How to Enable Screen Recording on Xiaomi Redmi: The Complete Guide

Xiaomi’s modern smartphones and its Redmi sub-brand feature powerful multimedia functionality that often lurks deep within the menu. One of the most sought-after features is built-in screen recording, which allows users to capture what’s happening on the display without installing third-party apps. Users often search for this option in the system settings without realizing that it’s available directly from the notification curtain or through special gestures.

The relevance of this topic is due to the fact that the standard tools of the MIUI shell and the new HyperOS allow you to record not only video, but also system sound, which is critical for creating training materials or passing game moments. Unlike the older versions of Android, where root rights were required, everything works out of the box. However, to get quality video, you need to properly configure microphone settings and resolutions before recording.

In this guide, we will look at all the possible ways to activate the function, from standard methods to hidden engineer settings, learn how to avoid common mistakes, such as no sound or a sharp decrease in picture quality, followed by a detailed description of each step that will help you become a professional in creating screencasts on your device.

Activation through the control center and notification curtain

The fastest and most obvious way to start capturing what's happening on the display is to use the Quick Access Panel. In modern versions of MIUI 12, 13, 14 and HyperOS, this element is prominently displayed. You just swipe down from the top right corner of the screen to deploy the full list of widgets. Among the Bluetooth and Wi-Fi icons, you should find an icon with a video camera image or the letters "REC".

If you don't find the button you want when you first open the curtain, don't panic. Often it's hidden in the second menu page or it's just disabled by default. Click on the edit button (usually a pencil icon or three dots in the corner), find Screen Record widgets in the list of available, and drag it to the active zone. After that, access to the feature will always be at hand.

You click on the icon and you get a floating menu with a timer and a start button, and you can choose whether to record the sound and what source it comes from, and it's the most convenient way to quickly fix bugs in apps or short game moments without too much preparation.

⚠️ Note: Some global firmware versions (Global) ROM) The icon can be called "Screen Recorder" or "Screenshot and Record." If you're using the Chinese version (CN ROM), The icon can be signed with hieroglyphs, but it looks like a video camera.

Customization of quality parameters and sound source

Before you start recording, it's critical to set the right settings so that the final video doesn't have to be deleted because of poor audio quality or lack of audio. When you run a function through a curtain or settings, the system will suggest you choose the sound source. There are three main options: "No Sound", "Microphone" and "System Sound", the choice depends on your goal: tutorials with voice comments need a microphone, and for gameplay - system sound.

Video resolution also plays a key role.The standard value for most Redmi Note and Xiaomi Mi smartphones is 1080p at 60 fps. However, if you plan to upload video to YouTube in 4K, make sure your display and processor support high-resolution rendering, otherwise the frame may "crash." Setting too high settings on weak devices will cause lags in the interface while recording.

Special attention should be paid to bitrate settings. In advanced settings (available through a gear in the recording menu), you can select image quality; for social networks such as Instagram or TikTok, medium quality is enough so that the file does not take up much space; For archiving important data, it is better to choose the maximum quality, even if this increases the file size.

It is worth noting that when choosing to record system sound, notifications from messengers can interrupt the audio track or be heard in the recording. To avoid this, activate Do Not Disturb mode before the session begins, which will ensure the clarity of the audio recording and eliminate the need to mount the sound after the fact.

Use of the Tools app and settings menu

If the widget in the curtain is uncomfortable or has been accidentally deleted, a full-fledged recording app can always be found in the system folder. On most Xiaomi devices, it is called Tools and contains a set of utilities. Inside the folder, look for an app called Screen Recording or a video camera icon. Launching from here opens an extended menu with a history of past recordings and more flexible settings.

The main settings menu of the phone also allows you to manage the function settings. The path usually looks like Settings → Advanced Settings → Screen recording (or just searching for the word "Write" at the top of the settings menu). It stores all files made earlier, and you can configure the video format (save) here. The MP4 format is used by default, which is compatible with all players.

This section also often has a useful feature called "Show Touch" hidden in it, and if you're shooting a tutorial video that shows you exactly where you're clicking, turning on this option visualizes the clicks in a white circle, which makes the instruction much more intuitive for the viewer, because the finger can overlap an important interface element.

Recording with voice assistant and gestures

For those who like to control a smartphone without touching, Xiaomi offers integration with a voice assistant. You can say the phrase "OK, Google, turn on the screen recording" or activate Xiao AI (on the Chinese versions) to start the process. This is especially convenient when hands are busy or the phone is fixed on a tripod. However, this feature requires a stable Internet connection and pre-configured voice input.

An alternative and very fast way is to use gestures. In the Settings menu → Additional settings → Special features → Signature shortcuts can be set to tap on the back panel (if the sensor allows) or draw a letter on the screen off. By setting up a record to draw the letter "R" or "S", you can activate the function in a second.

Another option is to use volume buttons, and some versions of the shell have a setup that allows you to start recording when you press the combination of buttons for a long time, which is addictive, but saves time in the long run, and the main thing is not to confuse this gesture with a regular screenshot, which is taken with a short press.

⚠️ Note: Screen recording will not work if an application with protected content is running (DRM). When you try to record Netflix, banking apps or some streaming services, you will see a black screen instead of a video.

Working with audio: system sound and microphone

One of the most challenging things about recording a screen on Android has long been the captura of system sound, and in MIUI, this problem is solved, but it requires the right approach. When you choose the System sound source, the phone records the internal audio stream, which is ideal for games where you want to capture the sounds of gunshots and music without the noise of the surroundings.

If you're recording a lesson or a review, you're going to need a microphone, and in that case, the phone will record all the external sounds, including your voice and keyboard noise, and it's important to keep your phone still, or use a headset to make the sound clear. Some Redmi models have noise reduction, which automatically turns on when you select the microphone mode in the recording app.

There's also a mixing mode available in advanced settings that allows you to write both system sound and microphone at the same time, which is the holy grail for mobile streamers, but be prepared for the fact that in this mode, battery consumption will increase by 15-20% per hour of recording, and the processor can heat up more than usual.

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Use wired headphones with a microphone when recording from your voice – this will give the best sound quality and eliminate the echo that often occurs when using the built-in speaker and microphone at the same time.

Problem Solving: If the recording does not start or is interrupted

Despite the stability of the system, users may find that the recording simply does not start or stops after a few seconds, most often due to a lack of RAM. If you have a dozen heavy applications open, the system may force the recording process to free up resources.

The second common problem is overcrowded memory: high-resolution video takes up a lot of space (about 100-150 MB per minute); if there is less than 500 MB left on the disk, recording may not start at all; regularly clean the cache or transfer old videos to your computer or to the cloud.

Also check the permissions for Screen Recording. Go to Settings → Apps → All Apps → Screen Record → Permissions. Make sure it has access to Memory, Microphone and, if required, Over Other Windows. Without those permissions, the functionality will be stripped or completely non-functional.

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90% of screen recording problems are solved by cleaning RAM and checking the free space on the internal drive before starting the process.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)