How to Take a Screenshot on Xiaomi: The Complete Guide

Screenshots are one of the most sought-after features in today’s smartphone, and owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO devices are no exception. Users often face the need to save correspondence, an important ticket, an error in the app or just a funny meme. However, standard methods may not be obvious to beginners, especially given the constant updates to the MIUI shell and the transition to HyperOS.

In this article, we will take a closer look at all the ways you can create screenshots, from classic keyboard shortcuts to advanced features like recording video from the screen, and you will learn not just to save an image, but also to instantly edit it, add annotations or send it to chat, saving your time.

There are many scenarios where physical button pressing may be uncomfortable or impossible, such as when mechanical keys are damaged. That is why Xiaomi engineers have envisioned alternative control methods, which we will discuss below. Understanding these mechanisms will allow you to feel confident with any device of the brand.

Classical method: button combination

The fastest and most time-tested way to take a screenshot on any Android smartphone, including Xiaomi, is by simultaneously pressing physical buttons, which works even when the touch screen is temporarily unresponsive or the system is getting stuck but still displays the image.

To do this, you need to press the Power and Volume Down button at the same time, pressing it in a short and clear way, without long retention, or the off menu or voice assistant may be activated.

Once you've done the action, you'll hear the characteristic shutter sound of the camera (if the sound isn't turned off), and a thumbnail of the image will appear in the top corner of the screen, allowing you to immediately edit or delete the file if it was taken incorrectly.

• 📸 Press Volume and Nutrition at the Same Time.
• ⏱ Hold the buttons for less than one second.
• 🔊 The sound signal will be reported by the system sound.
• 🖼 The miniature will appear in the status bar.

It is important to note that on some models with a side fingerprint scanner, the power button is combined with the sensor, in which case the technique of pressing does not change, but requires more careful handling so as not to lubricate the fingerprint on the body in the process.

Gesture Control: The Three-Finger Method

MIUI is famous for its convenience and many features for comfortable use, and one of these features is the ability to create a screenshot by simply swiping three fingers across the screen, which is especially convenient when the phone is lying on the table or holding with one hand.

To activate this feature, you first need to turn it on in the settings. By default, it can be disabled, so users should go to the corresponding menu. After activation, just swipe three fingers from top to bottom in the center of the display.

⚠️ Warning: Make sure the screen is clean and dry, otherwise the sensor may not recognize the touch of three fingers at once and instead of a screenshot, a normal scrolling of the page will occur.

This method is extremely effective when browsing long web pages or documents, since it does not require changing the grip of the device, and you can adjust the gesture recognition area in the settings to avoid accidental positives in games.

• 🖐 Swipe three fingers from top to bottom.
• ⚙️ Activate the function in the settings menu.
• 📱 It works on most Redmi and Mi models.
• 🚫 Can conflict with gestures in some applications.

If the gesture doesn't work the first time, try changing the speed of movement or the density of your fingers pressing against the display, and the system is calibrated to the user's specific features, but requires a clear command to be executed.

Using the Quick Settings Menu

Xiaomi's notification curtain and quick-setting menu is the smartphone control center, and you can find not only the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth switches, but also the button to take a screenshot, which is ideal if the physical buttons are faulty or busy.

To access the function, you need to unlock the screen and swipe from top to bottom to open the control center. Depending on the version of the shell (old or new control scheme), the buttons can be placed differently. You need to find an icon that resembles a scissors or a square.

Clicking on this icon instantly captures the current content of the screen, and it's also useful because it doesn't emit an audible signal if the system sounds are turned off in the audio settings, allowing you to take screenshots discreetly.

In some versions of HyperOS, the icon may be hidden in the second page of the Quick Settings menu. To add it, click on a pencil or edit button in the menu corner and drag the Screenshot icon to the active zone.

Assistive Touch (Floating Ball)

For users who have difficulty pressing physical buttons or making gestures, Xiaomi has an Assistive Touch feature, a virtual button floating over all windows that duplicates the basic actions of the smartphone, including taking screenshots.

You can activate the floating ball through the special settings, and when you turn it on, you'll see a translucent button, and if you click on it, you'll see a menu where one of the first items is "Screenshot."

This method is often used by people with disabilities or those who have broken the volume buttons, and you can also quickly start recording the screen or locking the device through this menu.

• 🔘 Turn on Assistive Touch in the settings.
• 🖱 Click on the floating button on the screen.
• 📸 Select the "Screenshot" item in the menu.
• 🛠 Comfortable with broken hardware buttons.

You can move the floating ball around the screen and adjust its transparency so that it doesn't interfere with the view, and it's a versatile tool that greatly expands the control of the MIUI interface.

Long screenshot and scrolling

Often, a single screenshot is not enough to capture all the correspondence in the messenger or the article in the browser. In such cases, Xiaomi has a feature called Long Screenshot or scrolling, which allows you to sew several images into one long picture.

Immediately after you take a normal screenshot (in any of the ways described above), a thumbnail appears in the corner, and underneath it are buttons, one of which looks like two down arrows or a scroll symbol, and when you click on it, the screen will automatically scroll down.

The process will continue until you stop it by touching it or until you reach the end of the page.This is the only way to keep a long dialogue or web page in one file without using third-party apps.

It is worth considering that when you create long screenshots on dynamic content (for example, live news feeds), artifacts or tears of the image may occur, in such cases it is better to use the standard mode.

Screencast video recording (Screencast)

Xiaomi’s smartphones today not only capture the screen, but also record it in video format, a feature known as Screencast or Screen Recording, built into the system and does not require any additional software.

You can find this feature in the Quick Settings menu (curtain), the icon is usually a video camera, and when you start it, the system will ask you to choose the source of the sound: record the sounds of the system, microphone or all together.

⚠️ Warning: When you record protected content (such as movies on Netflix or payments in banking apps), the screen may turn black due to Android's security policy.

You can set resolution and frame rate in the recording settings. To create quality tutorials, it is recommended to choose 1080p resolution and 60 FPS frequency, if the device processor allows.

• 🎥 Find the icon "Screen recording".
• 🎙 Select the sound source (system/microphone).
• ⏹ Press the stop to complete the recording.
• 📂 The video is saved in the gallery in a separate folder.

Screen recording is a powerful tool for bloggers and those who need to fix a bug in the application. Files are saved in MP4 format and easily sent through instant messengers.

Set up and edit screenshots

Once a snapshot is created, Xiaomi offers a wide range of processing options: the built-in editor allows you to add text, draw arrows, blur sensitive information or crop an image.

To get into the editor, just click on the thumbnail immediately after the photo or open the image in the gallery and select "Change". The toolkit includes markers, shapes and even the ability to add a watermark with a model phone.

For those who often share screenshots, Quick Answers is useful, allowing you to send an image directly to the chosen messenger (such as Telegram or WhatsApp) directly from the preview interface, bypassing the gallery.

Also, in screenshot settings, you can turn off the shutter sound if it interferes, or change the format of the save (although standard JPG/PNG is optimal for most tasks).