider the phone model, the MIUI version, and the purpose of the recording (for example, for YouTube, sound is important, and for displaying a bug, duration).

For most Xiaomi users, Game Turbo or AZ Screen Recorder is the best solution. If you need to record sound from apps like TikTok or Instagram, check the microphone settings in the recorder - sometimes the option "Sound Amplifier" helps.

FAQ: Frequent questions about screen recording on Xiaomi