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

Screenshots on Xiaomi smartphones are one of the most popular features that users use every day, from saving important correspondence to fixing errors in applications. However, not everyone knows that there are several ways to create screenshots on devices with the MIUI shell (and the new HyperOS), from classic button combinations to hidden gestures and voice commands. In this article, we will analyze all the current methods, including those that work even on a locked screen or in games.

Xiaomi is a feature that regularly updates the functionality of screenshots: for example, MIUI 14 has the ability to take scrolling pictures of web pages, and HyperOS — integration with artificial intelligence for text recognition on screenshots. while older models (like Redmi Note 8 or Mi 9T) may not support the latest chips. We took into account these nuances and compiled a universal guide that is suitable for both the flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra and budget POCO M6 Pro.

1. Classical method: button combination

The most reliable and versatile method that works on all Xiaomi models, including devices without touch buttons, is the simultaneous pressing of physical keys.

1. Open the screen you want to capture (for example, a chat in Telegram or a page in Chrome).
2. Press the power button (right) and the volume down button (left) at the same time.
3. Hold them for 1-2 seconds until you hear the sound of the camera shutter or see an animation of the screenshot.

Newer models (such as the Xiaomi 13T or Redmi Note 12 Pro+) can use vibration instead of sound, which is normal.

• 🔋 Is the battery not discharged (at a charge level below 5%, some functions are turned off).
• 🔕 Is the shutter sound turned off in the settings (Settings) → Sounds and vibrations → The sound of the camera shutter).
• 🛠️ Is one of the buttons damaged (for example, after a phone drops).

⚠️ Note: On some models (e.g, POCO F5) If you hold the buttons long enough, you can call the Google Assistant voice assistant instead of a screenshot, in which case you can try pressing the keys faster or use alternative methods.

2. Three-finger swipe (gesture screenshot)

The Screenshot Gesture feature appeared in MIUI 9 and has since become one of the most popular features among Xiaomi users, allowing you to take a screenshot in one motion without pressing a button. Here's how to set it up and use it:

Activation of the gesture:

1. Go to Settings → Additional functions → Gestures.
2. Find the option "Swipe down three fingers" and turn it on.
3. (Optional) Enable "Screenshot Preview" to edit the picture immediately.

How to take a screenshot:

1. Open the screen.
2. Place three fingers (usually index, middle and ring fingers) on the screen.
3. Quickly swipe them down the display (as if you were "shaking" the water off the screen).

This method is particularly convenient for:

• 🎮 Games (e.g. in PUBG Mobile or Genshin Impact where buttons are busy managing).
• 📱 Simultaneously creating several screenshots in a row.
• 🔧 Situations where physical buttons don’t work (for example, after moisture is hit).

Is the gesture activated in the settings?|Whether clean fingers (dirty interferes with the operation)?|Is fast enough to move?|Does it conflict with other gestures (for example, swipe to return)?-->

3. Screenshot via notification panel

If you don't like to remember button combinations or gestures, you can use the Quick Settings Panel, which works on all versions of MIUI and HyperOS, but requires pre-configuration:

Adding a screenshot button:

1. Open the notification bar (swipe down from the top edge of the screen).
2. Click on the Edit icon (pencil in the lower right corner).
3. Find the screenshot in the list and drag it to the active area.

Screenshot creation:

1. Open the screen.
2. Swipe down, open the notification panel.
3. Slip the Screenshot icon (usually looks like a scissor or a rectangle with lightning).

On Xiaomi with HyperOS, the notification panel has become more customizable: you can now add a screenshot button to the Control Panel (swipe down from the top right corner), which speeds up access to the feature.

4. Voice commands and Google Assistant

If you have Google Assistant enabled (or Alice from Yandex), you can take voice screenshots, which is useful when your hands are busy or you need to fix the screen remotely (for example, while streaming).

Instructions for Google Assistant:

1. Activate the assistant with a voice (OK, Google) or hold the Home button.
2. Tell the command to take a screenshot or take a picture of the screen.
3. Confirm the action if necessary.

For Alice:

1. Open Yandex with voice search or say: “Alice, take a screenshot”.
2. Wait 1-2 seconds until the notification of the image is received.

⚠️ Note: Voice commands may not work in some applications (e.g., banking or restricted access), and the function requires an Internet connection and enabled permissions for the assistant in Settings. → Annexes → Permits.

Xiaomi has HyperOS, but it only works on Chinese firmware, and voice control still needs the Internet in global versions.

5. Scrolling and long screenshots

Scrolling Screenshot (or Long Screenshot) captures not only the visible part of the screen, but also the part hidden behind the scrolling.

• 📄 Long web pages (such as articles or social media feeds).
• 💬 Correspondence in messengers (WhatsApp, Viber).
• 📊 Reports or spreadsheets (e.g. in Excel or Google Sheets).

How to take a scrolling screenshot:

1. Create a regular screenshot in any of the ways described above.
2. Immediately after the appearance of the thumbnail of the picture in the lower right corner, tap it.
3. In the editor that opens, click on the Scroll icon (two arrows up and down).
4. Wait until the system automatically scrolls the page and combines the pictures.
5. Press "Ready" to save the result.

Limitations of function:

• It doesn’t work in some apps (like TikTok or Instagram Stories).
• The maximum screenshot length is 10 screens (in HyperOS increased to 20).
• In Redmi with 3 GB of RAM, there can be lag when processing long pages.

💡

If the screenshot you're scrolling is cropped in the wrong place, try to manually stop scrolling by touching the screen, and the system will save the current snippet as a separate shot.

6. Screenshots on the locked screen and in safe mode

Sometimes you need to take a snapshot of the lock screen — for example, to capture a notification or an error. On Xiaomi, this is possible, but with limitations:

Method 1: Button combination

On most models (Xiaomi 12, Redmi Note 11 and later), the power + volume combination down works on a locked screen.

• The screenshot will be saved without preview.
• The screen will not display sensitive data (for example, the text of messages in notifications).
• On older models (before MIUI 11), this method may not work.

Method 2: Voice command

If you have Google Assistant set up on your phone to unlock by voice, you can say, "OK, Google, take a screenshot." The system will execute the command even if the screen is locked (but the phone must be unlocked earlier at least once after the reboot).

Safe regime

In Safe Mode, you can take screenshots on Xiaomi, but:

• No gestures (only a combination of buttons) work.
• All third-party screenshot apps (e.g. Screenshot Easy) are disabled.
• The images are saved without watermarks and additional effects.

⚠️ Note: On some models (POCO X3, Redmi 9A) In safe mode, screenshots can be saved in reduced quality (up to the 720p opportunistic 1080p). This is due to the limitation of the system resources.

7 Where screenshots are stored and how to manage them

By default, all screenshots on Xiaomi are saved in the folder:

/storage/emulated/0/Pictures/Screenshots/

or (on some firmware):

/storage/emulated/0/DCIM/Screenshots/

To quickly find the screenshots:

1. Open the Gallery app.
2. Go to the album "Screenshots" (usually in the "Folders" section).
3. Use a search by date or keyword (such as “chat” or “error”).

Additional management functions:

• 🔍 In HyperOS, you can search for screenshots based on the recognized text (for example, enter a “confirmation code” and find all the pictures from the text). SMS).
• 🗑️ Auto Cleanup: Include in Settings → Warehouse → Clean up the option to remove screenshots older than 30 days".
• 🔒 Protection: Transfer important screenshots to the Private Folder (available at Xiaomi Gallery).

💡

Screenshots on Xiaomi are saved in maximum screen resolution, but they can be compressed manually through the "Editor" in the gallery, selecting the option "Export as JPG".

FAQ: Frequent questions about screenshots on Xiaomi