Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face the need to save an image of the current screen. Whether it is important correspondence, an error in the application, the level of charge in the game or just a funny meme, the ability to quickly capture what is happening on the display is a basic skill. The Android operating system, which runs the MIUI shell or the new HyperOS, has many ways to accomplish this task, from classic buttons to advanced gestures.
The variety of methods is due to the fact that different device models can have different locations of physical controls, and firmware versions offer unique features for the convenience of users. Screenshot is not just a picture, it is a tool that can greatly simplify interaction with technical support or storage. In this article, we will analyze in detail each available method so that you can choose the most convenient for your situation.
Some methods require pre-activation in settings, while others work out of the box. Understanding these nuances will save you time and avoid unnecessary actions. Next, we will look at standard combinations, touch screen capabilities, voice control and specialized tools for creating long shots.
Standard button combination for screenshot
The most common and versatile method that works on the vast majority of Android devices, including Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones. It requires no pre-setting and is available immediately after the phone is turned on. To create a screenshot, you need to simultaneously press two physical buttons: the Volume Down button and the On/Block button.
It is important to keep the sequence and duration of the pressing right. The buttons must be pressed simultaneously and held for a fraction of a second, then immediately released. If you hold them for too long, the smartphone may perceive this as a command to call the emergency menu or forced reboot, which is an undesirable action in this context. Visual confirmation of the successful creation of the screenshot will be the characteristic sound of the camera shutter (if the sound is on) and animation of the screen folding into a corner.
This method is particularly useful in situations where one hand is difficult to use the phone, or when the system interface temporarily does not respond to touch, but the physical response of the buttons is preserved.
⚠️ Note: Do not keep the buttons locked for longer. 1-2 Long-term retention of the "Loudness Down" combination» + «Power on many Xiaomi models will activate the emergency call menu or forced reboot of the device, which will interrupt your current task.
It's worth noting that some global firmware versions can turn off the audio signal by default in the system's sound settings. If visual animations are up but no sound, don't worry, the screenshot has been successfully saved in the gallery, and you can check this by opening the Gallery app and going to the Screenshots album.
Using three fingers for a quick snapshot
MIUI is famous for its gesture functionality, and one of the most useful is to take a three-finger screenshot, which requires pre-activation in the settings menu, but once turned on, it becomes perhaps the fastest way to capture an image, and to use this method, you just swipe three fingers from top to bottom in the center of the screen at any given time.
To activate this function, go to the Settings menu, select the Additional Features section (or Advanced Settings in older versions), then click Screenshots. In the menu that opens, find the Three Fingers switch and activate it.
The advantage of this is speed and ergonomics. You don't have to look for buttons on the case, which is especially true for today's large-diagonal smartphones, where it can be difficult to reach the top edge of the screen with one hand, and it's also often used in other applications to perform various actions, making it intuitive.
- 📱 The gesture works in most applications, but can be blocked in some games or banking applications for security reasons.
- ⚙️ The sensitivity of the gesture can be adjusted in the same menu if the phone reacts too often or, conversely, does not recognize movement.
- 🖼️ After creating a screenshot with this method, a thumbnail appears on the screen, allowing you to immediately edit or share the image.
Control panel and notification curtain
If physical buttons or gestures are not possible or convenient for some reason, you can always use the interface software. In the control center (notification curtain), Xiaomi has a special button to quickly create screenshots, which is especially true for users who prefer one-handed control or have damage to mechanical buttons.
To take a screenshot in this way, swipe from top to bottom of the screen to open the control center. Find an icon with a picture of scissors or a screenshot icon. In some versions of HyperOS and MIUI, this icon can be called a Screenshot. Pressing it instantly creates a copy of the current image on the display.
If you don't see this button in the top row, it may be hidden in the second page of the Quick Access menu. Pull the curtain again or click on the edit icon (usually a pencil icon or three dots) to add the Screenshot button to your favorites list, which will keep the tool on hand at all times.
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For even faster access, add the App Shortcut widget to the home screen and select the "Take a Screenshot" function, which creates an icon that will instantly save the screen image.
It also allows you to take late screenshots, which is a unique feature of the software method: When you press the screenshot button in the curtain (or in the menu button, if any), you often have a timer of 3 or 5 seconds, which gives you time, for example, to open the dropdown menu, to fold the keyboard or go to the desired section of the application before the picture is taken.
Long screenshot: Creating scrollable images
One of the most sought-after features in the Xiaomi ecosystem is the ability to create long screenshots, an indispensable tool for saving instant messengers, contact lists, web pages, or long articles, and instead of taking a dozen individual frames, you can combine them into one continuous image.
The process begins as a simple screenshot by any of the above methods (buttons or gestures) immediately after you take the picture, an additional button with a down arrow or Scrolling will appear in the upper right corner of the thumbnail that appears (preview) and you will click on it and start the long screenshot mode.
The system will automatically scroll down the screen to capture new information, and it will continue until you touch the screen or reach the end of the page. It's important to note that this method doesn't work in all applications, like a gallery or desktop, and you may not start scrolling because the content is not a continuous list.
☑️ Rules for Creating the Perfect Long Screenshot
In some cases, automatic scrolling can go too fast or, conversely, slow. In such situations, you can try manually scrolling the screen in the grip stroke, although modern versions of MIUI usually do this perfectly automatically. The quality of the final image will depend on the screen resolution and the number of captured elements.
Voice control and Google Assistant
Xiaomi’s current smartphones have powerful voice controls that allow you to take screenshots without touching the screen, which is especially convenient when your hands are busy, or when you’re away from your phone, but it’s connected to a headset or smart speaker.
To activate, simply say “OK, Google” (if the assistant is set up and waiting for a command) or press the home/power button to call it for a long time. Then say “Take a screenshot” or “Screenshot.” The assistant will immediately perform the action and offer options for further actions: share, edit or simply save.
This method works at the level of the Android operating system, so it is universal for all devices with Google services installed, but it should be noted that it requires an active Internet connection to work, since voice query processing often takes place on the company's servers.
⚠️ Warning: Voice control may not work in applications with increased security (bank clients, personal data) where the Android security policy prohibits screenshots or voice input.
In addition, some Xiaomi models with the Chinese version of firmware (CN ROM) can be built-in voice assistant Xiao AI, which also knows how to take screenshots on a voice command, but only in Chinese.
Third-party applications and additional capabilities
While Xiaomi’s built-in functionality is extremely extensive, users sometimes require specific features such as automatic screenshots on a schedule, high-bit recording of video from the screen, or advanced editing tools, in which cases apps from the Google Play store come to the rescue.
Popular apps like Screen Master or LongShot offer features that go beyond the standard ones: they let you take screenshots of shaking your phone, create collages from multiple shots, add watermarks automatically, or convert long images into long ones. PDF-document.
However, using third-party software requires broad permissions, including “Above Other Windows” and file system access, which can have a slight impact on device autonomy and potentially reduce data security as apps gain access to what’s happening on your screen.
Should I install third-party apps for screenshots?
If you do decide to install such an application, carefully review the reviews and the list of permissions requested, and prefer open source programs or from well-known developers to minimize the risk of personal information leakage.
Where screenshots are stored and how to manage them
Once an image is created, it is important to know where to find it and how to effectively manage the accumulated data array. By default, all screenshots are stored in the device's internal memory in the /Pictures/Screenshots or /DCIM/Screenshots folder. In the Gallery app, they are automatically sorted into a separate album.
The system allows you to quickly edit images immediately after you create them. By clicking on a thumbnail, you can crop an image, draw arrows on it, add text or blot out sensitive information (such as card numbers or phones), the Magic tool in new versions of MIUI even knows how to automatically recognize text and personal data for quick concealment.
It is convenient to use a file manager to manage a large number of files. The Explorer app allows you to sort files by date, size or type. You can also set up automatic synchronization of the screenshot folder with cloud storage (Google Photos, Mi Cloud, Yandex.Disk) so as not to take up space on the phone.
| Method | Difficulty | Speed. | Requires customization |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buttons (Loudness + Power) | Low. | Tall. | No. |
| Three-finger gesture | Low. | Very high. | Yes (on the menu) |
| Notification curtain | Low. | Medium | No. |
| Voice command | Medium | Medium | Adjustment of the assistant |
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The best method for daily use is to activate the “Three Fingers” gesture, as it combines maximum speed with minimal physical action.