How to Take Screenshots on Xiaomi: A Complete Guide to MIUI and HyperOS

Taking screenshots on Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones is one of the most sought-after features, used by millions of owners every day. Whether it’s saving a payment check, fixing an error in the app or just a fun moment from a correspondence, the ability to quickly take a screenshot is a basic skill. But the MIUI shell (and its new HyperOS analogue) offers much more options than the standard button combination known since the first Android smartphones.

In this guide, we’ll break down not only classic techniques, but also hidden features that allow you to automate the process or take pictures without using physical buttons. You’ll learn how to set up triple tapping on the screen, use a voice assistant, and create long screenshots of pages in the browser. Understanding these nuances will greatly improve the efficiency of your Xiaomi device.

And we'll also touch on the topic of image editing right after you create it, because the built-in editor allows you to quickly highlight important information or hide sensitive data. If you're faced with a situation where a screenshot is not taken, the article will also discuss the main causes of the failure and how to fix them. Let's move on to practical methods.

Classic methods: buttons and notification curtain

The most reliable and familiar way to capture a screenshot works on all smartphone models, regardless of the operating system version or shell, by pressing and briefly holding two physical keys at the same time: the volume button and the power button. It is important to press them in sync; if you press the power button too hard or for too long, you can turn on the device's switch-off menu instead of a screenshot.

Once you've done the action successfully, you'll hear the characteristic shutter sound of the camera (if the sound isn't turned off), and a thumbnail of the image will appear in the upper right corner of the screen. This preview allows you to quickly edit or share a file without opening the gallery. If the thumbnail doesn't appear, check the notification settings, as the system could block the display of pop-ups to save resources.

An alternative method that does not require physical buttons is available through the notification curtain. Swipe from top to bottom to open the control center, and find the Screenshot icon (usually looks like scissors or a rectangle). This method is especially convenient when one of the volume buttons is faulty or when you hold the phone with one hand. For quick access, you can move this icon to the top row of frequently used switches.

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Adjust the duration of the screenshot preview display in the settings to have time to click on it for editing or, conversely, so that it does not interfere with the review.

Gesture control and triple tapping

MIUI and HyperOS are both famous for their deep customization, and one of the most convenient tools is to create screenshots with gestures. Triple Touch allows you to take a screenshot with three fingers on the display, which is ideal for those who appreciate speed and do not want to reach for buttons or look for icons on the menu.

To activate this feature, you need to go to the system settings. The path may vary slightly depending on the firmware version, but it usually looks like this: Settings → Additional Features → Screenshots. Here you need to select "Triple Touch" and switch the slider to the active position, after which the system will respond to the corresponding gesture in any interface.

Note that sensor sensitivity may vary from one model to another, and on budget Redmi or POCO devices with less responsive screens, triple tapping may not work the first time, so try touching a little faster and easier, avoiding too much pressure on the glass, and make sure that there is no thick protective glass on the screen that can reduce the accuracy of multi-touch gestures.

Voice control and Google Assistant

Modern smartphones allow you to control most functions with voice, and taking screenshots is no exception. If your hands are busy or you are in a situation where touching the screen is uncomfortable, you can use a voice assistant. Most global firmware versions use Google Assistant, which is perfectly integrated into the system.

To activate, simply say “Ok Google” (or press and hold the home/power button if a persistent listener is activated), and then say “Take a screenshot” or “Creeenshot.” The system will instantly execute a command, emit a sound and save an image. This method works even in applications where there may be restrictions on button use, although system security restrictions can still block the picture in banking applications.

Owners of devices with activated Chinese assent Xiao AI (requires region change and additional settings) can also use voice commands in Chinese, but for most users of the global versions of MIUI and HyperOS, Google Assistant remains the most stable and understandable voice control tool.

⚠️ Attention: Voice-generated screenshots may not work in Do Not Disturb mode or if the microphone is blocked by another app.

Long screenshot and extended functions

One of the most useful features in Xiaomi’s ecosystem is the ability to create “long” or “scrollable” screenshots, an indispensable tool for saving long correspondence in messengers, pages of websites or lists in applications. After you have taken a regular screenshot in any of the ways described above, in the preview you appear, click on an icon that resembles a scroll or two arrows down.

The system will automatically start scrolling down the screen contents, stitching the image into one long band, which will stop when you touch the screen or when you reach the end of the scrollable area. If there is dynamically loadable content on the page (such as a social network tape), the screenshot may crop when new elements are loaded, so it is better to take several regular shots for such cases.

In addition, the screenshots menu (Settings → Additional Features → Screenshots) can find the “Clear Clipboard” setting, which, if activated, will prompt the system to automatically hide sensitive data (card numbers, passwords) using artificial intelligence, although this feature does not work on all models and requires the corresponding AI module.

Editing and managing files

Once you've created a screenshot, Xiaomi offers a powerful built-in editor, and by clicking on the preview, you're taken to an interface where you can crop an image, add text, draw arrows, or blur sensitive information with the Marker tool, which allows you to avoid using third-party apps for basic image processing.

All the images you create are automatically saved to the gallery. The path to the files in the file manager is usually this: → DCIM → Screenshots. In newer versions of HyperOS, folder structure can be optimized, and screenshots can be stored in a separate system folder. Pictures/Screenshots. Knowing the exact path is helpful when connecting your phone to your computer for fast file uploads.

For ease of sorting, it is recommended to periodically clean the folder with screenshots, as they can take up a significant amount of memory, especially if you often take long pictures in high resolution. The built-in Cleanup tool in the Security app will help you find and delete duplicates or old files.

Troubleshooting and FAQ

Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the screenshot is not created, the most common reason is the protection of content in specific applications, for example, in Netflix, Telegram (secret chat mode), or banking applications, the system blocks the creation of screenshots for security purposes, in which case you will see a black image or a message of prohibition.

Another reason could be a lack of RAM or overcrowded storage, and if the phone runs out of space, the new file simply won't be able to save, and check if screenshots are disabled in special features or parental control if the device is used by a child.

⚠️ Note: If screenshots are no longer taken after the system update, try resetting special features or clearing the Screenshot cache in the Apps section».

Regular device reboots often help to solve software bugs. If the problem persists, check for system and application updates, as new security patches often fix interface errors.

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If the screenshot is not obtained by any method, most likely, the lock is at the application level (DRM protection) or the device memory is full.