How to take a screenshot on a Xiaomi phone: all the ways to MIUI 12/13/14

Screenshots on Xiaomi smartphones are one of the most popular features that users use every day. Whether you want to save important correspondence, capture an error in the app or share a funny meme, the ability to quickly take a screenshot saves time and nerves. However, not everyone knows that there are several ways to create screenshots on devices with a MIUI shell, from classic button combinations to innovative gestures and voice commands.

In this article, we’ll break down all the current techniques, including little-known chips for old and new models (Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Mi 11, etc.), learn how to take screenshots on a locked screen, save long pages (scroll screens), and even set up automatic editing of images, and also solve typical problems when buttons do not work or screens do not save.

1. Classical method: button combination

The most versatile method that works on all Xiaomi models - from the budget Redmi A2 to the flagship Xiaomi 13 Ultra. To create a screenshot at the same time, press:

• 📱 Power button (on/off) + volume-cut
• ⏱️ Hold them for at least 0.5 seconds, but no longer than 2 seconds (otherwise the off menu will be turned on)
• 🎵 The sound of the camera shutter will sound, and the screen will blink for a split second - this is a signal that the screenshot is taken.

Where to look for a finished shot? All screenshots are automatically saved in the gallery, in the Screenshots folder (or Screenshots on Russian firmware), and they can be found through the Files app, following the path: Internal drive → Pictures → Screenshots.

⚠️ Note: On some models (e.g, POCO F4) Long-term button retention can trigger an emergency call mode, if a menu appears instead of a screenshot. SOS — Try pressing buttons faster or using alternative methods.

2. Three finger gesture (the fastest method)

The MIUI feature is the ability to take screenshots with a simple movement across the screen, which works on all devices with the MIUI shell version 9 and later (including Redmi 10, POCO M4 Pro, Xiaomi 12T, etc.) to activate the function:

1. Open Settings → Additional functions → Gestures
2. Find the screenshot with three fingers and switch on the switch
3. By default, the gesture works like this: swipe from top to bottom across the screen with three fingers at the same time.

Advantages of the method:

• ⚡ Instant – no need to search for buttons or menus
• 🎯 Works in any application, including games (unless gestures are blocked)
• 🔄 You can adjust the direction of the gesture (for example, left to right)

Enable the function in the settings|Check the sensitivity of the gesture|Testing in different applications|Configure the Save to the Cloud-->

If the gesture doesn't work:

• 🧹 Make sure there are no greasy spots or protection on the screen (they interfere with the sensor)
• 🔧 Restart your phone – sometimes gestural failures are eliminated by restarting the system
• 📱 Check if the function conflicts with other gestures (e.g. Swipe for return)

3. Screenshot via notification panel

Few people know, but MIUI has a built-in button for screenshots right in the notification curtain, which is convenient when physical buttons don’t work (for example, when the power button breaks) or when you want to take a picture with one hand.

Instructions:

1. Pull the notification curtain down (with one finger for quick access or two for full disclosure)
2. Find the Screenshot icon (usually a scissors or a rectangle with lightning)
3. Slip on it - the screen will blink, and the picture will be saved.

If the button is not in the curtain:

• 🔧 Go to Settings. → Notification panel → Change the order
• 🔍 Find a screenshot in the list and drag it to the active area.
• 📌 Keep the button on so that it is always on hand.

4.Voice Assistant (for MIUI 12 and later)

Modern Xiaomi smartphones support voice control, and screenshots are no exception, a method that comes in handy when hands are busy or buttons are not available (for example, when using a magnetically mounted case).

How to activate:

1. Make sure that the Xiaomi Voice Assistant is enabled (Settings → Voice Assistant)
2. Tell the command to take a screenshot or a screenshot.
3. Wait for the sound signal – the screenshot will be saved in the gallery

Important nuances:

• 🎤 The function works only on Chinese, global and European firmware MIUI (The custom may not be supported)
• 🌐 To recognize commands, the phone must be connected to the Internet (checks cloud services Xiaomi)
• 🔇 In some regions, the voice assistant can be disabled by default – turn it on manually.

⚠️ Warning: Voice commands for screenshots do not work in safe mode and when active VPN If the assistant is not responding, check these parameters.

5 Scrolling Screenshots (Long Page Shots)

If you want to save not only the visible part of the screen, but the entire page you are scrolling (for example, a chat in Telegram, Instagram feed or an article in your browser), use the Scrolling Screen feature. It is available on all devices with MIUI 10+.

Step-by-step:

1. Take a regular screenshot of any of the above methods
2. Immediately after the appearance of the thumbnail of the picture at the bottom of the screen, tap it on it.
3. In the editor that opens, select the Scroll option (or Long Screenshot)
4. Wait until the system automatically scrolls the page and connects the parts into a single file.

Limitations of function:

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If the scrolling screen breaks in the middle of the page, try to scroll it manually to the end before creating the image.

6. Screenshots on the locked screen

Can you take a screenshot without unlocking your phone? In MIUI, it's possible, but with reservations. It only works if:

• 🔓 The lock screen displays the content of notifications (for example, a message from the messenger)
• 📱 Screenshots on the locked screen (Settings) → Screen locking → Additionally)
• 🔒 a pattern lock is used or PIN (on phones with a fingerprint or face ID function may be blocked)

How to take a screenshot:

1. Wake up the screen (press the power button or tap the display twice if Double Tap to Wake is enabled)
2. Use a button combination (power + volume down) or three-toed gesture
3. The image will be saved in the Screenshots folder, but you will need to unlock it when you open it.

⚠️ Note: On some models (POCO X3 Pro, Redmi Note 11) screenshots from the locked screen are automatically blurred in the notification area. This is a measure of privacy protection - so that outsiders will not see the content of your messages.

7. Solving screenshot problems

Sometimes users find that screenshots are not created or saved, and consider the typical causes and ways to eliminate them:

If none of these methods helps:

• 🔄 Update. MIUI Up to the latest version (Settings) → The phone. → Updating the system)
• 🛠️ Reset your gesture settings (Settings) → Additionally. → Gestures → Reset)
• 📱 Check your phone for viruses (sometimes malware blocks system functions)

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If screenshots are no longer saved after the MIUI update, try clearing the Screenshots app data (not galleries!) in the app settings.

FAQ: Frequent questions about screenshots on Xiaomi