Screenshot on Xiaomi: All ways to take a screenshot (including hidden ones)

Taking a screenshot on Xiaomi smartphones (including the Redmi, POCO and Mi lines) seems like a simple task — as long as you don’t face unexpected limitations. For example, the standard combination of buttons Loud down + Power does not work in games with active locking of physical keys, and the three-finger swipe gesture is disabled by default in new versions of MIUI 14/15. In this article, we will analyze all the current ways to take a screenshot on Xiaomi — from classic to little-known, including methods for devices with broken buttons or non-standard shells.

We will pay special attention to the nuances that are rarely written in standard instructions: why screenshots are sometimes saved in.png and sometimes in.jpg (and how to fix this), how to take a picture of a long web page as a whole, and what to do if after updating MIUI, the usual gestures stopped working. All methods are tested on the current Android 13/14 firmware and adapted for models from Redmi Note 12 to the flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra.

1. Standard method: "Loudness down + Power" buttons

It is a universal method that works on all Xiaomi models regardless of MIUI or Android version.

1. Open the screen that you want to fix (for example, a dialog in the messenger or a page in the browser).
2. At the same time, press the volume reduction button (located on the left) and the power button (on the right).
3. Hold them for 1-2 seconds until you hear the characteristic sound of the camera shutter and see the animation of the screenshot.

⚠️ Note: On some models (e.g, POCO F5 or Redmi K60) Button sensitivity may vary. If you don't get a screenshot, try it:

• 🔹 Press the buttons with more force (but not until the click!).
• 🔹 Hold them for 0.5 seconds longer (up to 2.5-3 seconds).
• 🔹 Reboot the phone – sometimes failures in the operation of the button drivers interfere with the correct fixation of the press.

Where to look for a saved screenshot? By default, files are placed in the DCIM → Screenshots folder (or Pictures → Screenshots in some firmware). To quickly open the last shot, tap the screenshot notification in the curtain.

2. The gesture "three-finger swipe": setting and nuances

The Three-Finger Swipe feature allows you to take a screenshot by swiping from top to bottom (or bottom to top depending on settings), but in MIUI 14/15, this gesture is disabled by default and you need to manually activate it:

1. Go to Settings → Additional → Special features → Gestures.
2. Select the item "Screenshot with three-finger swipe".
3. Activate the switch and adjust the swipe direction (recommended from top to bottom to avoid conflicts with other gestures).

Challenges and solutions:

• 🚫 Gesture doesn't work in games - it's a limitation MIUI, Because many games block system gestures, use buttons or methods on a PC.
• ⚠️ It works randomly – reduce sensitivity in gesture settings or turn it off for specific applications through Settings → Annexes → Permits → Special access.
• 🔄 Conflict with other gestures (such as swipe to return) – change the direction of the swipe to the opposite.

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If the three-finger swipe is too easy, try increasing the swipe distance in the gesture settings, which will reduce the number of false positives.

3. Screenshot through the Quick Settings panel

This method is convenient if the physical buttons on the phone do not work or you prefer not to remember the keyboard shortcuts.

1. Open the notification curtain by swiping from top to bottom across the screen.
2. Find the Screenshot icon (usually a scissor or rectangle with a loaded corner) if it isn't, click on the Edit icon (pencil) and add it to the panel.
3. Tap the icon – the screenshot will be taken instantly.

⚠️ Note: In some versions MIUI (Like Redmi. 10C) The screenshot icon may not be in the standard set:

1. Open the Settings. → Control panel.
2. Find the “Screenshot” list and drag it to the active area.

Add the screenshot icon to the visible area | Check for the icon after editing |Reboot the phone if the icon does not appear |Update MIUI if the option is not in the settings-->

4.Voice assistant: screenshot on command

If you’re more comfortable with your phone, Xiaomi offers two options:

Method 1: Google Assistant

Activate the assistant with the “OK Google” voice command or holding the “Home” button (if physical), then say:

Take a screenshot.


or




Screenshot.

⚠️ Note: The feature only works when you are actively connected to the Internet and Google Assistant access to the screen is enabled (check in Settings). → Google → Services on the device → Google Assistant → Screen settings).

Method 2: Mi AI (for China/India)

On firmware phones for the Chinese or Indian market, the built-in Mi AI assistant is available.

1. Activate Mi AI by holding the Home button or by voice command (if configured).
2. Say in Chinese/English, "Take a screenshot" or «» (jiétú).

5. Screenshot via PC: When the phone doesn't respond

If the Xiaomi screen is frozen, the buttons are not working, or you need to take a picture without saving to the phone (for example, to prove in a dispute), use the connection to the computer.

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
• 🛠️ Programme ADB (Android Debug Bridge or Scrcpy (for screen mirroring).

Method 1: Scrcpy (without root)

Scrcpy is a free tool for displaying Android screens on a PC with control.

1. Download Scrcpy and unpack the archive.
2. Connect Xiaomi to your PC and enable USB debugging (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version → 7 times click on the version, then go back to Settings → Additional → For Developers → Debugging by USB).
3. Run scrcpy.exe – the phone screen will show up on the PC.
4. Click Ctrl + S – the screenshot will be saved in the folder where scrcpy.exe is located.

Method 2: ADB (for experienced)

If Scrcpy is not suitable, use ADB:

adb shell screencap -p /sdcard/screen.png


adb pull /sdcard/screen.png

These commands will save the screenshot to the root of the memory card (screen.png) and copy it to the PC.

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Screenshots via PC are saved in the original screen resolution, without compression, which is useful for proofs or interface analysis.

6. Screenshot of a long page (scroll screen)

A standard screenshot captures only the visible part of the screen, but what if you want to save the entire web page, correspondence in Telegram or a list in Mi Fit? MIUI has a built-in Scrolling Screenshot feature, but it does not work in all applications.

How to make a scrolling screen:

1. Take a regular screenshot of any of the above methods.
2. Immediately after the screenshot notification appears, tap it - the editing panel will open.
3. At the bottom of the screen, find the “Scroll” button (or “Long Screenshot”) and click it.
4. Wait until the system automatically scrolls through the page and connects the pieces into one snapshot.

Limitations:

• 🚫 Does not work in banking applications (due to screenshot ban).
• ⚠️ In Chrome or Mi, Browser can crop dynamic content (like Instagram feed).
• 📱 On some models (e.g. Redmi) 9A) Disabled – Use third-party apps like LongShot.

💡

If the built-in scrolling screen doesn’t work, try taking a series of regular screenshots and pasting them into Google Photos (Collage feature) or through Img2Go.

7. Problem Solving: Screenshots are not saved or distorted

Sometimes screenshots on Xiaomi are weird, disappearing from the gallery, being stored in low resolution, or having artifacts, and consider the typical causes and ways to fix them.

Important: If screenshots are stored in a greenish shade, this indicates a hardware failure of the matrix or GPU, in which case a diagnosis is required at the service center.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions