How to take a screenshot on Xiaomi smartphones: all ways + secret chips

Taking a screenshot on Xiaomi seems like an easy task — as long as you do not encounter unexpected nuances. buttons do not respond, gestures do not work, and there is no item on the menu? We have collected all the current ways to create screenshots for devices on MIUI (including Redmi and POCO), taking into account the features of different versions of firmware and models — from the budget Redmi Note 12 to the flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra.

In this article, you will find not only standard keyboard shortcuts, but also hidden MIUI features for advanced users, such as how to take a screenshot of a long page scrolling or save a picture straight to the cloud. And if you have a smartphone with a physical Menu button (like the old Redmi 4X), we will separately explain how to adapt instructions for such devices.

1. Standard method: power buttons + volume

It is a universal method that works on 99% of Xiaomi devices regardless of the model and version of MIUI.

1. Open the screen you want to capture (app, web page, settings).
2. Simultaneously press the Power button (on / off) and the Volume Down button.
3. Hold them for 1-2 seconds until you hear the camera shutter sound and see the save animation.

⚠️ Note: On some models (e.g, POCO F5) Button sensitivity can cause Google Assistant to be called accidentally. If this happens, try pressing a little faster or disable the assistant in the settings: → Google → Google Assistant → General. → Use the power button.

Where to look for a finished screenshot?

• 📁 In the gallery: Screenshots folder (or Screenshots on Russian firmware).
• 🔍 Through File Manager: Internal Storage → Pictures → Screenshots.
• 📱 In the notification: after creating the picture, a panel with the buttons Share and Delete will appear.

2. Three-finger gesture - quick screenshot without buttons

The three-finger screenshot feature is available on all Xiaomi smartphones with MIUI 10 and up, and is especially handy if:

• 🎮 You play and don’t want to interrupt the gameplay with the press of buttons.
• 🧤 Wear gloves or use your smartphone with one hand.
• 🔧 Power/volume buttons damaged.

How to turn on:

1. Go to Settings → Additional functions → Gestures.
2. Find the screenshot item with three fingers and activate the switch.
3. (Optional) Set the sensitivity of the gesture in the Additional settings menu.

How to use:

1. Swipe down the screen with three fingers (no matter what).
2. For a scroll screenshot (long page) after the first gesture, don't remove your fingers - hold them for 1 second, then scroll down the screen.

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If the gesture is triggered by chance (e.g. in games), reduce sensitivity in settings or turn off the feature for specific applications through Settings → Apps → Permissions → Special Access → Gestures.

3. Screenshot using the notification panel

A little-known method that works even on locked screens (if the appropriate setting is enabled) is suitable for MIUI 12 and later:

1. Turn the notification bar swipe from top to bottom.
2. Find the screenshot icon (scissors or a rectangle with lightning). If it's not there, tap it. ⚙️ Edit and add it manually.
3. Click on the icon – the picture will be taken instantly.

⚠️ Note: Some firmware (e.g., the global version for Redmi Note 11) may not have the screenshot icon by default:

Go to Settings → Notification Panel and Status bar → Quick settings and manually add Screenshot tile to active.

Advantages of the method:

• ⚡ Faster than a button combination (1 touch instead of 2).
• 🔒 Works on a locked screen (if enabled in Settings) → Screen locking → Additionally. → Screenshots on the locked screen).
• 📱 Does not conflict with gestures or games.

4.Voice Assistant and Google Assistant

If you have Google Assistant or Xiaomi Voice Assistant enabled (Xiao) AI), You can take a screenshot with a voice command, and it's useful for people with disabilities or when hands are busy.

Instructions for Google Assistant:

1. Activate the assistant with your voice (OK, Google) or hold the Home button.
2. Say “take a screenshot” or “screenshot”.
3. Confirm the action (if required).

For Xiao AI (Chinese/global firmware with Sino-based features):

1. Hold the Home button or say “” (for the Chinese version).
2. Say: "(literally, "Jie tu" - "screenshot").

⚠️ Note: Voice commands may not work:

• 🔇 Do not disturb or on the plane.
• 🎵 While playing music/video with microphone off.
• 🌐 On firmware without Google services (for example, Chinese versions) MIUI without GMS).

5. Scrolling screenshot (long screenshot)

Scrolling Screenshot allows you to capture an entire web page, a chat in Telegram, or a list of contacts - even if they don't fit on a single screen. MIUI 11 and newer.

How to do this:

1. Take a regular screenshot in any way (buttons, gesture, etc.).
2. Immediately after the appearance of the thumbnail in the lower right corner, tap on it.
3. In the editor that opens, click Scrolling (or Long Screenshot).
4. You automatically start scrolling down the screen, and stop when you grab the right piece.

Limitations and nuances:

💡 Useful Lifehack: If a long screenshot is cut in the wrong place, use manual mode. After pressing Scrolling, don't let your finger go - lead them down, control the speed.

6. Special cases: old models and custom firmware

If you have Xiaomi released before 2018 (e.g. Redmi 4A, Mi 5) or have unofficial firmware installed (e.g. LineageOS), standard methods may not work.

For older models with the Menu button:

• 📱 Keep your food on. + Menu (instead of volume button).
• 🔧 If it does not work, check the settings in Settings → Buttons → Button combinations.

For custom firmware (LineageOS, Pixel Experience):

• 🤖 Use the standard Android combination: Power + Turning down the volume.
• 🛠️ If it doesn’t work, install the Screenshot Tile app to add tiles to the notification bar.

For devices with broken buttons:

• 🖱️ Connect. OTG-Use the mouse and use the right button + The scroll wheel (emulates the power supply) + Loudness).
• 💻 Connect your smartphone to your PC and take a screenshot through ADB: adb shell screencap -p /sdcard/screen.png

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Custom firmware often disables MIUI gestures. Before installing, check for support for Three-finger screenshot in the firmware description.

7. Editing and managing screenshots

After you take a screenshot, MIUI offers basic editing tools, and here's what you can do right after you take the shot:

• ✏️ Drawing: brushes, markers, eraser (colors are customized).
• 📝 Text: Adding inscriptions with choice of font and size.
• 🔍 Cutting: changing the boundaries of the picture in 1 pixel increments.
• 🖼️ Blurring: Hiding confidential data (phone numbers, passwords).

Where are the edited screenshots stored?

They are automatically saved to the same Screenshots folder, but marked edited in the file name.

🔄 Synchronization with the cloud:

To automatically upload screenshots to Mi Cloud:

1. Open your Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud.
2. Turn on the gallery sync.
3. Make sure that in Settings → Applications → Gallery → Autoboot is enabled with the option for screenshots.

Frequent problems and solutions

Even on new Xiaomi smartphones, users are faced with errors when creating screenshots. We have collected the TOP-5 problems and ways to fix them:

1. Screenshot not saved Check: 📲 Free space on the device (needed) ≥50MB). 🚫 Permissions for the Gallery application (Settings) → Annexes → gallery → Permits). 🔄 Reboot your smartphone – sometimes helps with crashes MIUI.
2. Black screen instead of screenshots. It's because of DRM-protection in some applications (e.g. Netflix, banking programs: 📸 Use a different smartphone or take a picture of the screen. 🖥️ Connect to your PC and take a screenshot via scrcpy.

Three finger gestures don't work.

Possible causes:

• ⚙️ Function disabled in settings (Additional functions) → Gestures).
• 🧤 Gloves or Large Elements Mode Enabled.
• 🎮 Conflict with gestures in games (turn them off in game settings).

If you want to save information from a screen that is off (such as a BSOD error), take a picture of it with another device.