Taking screenshots on Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones is one of the basic features, but it can hide a lot of nuances. Owners of the Redmi Note 9 model often look for ways not only to capture the current screen, but also to do it as quickly as possible or with additional options. Standard methods known to all Android users work flawlessly here, but the MIUI shell offers its own unique tools.
Understanding all the options available saves time and avoids unnecessary activities in everyday use of the gadget. Whether it is saving correspondence, check from the online store or instructions for setting up, screenshots become an indispensable tool. In this article, we will discuss in detail every method available on your device.
Classical Method Through Physical Buttons
The most common way that every Android user knows works on the Redmi Note 9, and you have to press two buttons at the same time: turn down the volume and lock the screen. The key is synchronization of pressing. If you press the volume button before or later on the power button, the phone can perceive this as a command to change the sound or call the switch menu.
Once you've done the action, you'll hear the characteristic shutter sound of the camera, and the screen will blink. In the upper right corner, you'll see a thumbnail of an image that can be edited or sent right away, and it's a hardware technique that works even when the touch screen is temporarily reacting with delays.
It's worth noting that on some modifications of MIUI firmware, the order of the buttons pressing may matter, although in most cases the system recognizes simultaneous pressing. If you don't succeed the first time, try changing the rhythm of pressing or the force of pressing the keys.
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Hold your finger on the buttons for a fraction of a second, and long hold will lead to a call to the off menu or voice assistant, rather than creating a snapshot.
Use of notification curtain and quick settings
If physical buttons are uncomfortable or busy for some reason (like holding your phone with one hand in an uncomfortable position), the software interface comes to the rescue. Redmi Note 9 has a handy system of quick switches. Just unlock the device and swipe from top to bottom to open the control center.
Among the Wi-Fi, Bluetooth and flashlight icons, find a scissor icon that instantly creates a snapshot of the current screen, a technique that is particularly useful when you need to take a screenshot of the settings menu or lock screen, where the button combination may not work or be blocked by security.
Sometimes the icon can be hidden in the second page of the Quick Settings menu. To find it, simply swipe your finger across the curtain screen from left to right or press the edit button (usually in the form of a pencil) to add the "Screenshot" shortcut to a prominent place.
Three finger gestures for quick access
MIUI is famous for its advanced gestures, and three-finger screenshots are one of the most popular features. It allows you to capture an image with a single hand movement, which is much faster than looking for buttons. To activate this feature, you need to go to the system settings.
Follow the Settings path → Additional settings → Buttons and gestures → Screenshot with three fingers. Put the switch into active position. After that, simply swiping three fingers from top to bottom down the center of the screen will instantly save the image to the gallery.
This method is especially useful when reading long articles or watching social media feeds when hands are in the natural position for swipes, but be careful: random movement can lead to the creation of many extra files if the phone is in a pocket or bag without a case.
☑️ Customization of gestures
The function of a long screenshot (Scrollshot)
One of Xiaomi’s key features is the ability to create long screenshots, which is indispensable when you want to save all the correspondence in the messenger, a long article or a page of the site as a whole, without breaking them into many separate pictures. After you create a regular screenshot (any of the ways described above), a preview will appear in the corner.
Click on the "Scroll" button (usually a down arrow or a two-arrow icon). The screen will automatically start to scroll downwards, capturing new areas. The process will stop when you touch the screen or reach the end of the page. In some versions of MIUI, you can select "Select Area" mode to manually set the boundaries of a long image.
Screenshots that are too long can take up a significant amount of memory and be processed slowly by the processor when saved.
| Method | Speed. | Convenience | Risk of error |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buttons | Tall. | Average. | Low. |
| Curtain. | Medium | High. | Low. |
| 3 fingers | Very high. | High. | Medium. |
| Voice. | Low. | Average. | High-pitched |
Voice control and Google Assistant
For those who prefer voice control or have busy hands, Redmi Note 9 offers screenshots via voice commands. This can be useful in situations where the phone is locked in a holder or in a hard-to-reach position. The main tool here is Google Assistant.
Activate the assistant with the phrase "Ok Google" or a long home button (if configured), then say "Take a screenshot" or "Make a screenshot." The system will execute the command and save the image. You can also use Xiaomi's built-in voice input if it is activated in the region.
The downside to this method is that it requires an internet connection to recognize speech and can delay response, and in noisy environments, the command may not be recognized the first time.
Secret Team Through ADB
Customization of buttons and additional actions
In MIUI, you can reassign the buttons to make it more comfortable, for example, double-clicking the Menu button (or virtual button) can be set to create a screenshot, opening up new possibilities for those who find standard combinations uncomfortable.
Go to Settings → Additional settings → Buttons and gestures → Menu buttons. Here you can select the "Screenshot" action for short or long pressing. This allows you to use one hand to complete a task, which increases the ergonomics of using your smartphone.
Also worth mentioning is the Quick Notes feature: If you lock the screen and swipe your finger up quickly (when the option is enabled), you can instantly create a note or screenshot without unlocking the device completely, although this feature depends on the specific version of the firmware.
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The combination of volume and power buttons remains the most reliable method, working even when the touch layer is getting stuck.
Where are the screenshots stored and how to find them
All images are automatically saved in the gallery of the device. The Gallery app has a separate album, Screenshots, which includes all screenshots, which makes it easier to find the desired file among the photos taken by the camera.
If you prefer file managers, look for files along the path Internal Memory → MIUI → Gallery → Cloudcache or simply DCIM → Screenshots. Files are usually PNG or JPG format and named by the date and time of creation.
To free up space, you can use the built-in cleaning tool in the Security app, which will find duplicates or old screenshots that take up space, and cleaning this folder regularly helps keep the system running.
⚠️ Note: When deleting screenshots through the file manager, be careful not to delete system thumbnails or important documents saved in image format.
Frequent problems and their solution
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the screenshot is not created, this can be related to the protection of content, for example, in banking applications or when watching videos on Netflix, the creation of screenshots is blocked at the security level (DRM), in which case you will see a black screen instead of an image.
Another reason could be a lack of free memory: If the storage is overcrowded, the system will not physically be able to save the new file, check the space in the settings and delete unnecessary files if necessary.
You may also have problems using third-party launchers or design themes that conflict with MIUI system processes, so try switching to a standard theme.
⚠️ Attention: Attempts to bypass protection DRM in banking applications to create screenshots can lead to account blocking or malware installation.
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If screenshots are no longer saved after the system update, try clearing the Gallery and System UI app cache in the application settings.