Modern smartphones have long ceased to be just devices for voice communication, becoming powerful multimedia centers, where Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus occupies its niche thanks to the excellent screen with a diagonal of 5.99 inches. Users often face the need to save an image of what is happening on the display, whether it is an important document, a funny moment in correspondence or an error in the application. For owners of devices based on the MIUI shell, this action is basic, but not everyone knows about all the available methods for doing it.
In this article, we will take a detailed look at how to take a screenshot on Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus using both standard physical buttons and software capabilities of the system. You will learn about hidden features that significantly speed up the process of working with content, and learn how to solve typical problems if a screenshot suddenly stopped being created. We will look at the nuances of working with the file system and data transfer.
It’s worth noting that MIUI has its own unique features that set it apart from pure Android, so familiar combinations can work differently or be supplemented with new options. Understanding these differences will make you feel confident when managing your device. Below are time-tested and current ways to create screenshots.
Using a combination of physical buttons
The fastest and most common method familiar to most smartphone users is to press two buttons simultaneously on the device body. On the Redmi 5 Plus, as on most Xiaomi models, this combination is standard and works even when the system reacts slowly.
It is important to observe the correct sequence and duration of pressing: the buttons should be pressed sharply and released almost immediately, without holding them for a long time. If you hold them for too long, the phone may perceive this as a command to enter the reboot or turn off menu, which will not lead to the desired result. If you successfully perform the action, you will hear the characteristic sound of the camera shutter (if the sound is on), and the screen will blink.
In the upper right corner of the display, you'll see a thumbnail of the image you created that disappears in seconds or stays hanging until you do something, and this preview allows you to immediately edit the image, overlay the picture or text, or send it to the person you're talking to without going to the gallery, and this speed is especially valuable in situations where you need to quickly share information.
☑️ Checking the correctness of actions
There is an alternative combination that may be convenient for some users, although it is less common in modern versions of MIUI. It is the simultaneous pressing of home buttons (if it is touch-sensitive and active in settings) and power, however, on the Redmi 5 Plus with its 18:9 screen, navigation buttons are often hidden or virtual, so the main emphasis should be on volume bundling. Physical buttons remain the most reliable mechanical way to capture an image.
Creating screenshots through the notification curtain
If using physical buttons is uncomfortable for some reason, such as a damaged volume button or holding your phone with one hand, the system suggests a software method. At the top of the screen is a control panel, often called a "curtain", where the most important switches are taken. To take a screenshot on the Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus through this interface, you need to unlock the device and swipe from top to bottom open the Quick Setting menu.
Among the many icons (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, flashlight) you need to find an icon with a picture of scissors, which is called a “screenshot.” In some versions of the firmware, it can be hidden in the second page of the menu, so you may need to swipe left or press the edit button (usually a pencil or three dots) to add this shortcut to a prominent place.
⚠️ WARNING: If the scissors icon is missing from the notification curtain, it doesn't mean the feature isn't working.Go into the Quick Access panel edit mode and drag the Screenshot icon from the list of available but hidden widgets to the active area.
The advantage of this method is that it completely eliminates the risk of random changes in media volume during the creation of the picture, which sometimes occurs when using physical buttons. In addition, this method is ideal for those who prefer to minimize mechanical impact on the device body.
Drawing with your finger on the screen (Three fingers down)
One of the most convenient and modern features of the MIUI shell is the ability to create a screenshot with a simple gesture. You can swipe three fingers from top to bottom across the screen, and the system automatically saves an image of what was seen at that moment. This feature is not activated by default on some versions of the firmware, so it must be pre-enabled in the settings.
To activate, go to the Settings menu, then select the Additional Settings section and find Screenshot (or Quick Commands) and check the box against the Three Fingers option, and then the gesture will be available in all swipe-scrolling apps, making this method extremely ergonomic.
- 🖐️ The gesture works in most applications, but may be inactive in games or when watching full-screen videos to avoid accidental taps.
- ⚙️ The gesture sensitivity setting is available in the same menu if the system is not responding correctly to movements.
- 📸 In the screenshot settings menu, you can also select the action "Screenshot" + Screen recording for more advanced content capture.
Using a three-finger gesture makes the workflow much faster, especially if you need to take a series of pictures in a row. You don't have to aim at buttons or open the curtain, just one confident movement is enough. This ergonomic solution is highly appreciated by users who are actively working with text and images.
Voice control and Mi Assistant
Technology is not standing still, and Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus supports taking screenshots with voice commands. If your hands are busy or your phone is on the table, you can just say the activating phrase. To do this, you need to turn on and configure the voice assistant Google Assistant or the built-in Mi Assistant, which responds to the command "Ok Google, take a screenshot" or its analogues.
To make this feature work consistently, you need to make sure that speech recognition is activated in the language and input settings, and appropriate permissions are given for system applications. Voice control can be especially useful for people with disabilities or in situations where touching the screen is not possible (for example, in wet hands, although this is not recommended).
In addition, in some regions and versions of MIUI, a "Take a Screenshot" command is used, which is spoken at any time if the corresponding voice search module is activated. However, it is worth considering that this method requires an Internet connection to process a voice request by the server, unlike local methods, and the response rate can vary depending on the quality of the communication.
Long screenshot and additional functions
Often, a single image is not enough to capture all the information, for example, when you save a long correspondence in the messenger or an article in the browser. Redmi 5 Plus implements the function “Long screenshot” (or “Advanced screenshot”), which allows you to “stitch” several screens into one long image. After creating a regular screenshot (in any of the ways described above), a preview appears in the upper corner.
Click on an icon that looks like a scroll or a down arrow in the preview. The system automatically scrolls down and adds a new area to the image. You can stop scrolling at any time by pressing the screen, or wait for the end of the page. It's an indispensable tool for saving checks, contact lists, or long instructions.
| Parameter | A typical screenshot. | Long screenshot. |
|---|---|---|
| File size | Small (up to 1MB) | Medium/Large (depending on length) |
| Format | PNG / JPG | PNG (most often) |
| Use of the | Quick shot. | Preservation of lists, correspondence |
| Editing | Instantly. | Requires completion of the scroll |
It's important to understand that creating long screenshots requires more CPU and RAM, and if the application you're working on is stuck or has dynamic content (video, animation), the result may not be right, and in such cases, it's better to use standard mode.
⚠️ Note: When taking a long screenshot, do not touch the screen or change the orientation of the device until the scroll process is complete, otherwise the image may be cropped or distorted.
Where to look for saved screenshots and how to transfer them
Once you have successfully taken a screenshot on the Xiaomi Redmi 5 Plus, the system automatically saves the file to the device’s internal memory. The standard folder path looks like Inner Memory/DCIM/Screenshots or Inner Memory/Pictures/Screenshots, depending on the Android version and the specific MIUI build. You can find them through the standard Gallery app in the Screenshots album.
You can use Bluetooth, Wi-Fi Direct, or cloud services like Google Photos or Mi Cloud to transfer files, especially Mi Drop (now known as ShareMe), which allows you to transfer screenshots to other Xiaomi or Android/iOS devices at high speeds without using the Internet.
- 📂 For quick access to the latest pictures, use the “Recent” widget in the gallery.
- 🗑️ Clean your screenshot folder regularly, as they take up space and often don’t carry long-term value.
- 🔒 Screenshots of passwords and banking applications can be blocked by Android security for data protection.
Why do screenshots take up a lot of space?
If you plan to transfer screenshots to your computer often, it is convenient to set up automatic synchronization of the screenshot folder from your PC via the computer. USB-It's not going to be necessary to wire your phone every time you do it, and the way you organize files is the key to ordering your smartphone's digital space.
Solution: What to do if a screenshot is not created
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where the usual methods stop working: the screen does not blink, the sound does not play, and the file does not appear in the gallery. Most often the problem lies in overflowing RAM or a temporary system failure. First of all, try to restart the device - this is a universal solution for many software errors in MIUI.
Another common reason is a lack of free space in internal memory: If fully full, the system can't physically save a new image file, check the available space in the storage settings, and free up at least 100-200 MB by removing unnecessary apps or videos.
It’s also worth checking if a particular application has a Content Protection Mode (DRM) enabled, such as Netflix, banking apps, or incognito browser mode, screenshots can be blocked at the system level for security reasons, in which case you’ll see a black screen instead of an image.
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If screenshots are no longer saved after a firmware update, clear the Gallery and Screenshots app cache through the application management menu, which often solves the problem of the screen capture service not working properly.
⚠️ Note: If the problem with creating screenshots is observed only in one particular application, check its permission settings.Perhaps access to the storage for this application was accidentally denied by the user.
In rare cases, you may need to reset the interface settings or even completely reflash the device, but these are extreme measures. Usually, just make sure that the proximity sensor is not covered with a case and the system is stable.
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The stable operation of the screenshot function depends on the availability of free space in memory and the relevance of the MIUI software version.