How to take a screenshot on a Xiaomi smartphone: all the ways (including hidden)

Taking a screenshot on Xiaomi smartphones seems like a simple task — until you face unexpected limitations: some models require physical buttons, others support gestures, and others even hide the function in the depths of MIUI. Even in one line (for example, Redmi Note 12 vs POCO F5), the methods may differ due to shell versions or hardware features.

Users often face problems when:

Standard button combinations do not work (for example, due to damaged Power or Volume Down).

You need to take a screenshot of a long page (scroll screen), but the function is inactive.

The application blocks the creation of pictures (bank programs, some games).

This article provides a complete guide to all the ways, including those that Xiaomi does not advertise in the official documentation. ADB-Instructions for Advanced Users.

If you are using Xiaomi based on MIUI 14/15 or HyperOS, note that some options have changed in the new versions of the shell.

1. Standard method: power and volume buttons

It is a versatile method that works on all Xiaomi models – from the budget Redmi A2 to the flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra. The combination activates the system mechanism for creating screenshots, which does not depend on the version of MIUI or HyperOS.

How to do this:

1. Open the screen you want to capture (application, web page, settings).
2. At the same time, press the buttons Power (on) and Volume Reduction.
3. Hold them for 1-2 seconds until you hear the sound of the camera shutter and see the animation of the screenshot.

⚠️ Note: On some models (such as Black Shark 5), long-term retention of these buttons can cause a forced reboot. If the screen goes out and the Xiaomi logo appears, release the buttons and try again, reducing the time of pressing.

Where to look for a finished screenshot?

By default, the pictures are saved in the folder:

Internal memory → DCIM → Screenshots

or (in new versions of MIUI):

Gallery → Albums → Screenshots

Power button does not light up and works clearly |

Volume down button not locked in settings|

No confidential information (passwords, codes) is on the screen |

Free at least 50 MB of memory (screenshots take ~1-3 MB each)

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2. Three-finger gesture (scroll screen and quick creation)

MIUI offers an alternative way of swiping three fingers across the screen, which is useful if physical buttons are damaged or you often take screenshots (for example, to work with documents).

How to turn on:

1. Go to Settings → Additional functions → Gestures.
2. Select a screenshot with three fingers.
3. Activate the switch and select the swipe direction (usually down).

How to use:

Swipe three fingers across the screen from top to bottom (or in the selected direction). For a scrolling screen (long screenshot) after a standard shot, click on the thumbnail in the lower right corner and select Scroll.

⚠️ Note: On some models (e.g, POCO X5 Pro) the gesture may conflict with the Split Screen function. If the swipe does not work, turn off the split screen in the same gesture settings.

Advantages of the method:

• 👆 It works even with faulty buttons.
• 📜 Allows you to take scrolling screens (long page shots).
• ⚡ Faster than a combination of buttons (one motion instead of two).

Power and volume buttons |

Three finger gesture |

Voice assistant |

Another way.-->

3. Voice command via Google Assistant

If you need to take a screenshot without using your hands (such as streaming or with busy hands), use the voice assistant. This method works on all Xiaomi with Google Assistant preinstalled (most global versions).

How to activate:

1. Say OK, Google or hold the Home button (if it's physical).
2. Say the command: Take a screenshot.
3. Wait for confirmation (shutter sound and notification).

Limitations:

• 🚫 Does not work in banking applications and some games (due to security policies).
• 🔇 Requires an active Internet connection for voice recognition (offline may not work).
• 📵 On some models (e.g. Redmi) 10A) Google Assistant is disabled by default – it must be enabled in the settings of the Google application.

⚠️ Note: On smartphones with HyperOS (such as Xiaomi 14), voice commands can conflict with the built-in Xiao assistant AI. To avoid problems, turn off Xiao. AI In Settings → Annexes → Application management → Xiao AI.

💡

If Google Assistant doesn't recognize a command, try saying it in English: Take a screenshot. Sometimes it works better than Russian-language queries.

4. Screenshot via notification panel (quick access)

In MIUI 12 and later, you can add a screenshot button to the Quick Settings panel, which is convenient if you take pictures often and don’t want to remember keyboard combinations.

How to set up:

1. Pull the notification bar down twice (to open the full panel).
2. Click on the icon. ⚙️ Edit (or Modify).
3. Find the Screenshot tile (usually under Other Settings) and drag it to the active area.

How to use:

Just click on the added tile, and the screenshot will be taken instantly, and this method works even in games (where button combinations can be blocked).

Comparison with other methods:

5. Hidden features: screenshot via ADB and Engineering Mode

If standard methods do not work (for example, due to software failures or damaged buttons), you can use the developer mode or ADB-These are the ways that are suitable for advanced users.

Method 1: Engineering Mode (for older models)

• 📱 Enter the dialer in the phone number: ##4636##.
• 🔧 Go to Testing. → Touch screen test.
• 🖼️ Press and hold the screen for 5 seconds – the screenshot will be saved in the DCIM.

Method 2: ADB-team (universally)

1. Connect your phone to your PC and activate USB Debugging in the developer settings.
2. Open the command line and type in: adb shell screencap -p /sdcard/screen.png
3. The screenshot will be saved as screen.png in the root folder of memory.

⚠️ Note: Using Engineering Mode on new models (e.g. Xiaomi) 13T) This method can cause you to reset or block certain functions. Use this method only if other options are not available.

6 Features of screenshots in games and protected applications

Many games (such as Genshin Impact or PUBG Mobile) and banking apps (SberBank Online, Tinkoff) block screenshots for security reasons.

Method 1: Embedded screen recording

• 🎮 Run screen recording through the Notification Panel → Screen recording.
• 📹 After recording, remove the desired frame from the video using any video editor (for example, CapCut or CapCut). VLC).

Method 2: Second phone or mirroring

• 📱 Connect Xiaomi to another device via Miracast or USB-debugging.
• 🖥️ Take a screenshot from the screen of the second device (PC, tablet).

Method 3: Root access (for experienced)

• 🔓 Get root rights and use apps like ScreenMaster or Super Screenshot.
• ⚠️ Risk: This violates security policy MIUI This can lead to blocking certain functions (e.g. Google Pay).

⚠️ Note: In some games (e.g. Honor of Kings), trying to bypass screenshot blocking can be considered cheating, leading to account ban.

💡

If the app blocks screenshots, it's not a bug, it's a feature, and developers specifically restrict this feature to protect users' data (passwords, billing information) or prevent cheating in games.

7. Problem Solving: Screenshots Are Not Saved or Disappear

Sometimes screenshots are taken but don't appear in the gallery.

Problem 1: Screenshots folder is damaged

• 🔍 Check the folder. DCIM/Screenshots File Manager (for example, Mi File Manager).
• 🗑️ If the folder is empty, but the disk space has decreased, screenshots could be saved in Internal Storage. → Pictures → Screenshots.

Problem 2: Access rights error

• 🔧 Go to Settings. → Annexes → Application management → gallery → Rights.
• 📂 Make sure that the Warehouse access permission is enabled.

Problem 3: System failure

• 🔄 Reset the device.
• 🛠️ If the problem is repeated, clean the cache. MIUI In Settings → The phone. → Memory. → Clear the cache.

Issue 4: Screenshots are taken but not displayed in the gallery

• 🔍 Use a file manager (such as Solid Explorer) and manually check folders: /storage/emulated/0/Pictures/Screenshots or /storage/emulated/0/DCIM/Screenshots
• 🖼️ If there are files but are not displayed, update your media library through the Gallery app (pull down for an update).

FAQ: Frequent questions about screenshots on Xiaomi