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

Why screenshots on Xiaomi are not as easy as it seems

At first glance, creating a screenshot on a Xiaomi smartphone is a trivial task: two buttons are pinched, ready. But in practice, users face a lot of nuances, from broken keyboard shortcuts to suddenly disappearing functions after the MIUI update. The fact that the manufacturer regularly changes the logic of management, and new versions of the firmware (for example, MIUI 14 based on Android 13/14) appear alternative methods that few people know about.

Another trap is the differences between the lines. What runs on the flagship Xiaomi 13 Ultra may not be available on the budget Redmi Note 12. And owners of devices with a physical home button (such as the Mi 5 or Mi 6) are forced to use outdated combinations. In this article, we will discuss all the current ways to take a screenshot on Xiaomi, including hidden chips and workarounds for problem cases.

We'll focus on the control gestures, which are often turned off by default, although they're much more convenient than the traditional buttons, and we'll also reveal the secrets of working with screenshots of long pages (scroll screens) and explain why sometimes pictures are not saved in the gallery. If you've ever encountered a message that says "Can't take a screenshot" - here you will find a solution.

Method 1: Classic button combination (works on 99% of models)

It is a versatile method that is supported on all Xiaomi smartphones released after 2016, including Redmi, POCO and Black Shark.

1. Open the screen you want to capture (for example, a dialogue in Telegram or a page in Chrome).
2. At the same time, press and hold the power button (on / off) and the volume button for 1-2 seconds.
3. You will hear the characteristic shutter sound (if the sound is not turned off) and see the animation of saving the screenshot.

Important nuances:

• 🔋 On some models (for example, Xiaomi Mi 11) buttons need to be pressed strictly at the same time – if you first press the volume, and then power, the switch-off menu will work.
• 📱 If you have a phone with touch-sensitive navigation buttons (e.g., Redmi 9A), the combination remains the same.
• ⚡ On Android 12+ and MIUI 13/14 devices, a quick action panel will appear to edit or send after the screenshot is taken.

If the combination does not work:

• Check if the buttons are locked (for example, because of a cover or dirt).
• Restart your phone – sometimes system failures block the screenshot function.
• Update the firmware: older versions of MIUI had bugs with press handling.

Method 2: Three-finger gesture (fastest, but often turned off)

The three-finger swipe feature for creating a screenshot was introduced in MIUI 8, but many users still don't know about it, and it's convenient because it doesn't require remembering button combinations and works with one hand, and here's how to set it up and use it:

1. Open Settings → Additional Features → Gestures and Movements → Screenshot with triple touch.
2. Activate the switch "Swipe screenshot down."
3. Choose the direction of the gesture: down or up (we recommend "down" - it is easier to avoid accidental positives).

How to make a screenshot with a gesture:

1. Open the screen.
2. Place three fingers (usually index, middle and ring fingers) on the screen.
3. Quickly swipe down (or up, depending on the settings) – the screenshot will be taken instantly.

If the gesture doesn't work,

• 🧹 Make sure there are no greasy spots on the screen – the touch sensor may not recognize all three fingers.
• 🔄 Try changing the direction of the gesture in the settings.
• 📵 Check if the function conflicts with other gestures (e.g., Double-touch to wake up).

Is the switch on in the settings?

Is the screen (no spots, no film) clean?

Is the swipe direction correctly chosen?

Are there any conflicts with other gestures?-->

Advantages of the method:

• ⚡ Instantaneous activation is faster than buttons.
• 🤏 Works on cracked screens (unless the sensor is damaged).
• 🎮 Convenient in games where power/volume buttons are occupied by the gamepad.

💡

If you often have a screenshot accidentally triggered (for example, when scrolling through the feed in social networks), reduce the sensitivity of the gesture in the settings or turn off the function altogether.

Method 3: Notification panel (for those who don’t like to remember combinations)

This is a method that works for users who prefer visual controls, and MIUI has a built-in button for screenshots in the notification curtain, but it can be hidden by default. Here's how to find and use it:

1. Pull the notification curtain down (with one finger for a quick menu, two for a full one).
2. If there is no screenshot button, click on the Edit icon (pencil in the upper right corner).
3. Find the screenshot in the list and drag it to the active area.
4. Save the changes – the button will always be at hand.

Pros and cons of the method:

If the button does not appear even after editing the curtain:

• 🔄 Reboot the phone — sometimes the MIUI interface hangs over.
• 📲 Check if it is hidden in the Hidden Badges section (in the curtain editor).
• 🔧 Reset the curtain settings to standard: Settings → Notifications → Additional → Reset.

Method 4: Voice Assistant (for users with disabilities)

Few people know, but Xiaomi has built voice control into MIUI, which is especially useful if your hands are busy or your buttons are not working.

1. Activate Xiaomi Voice Assistant (if disabled): Settings → Applications → Application Management → Voice Assistant → Enable.
2. Tell the command to "take a screenshot" or "screenshot".
3. Confirm the action (if required).

Features of the method:

• 🎤 Works only on Chinese and global firmware MIUI (custom may not be supported).
• 🌐 Requires an internet connection to recognize voice (offline it works worse).
• 🔇 Noisy rooms may not work the first time.

If the voice assistant does not recognize the command:

• 📚 Relearn the voice model: Settings → Voice Assistant → Voice Learning.
• 🔊 Check if the microphone is turned off in the privacy settings.
• 📱 Update the Voice Assistant app through the Play Market.

Method 5: Screenshot of a long page (scroll screen)

If you want to capture not only the visible part of the screen, but also what is hidden outside it (for example, a long chat in WhatsApp or an article in the browser), Xiaomi offers a scrolling screenshot feature. It does not work in all applications, but covers 80% of typical scenarios.

How to make a scrolling screen:

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, click on it.
3. In the editor that opens, select the option “Scroll” (an icon with two arrows down).
4. Wait for the system to automatically scroll through the page and connect the pieces into one long shot.
5. Save the result.

What applications does scrolling screen work in:

What to do if the scrolling screen doesn’t work:

• 🔄 Try another way to create an initial screenshot (e.g., through a notification curtain).
• 📱 Update the app you’re trying to take a picture of.
• 🛠️ If the feature is gone after the MIUI update, try resetting the Screenshots app settings.

💡

Scrolling screens are not saved in the gallery as separate files – they are automatically combined into one long PNG. If you need to split it into pieces, use any image editing app (e.g., Xiaomi's Photo Editor).

Problem Solving: Why Screenshots Aren't Saved or Taken

Even if you did everything right, sometimes screenshots don't save, and here are the most common reasons and ways to fix them:

Problem 1: Picture taken but not shown in gallery

• 📁 Check the Pictures/Screenshots folder through any file manager (e.g., Mi File Explorer). Sometimes MIUI doesn't update the media base.
• 🔄 Reboot the phone, it will force the gallery to update.
• 🗑️ If the Screenshots folder is missing, create it manually.

Problem 2: The button combination is not working

• 🔋 Check if the battery is under 5%, in which case the system blocks some functions.
• 🔧 Turn off One Hand Mode in the settings - it may interfere with press recognition.
• 🛠️ Reset button settings: Settings → System → Buttons and gestures → Reset.

Problem 3: There is an error "Can't take a screenshot"

• 🔒 Check to see if Incognito Mode is enabled in the app you’re trying to take a screenshot of (e.g., Chrome or banking apps).
• 📱 Update the firmware — older versions MIUI had bugs with file retention rights.
• 🛡️ Disable Antivirus or Clean Master — they can block access to storage.

💡

If screenshots are no longer saved after the MIUI update, try clearing the cache and Screenshots app data (located in Settings → Applications → All Apps).

⚠️ Warning: On some Xiaomi models (e.g., POCO F3 or Redmi K40) after root access or custom recap installation, screenshots may stop working, due to a change in the permissions to system functions, and to return functionality, you will have to reflash the device to stock firmware.

Where screenshots are stored and how to manage them

By default, all screenshots on Xiaomi are saved in the Pictures/Screenshots folder. However, they can be reconfigured, edited or automatically uploaded to the cloud.

How to change the place of preservation:

1. Open the File Explorer (Mi File Explorer) app.
2. Go to Categories → Images → Screenshots.
3. Click on the three dots in the upper right corner and select "Move" or "Copy".
4. Please specify a new folder (for example, on the SD-map).

How to automatically upload screenshots to the cloud:

• 🌥️ Enable sync with Mi Cloud: Settings → Xiaomi Account → Mi Cloud → Gallery → Enable.
• 📤 Select "Autoboot → Screenshots."
• 🔒 Make sure you have enough space in the cloud (free 5GB).

How to quickly edit or share a screenshot:

• 🖌️ Immediately after you create a screenshot, click on its thumbnail in the notification – an editor with cropping, drawing and adding text will open.
• 📤 To share, click on the Share icon and select the messenger or social network.
• 🗃️ For quick access to all screenshots, add the Screenshots widget to the home screen.

If you need to delete all screenshots at once:

1. Open the Gallery and go to the Screenshots album.
2. Click on the basket icon or select "Manage → Delete Everything".
3. Confirm the action.

💡

Screenshots take up storage space as much as photos. If you take screenshots frequently, clean Screenshots folder regularly or set up automatic upload to the cloud, followed by deleting local copies.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions About Xiaomi Screenshots