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

Taking a screenshot on Xiaomi smartphones is a seemingly elementary task, but even it is fraught with many nuances. Brand users often face a situation where the standard button combination does not work due to the features of MIUI firmware, and alternative methods go unnoticed. Meanwhile, in the arsenal of Redmi, POCO and other Xiaomi lines, there are at least 5 ways to take a screenshot - from classic to hidden.

In this article, we will not only look at all the current methods (including those that work on MIUI 14 and MIUI 15), but also reveal little-known features, such as how to take scrolling screenshots of long pages where the default images are stored, and why sometimes the screen does not lock when you press buttons. If you have ever encountered a screenshot that turns out to be black or not saved, here you will find a solution.

1. Classic method: power buttons + volume

The most versatile method that works on all Xiaomi models - from the budget Redmi Note 12 to the flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra.

1. Open the screen you want to capture.
2. At the same time, press the power button (on/lock) and the volume down button.
3. Hold them for 1-2 seconds until you hear the sound of the camera shutter and see the animation of the screenshot.

⚠️ Note: On some models (e.g, POCO F5) Button sensitivity can lead to accidental clicks. If the screenshot is taken spontaneously, check the gesture settings in Settings → Additionally. → Buttons and gestures.

Hold both buttons at the same time.|Do not hold for more than 2 seconds (risk of calling the power menu)|Check if the system's sound is blocked (otherwise there will be no confirmation signal)|Make sure the screen is not locked (no screenshot will be taken on the locked screen)-->

If the method doesn't work:

• 🔧 Check if the shutter sound is turned off in Settings → Sounds and vibrations → Screenshot sound.
• 📱 On some firmware (for example, MIUI Global) requires holding the buttons a little longer – up to 1.5 seconds.
• 🔄 Restart the phone – sometimes the failures of the buttons are solved by a banal reboot.

2. Screenshot by gesture (three-finger swipe)

The three-finger screenshot is one of the most convenient MIUI chips, but it's disabled by default.

1. Go to Settings → Additional → Buttons and gestures → Screenshot by gesture.
2. Turn on the swipe switch three fingers down.
3. Choose the direction of the swipe (down or up – depending on the model).

Now, to take a screenshot, just swipe your three fingers across the screen from top to bottom (or bottom to top if you choose a different direction), even in games and applications where power buttons are busy.

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If the gesture is triggered by chance (for example, when scrolling through the feed in social networks), reduce the sensitivity of the swipe in the same settings or turn off the function for specific applications through Special permissions.

Advantages of the method:

• ⚡ Faster than pressing buttons (especially on big screens).
• 🎮 Works in full-screen games where power buttons are locked.
• 👆 You can adjust the direction of the swipe under your hand (for example, from the bottom up for left-handed people).

3. Screenshot via notification panel (Quick Ball)

Quick Ball is a floating virtual joystick that allows you to quickly access key features, including screenshots, to customize:

1. Open the Settings. → Additionally. → Quick Ball.
2. Turn on the switch and select Screenshot from the quick action list.
3. Set up the transparency and position of the ball on the screen.

Now, to take a screenshot:

1. Tap Quick Ball (it appears on the right of the screen by default).
2. In the menu that opens, select the Screenshot icon.

⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Redmi) 10A) Quick Ball can conflict with navigation gestures. If the ball doesn't appear, check if it's disabled in Settings. → Annexes → Special permits → Display over other windows.

4. Voice screenshot via Google Assistant or Xiao AI

If you have a voice assistant enabled (Google Assistant or Xiaomi's Xiao AI), you can take a screenshot with a voice command.

1. Activate Assistant: For Google Assistant, say "OK, Google" or hold the Home button. For Xiao AI, hold the Power button (on some models) or say "Xiao Ai."

• In Russian, “Take a screenshot” or “Take a picture of the screen.”
• In English, "Take a screenshot."

⚠️ Note: Voice commands don’t work in all applications (e.g. banking or restricted) and make sure the assistant has permission to create screenshots in the special features settings.

Power buttons + volume|Three-finger swipe|Quick Ball|Voice command|Other-->

Advantages of the voice method:

• 🗣️ Convenient when hands are busy (e.g. while cooking with a prescription).
• 🔍 It works even if the screen is dirty or the sensor is not responsive.
• 🌐 Supports several languages (including Russian in Xiao) AI).

5. Scrolling screenshot (long screen)

If you want to capture a long web page, a messaging app, or a list in an app, a standard screenshot won't help. MIUI has a scrolling screenshot (or "long screen") feature, but it doesn't work in all apps, and to activate it:

1. Take a regular screenshot of any of the above methods.
2. Immediately after the screenshot appears in the lower right corner of the screen, tap on it.
3. In the editor that opens, select the Scrolling icon (or Long Screenshot).
4. Wait until the system automatically scrolls down the page and connects the frames.

🔹 Where it works: Mi Browser browser, Chrome, WhatsApp, Telegram, VKontakte.

🔸 Where it doesn’t work: Instagram (due to app restrictions), banking apps, some games.

6 Where screenshots are stored and how to find them

By default, all screenshots on Xiaomi are saved in the folder:

/storage/emulated/0/Pictures/Screenshots/

To find them quickly:

1. Open the Gallery app.
2. Go to the Screenshots (or Screenshots) album.
3. Or use the built-in File Manager following the path above.

If the screenshots are not displayed:

• 🔍 Check if they're hidden. In the gallery, tap three points. → Show hidden files.
• 🗑️ Make sure that the automatic cleaning function is not activated in Settings → Warehouse → Cleanup.
• 📁 Maybe the folder has been renamed. Use the search in Explorer for the keyword Screenshot.

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Screenshots take up space in the phone's memory. If there are many, transfer them regularly to your PC or the cloud (such as Mi Cloud or Google Photos) to avoid clogging up storage.

7 Problem Solving: Screenshot not taken or obtained in black

If you encounter errors when trying to take a screenshot, check the following points:

🛠️ Additional advice:

• 🔄 If the screenshots are no longer saved after the update MIUI, Reset the Gallery app settings (Settings) → Annexes → gallery → Warehouse → Drop it).
• 📵 In some models (for example, POCO X5 Pro) screenshots are blocked in Incognito mode in the browser. exit it before taking a picture.
• 🔒 If the screen is locked with a password, you can not take a screenshot - unlock the phone.

FAQ: Frequent questions about screenshots on Xiaomi