How to take a screenshot on Xiaomi Mi A1: all the ways (including hidden)

Xiaomi Mi A1 is the iconic smartphone of 2017, running on “pure” Android One without the proprietary shell MIUI. Because of this, many familiar features for Xiaomi owners (for example, screenshots with gestures) work differently or not at all. In this article, we will analyze all possible ways to create screenshots on the Mi A1, including little-known tricks for older versions of Android and solving problems with “black” screenshots.

The feature of the model is the lack of a home button (physical or touch), which confuses newcomers, and after the updates to Android 9 Pie, some of the features moved to other sections of the menu, we took into account all the nuances and collected current methods that work on any firmware Mi A1 — from factory to custom.

Standard method: button combination

The most reliable and versatile method is the use of hardware keys, which works on all versions of Android and is independent of the shell. On the Xiaomi Mi A1 algorithm, this is:

1. Open the screen you want to capture (for example, a dialog in the messenger or a page in the browser).
2. At the same time, press and hold the Power Button (right) + Volume Down button (left) for 1-2 seconds.
3. You will hear the characteristic shutter sound (if the sound is on) and see the save animation in the upper right corner.

Screenshots will be saved in the gallery in the Screenshots folder or Images → Screenshots.

• 🔄 Try pressing the buttons not at the same time, but with a minimum interval (first power, then volume).
• 📱 Make sure the screen is not locked – on the locked screen screen, screenshots do not work.
• 🔋 Check battery power: at a level below 5%, the system can ignore keyboard shortcuts.

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If you have a case with a magnetic lock (such as a book), remove it before creating a screenshot - the magnet can block sensors and interfere with the recognition of clicks.

Gestures and alternative methods

Unlike MIUI smartphones, the Mi A1 doesn't have a triple tap screenshot built-in, but there are workarounds:

1. Screenshot via notification panel

In Android 8 Oreo and later, you can add a screenshot button to the curtain:

1. Deploy the notification bar with two fingers (full swipe down).
2. Click on the icon «⚙️ Edit” (pencil).
3. Find the “Screenshot” list and drag it to the active area.

Now, you just swipe down the curtain and tap the new icon to create a picture, which doesn't work in games and some applications with a lock interface (for example, banking applications).

2. Voice command (Google Assistant)

If you have Google Assistant enabled, you can say:

Okay, Google, take a screenshot.

Or in English:

Ok Google, take a screenshot

The downside is that you need an internet connection to recognize voice, and in some regions, the command may not work.

Screenshots in games and secure applications

Some apps (like PUBG Mobile, Netflix, or banking) block screenshots for security reasons. The Mi A1 has two options:

1.Use of Demo mode (Android 9+)

This method bypasses the limitations, but requires a debugging bridge (ADB):

1. Turn on Developer Mode (7 times tap the Build Number in Settings → About Phone).
2. Activate Debugging by USB in Settings → System → For Developers.
3. Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command:

adb shell am start -n com.android.systemui/.demo.DemoMode

After that, screenshots will be created even in blocked applications, but with a watermark “DEMO MODE”.

2. Applications for circumvention of restrictions

Third-party utilities like Screenshot Easy or Super Screenshot can help, but:

• 🛡️ Requires a superuser (root) right that voids the warranty.
• 🔒 Can be blocked by antiviruses as potentially dangerous».
• 📱 On Mi. A1 Android 9+ It is not working properly due to Google restrictions.

Where screenshots are stored and how to manage them

By default, screenshots on Xiaomi Mi A1 are saved to:

/storage/emulated/0/Pictures/Screenshots/

Or on the way to the gallery:

Gallery → Albums → Screenshots

To change the location or file format, use apps like Screenshot Folder or Save to SD Card.

• 📁 On Android 8.+ You cannot save screenshots directly to SD-Root-free card (Scoped Storage limitation).
• 🖼️ The default format is.png (no loss of quality), but takes up more space than.jpg.
• 🗑️ Old screenshots are not automatically deleted – folder needs to be cleaned manually.

Make sure the screen is not locked.

Close unnecessary notifications in the curtain

Check the space available (minimum 50 MB)

Turn off energy saving (may block keyboard shortcuts)-->

Problems with screenshots on Mi A1 and their solutions

Mi A1 owners often face common mistakes, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

1. The screenshot turns out black.

The reason is the conflict with GPU-rendering or display drivers. Solutions:

• 🔄 Restart your phone (hold power for 10 seconds).
• 📱 Turn off hardware acceleration in Settings → For developers → Disable hardware overlays.
• 🛠️ Update your firmware to the latest version (bug fixed in Android 9).

2. The button combination is not working

Possible causes:

• 🔋 Battery discharge (less than 5%).
• 💧 Getting moisture under the buttons (check the moisture indicator in the tray) SIM-map).
• 🤖 Failure in the media.server service (solved by resetting the settings of the Gallery application).

⚠️ Warning: If both buttons stop working after the phone drops (power) + Volume, do not try to disassemble the body yourself - in Mi A1 The button plume is soldered to the motherboard.

3. Screenshots are saved with artifacts

This manifests itself as stripes, blurring or "broken" pixels.

• 🖥️ Damaged GPU cache (Adreno 508).
• 📉 Low screen refresh rate (check in Settings) → Display).
• 🎨 Forced mode enabled GPU Rendering (disable in the developer settings).

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If screenshots are saved in green or purple, this is a sign of a malfunction of the matrix. Immediately back up the data and contact the service: such defect is progressing and can lead to complete loss of the image.

Comparison of methods: which one to choose?

The choice of method depends on your task, and below is a comparison table with the pros and cons of each option:

For most tasks, the best way to do this is with buttons — it works always and is not dependent on the shell. If you want to take a picture in the game, try ADB or specialized applications like AZ Screen Recorder (they can bypass some limitations).

FAQ: Frequent questions about screenshots on Mi A1