Creating a screenshot on a smartphone is a basic feature that is often required in everyday use of the device. Owners of the popular Xiaomi Redmi 4X model may face a situation where standard methods do not work or the user simply does not know about all the options available. Understanding how to take a screenshot greatly expands the capabilities of the gadget, allowing you to save correspondence, payment receipts or interesting moments from games.
The MIUI operating system on the Redmi 4X has several independent ways of capturing images, designed to make it easier for users to use different scenarios: when one hand is busy, when a physical button is broken, or when you want to take a long shot. In this article, we will discuss each method in detail so that you can choose the most suitable one for you.
Classical method using physical buttons
The most common and fastest way to do this is to run on most Android smartphones, including the Xiaomi Redmi 4X. It requires two keys to be pressed simultaneously. It's important to keep the right interval: you press the buttons simultaneously, hold them for a split second, and let them go. If you hold them too long, the phone can perceive this as a command to force a reboot or call a voice assistant.
On the front of the device, the power button is on the top end, and the volume button is on the right side. Even though they're on different sides of the case, it's very possible to physically reach them at the same time. If you do that, you'll hear the characteristic snap of the camera shutter, and at the top of the screen, you'll see a message that says you're saving an image.
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If you're having a hard time pressing at the same time, try pressing the power button lightly first, then instantly adding the volume tap.
It's worth noting that in the MIUI settings, you can change the response to long-term pressing of these buttons. By default, prolonged retention can cause a screenshot to be created, which is an alternative to short pressing. Check if this feature is activated if the regular combo is not working.
☑️ Testing of the physical method
Creating a screenshot through the notification curtain
If the physical buttons on your Redmi 4X are unstable or busy in the game, a software method is a great solution. There is a special widget designed to capture the screen hidden in the notification curtain of the MIUI system. To access it, you need to unlock the phone and swipe from top to bottom to open the control center.
In the quick action list, find an icon called "Screenshot" or a picture of scissors. Clicking on this element will instantly create a copy of the current image on the screen, a technique that is especially convenient when the phone is lying on the table or when you use it in one-hand mode, not wanting to reach for the buttons on the body.
⚠️ Warning: If you don't see the Screenshot icon at the top of the curtain, it may be hidden in the second page of the menu. Pull the curtain completely down or click on the edit button (usually three dots or a pencil) to add this shortcut to the active area.
The use of software buttons is also useful for people with disabilities who have difficulty performing precise mechanical actions. On Android, this tool works stably and does not require root rights or install third-party software.
Using the "More" menu and triple tapping
There is another hidden mechanism in the MIUI shell that not everyone knows about: In the lower right or left corner (depending on the location of the navigation buttons), there is a button "Menu" (three horizontal bars), and if you click on it, an additional context menu will open, where there is often the option to create a screenshot.
However, a more advanced method is the triple tap function on the screen. To activate it, go to Settings → Advanced Settings → Screenshot. Here you need to tick the box against the "Three fingers." Once activated, a rapid movement of three fingers from top to bottom of the display will initiate image capture.
| Method | Activation rate | Convenience | Risk of accidental launch |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buttons (Loudness + Power) | Tall. | Average. | Low. |
| Notification curtain | Medium | High. | Absent. |
| Three fingers | Very high. | High. | Medium. |
| Voice control | Depends on the network. | Average. | Absent. |
The gesture function requires a certain skill, and if the movement is too slow, the system will perceive it as a normal page-turning, and training muscle memory will help you to perform this quickly and accurately in any situation.
Voice control and Google Assistant
Modern smartphones, including the Xiaomi Redmi 4X, support voice control, which can be extremely useful when the user's hands are dirty, busy or in an uncomfortable position, just say the phrase "Ok Google" (if the assistant is on) or simply start a search.
Once the assistant is activated, say "Take a screenshot" or "Screenshot of the screen." The system automatically captures the image and saves it to the gallery. This is the most "hands-free" solution, without requiring physical contact with the display or the body buttons.
Why can't the voice command work?
In addition, some firmware versions have a Screenshot command directly for the built-in MIUI voice assistant, which works even without the Internet, but its functionality may be limited depending on the region of use of the device.
The function of a long screenshot (scroll)
One of the most sought-after features in the Xiaomi ecosystem is the ability to create long screenshots, an indispensable tool for saving long correspondence in messengers, web pages or contact lists. Once you create a regular screenshot of any of the above methods, a thumbnail will appear at the top of the screen.
In this thumbnail, you have to click the "Scroll" button (or the icon with the arrows down) and the screen will automatically start to scroll down, capturing new areas of the image. The process will stop when you touch the screen or reach the end of the page, which allows you to get one long picture instead of a dozen individual files.
Some banking applications or content-protected pages may block this feature for security reasons, in which case the system will either fail to show the scroll button or interrupt image creation.
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A long screenshot is the only way to keep the context of a long correspondence or article in one file, making it easier to send information to other users.
Where to find stored images and memory management
All the screenshots created are automatically saved to the device's internal memory, and you can find them in two main ways: through the Gallery app in a separate Screenshots album or through the file manager on the Internal Memory path. → MIUI → gallery_cloud → Screenshots (the path may vary slightly depending on the version) MIUI).
Because screenshots take up space in memory, it is recommended to periodically review saved files. High-resolution images can weigh a lot, especially if you take them often. You can use the built-in Cleanup tool in the Security app to free up space.
⚠️ Note: If screenshots are no longer being created, check the free space on the device. With a critically low amount of free memory (less than 50 MB), Android can block the creation of new files.
It is also possible to customize the quality of saved images or change the save folder using third-party file managers or customized clipboard applications, although this flexibility is limited with standard MIUI tools.