How to take a screenshot on Xiaomi: all the current ways

Modern smartphone users are constantly in need of quick storage of information from the display. Whether it is important correspondence, proof of transfer of funds or just a funny moment from the messenger, the need to capture the current image on the screen arises daily. Owners of devices of the Chinese giant often look for an answer to the question of how to take a screenshot on Xiaomi, since standard Android methods here can be supplemented by proprietary features of the MIUI shell or HyperOS.

Unlike many other manufacturers, Xiaomi offers an incredibly flexible image capture system that adapts to the owner’s habits: you can use physical buttons, swipe across the screen, use a floating menu or even voice commands, and understanding all these nuances will allow you to save time and save exactly the content you need without unnecessary movements.

In this article, we will take a look at every method available, from classic keyboard shortcuts to advanced system settings. We will also touch on the design of saved files and tell you where they are stored in the device’s memory. Regardless of whether you have a budget Redmi or a flagship Xiaomi Mi, these methods will work on your gadget.

The classic method with the help of buttons

The most reliable and versatile way, running on 100% of Android smartphones, including all Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO models. It requires no pre-tuning and is available immediately after the device is turned on. To take a screenshot, you need to simultaneously press and briefly hold the volume down and lock button (power).

The key here is synchronicity of pressing, and if you press the buttons too long, the system might think of it as a command to call the emergency menu or turn off the phone, and if you press just one of them, you do a standard action (adjusting the sound or blocking), and a light but clear touch of both buttons at the same time will be enough to get the result.

Once you've done the action, you'll hear the characteristic click of the camera shutter, and at the top of the screen you'll see a thumbnail of the image you've taken, and this notification hangs for a few seconds, and allows you to quickly edit or share the file. If you haven't clicked on it, don't worry, the image is already saved in the system.

This method is especially convenient when the smartphone screen is dirty or wearing a protective case with high sides, interfering with swipes. Physical buttons are always at hand, which makes this method a priority for many users who appreciate the speed of the device's reaction.

Using three fingers for quick grip

The MIUI shell is famous for its handy gestures, and one of the most popular is to take a screenshot of a three-finger swipe, which speeds up the process by not having to take your hands off the smartphone body to find the buttons, but it can be turned off by default, so you need to activate it in the system settings.

To enable this option, go to the Settings menu, then select the Additional Features section and find the Screenshots item. Here you need to activate the switch opposite the "Three Fingers Swipe" label. Once turned on, you can swipe your fingers from top to bottom on any part of the screen to instantly make a copy of it.

Using a gesture requires a certain skill. All three fingers must touch the screen at the same time, and the movement must be confident and continuous. If the system does not respond, try changing the angle of the hand or the density of the pressing. In some cases, cleaning the screen from fat helps, since the touchscreen can not correctly recognize multi-touch.

⚠️ Note: A three-finger gesture may conflict with the features of some applications that also use multi-touch control (such as games or graphics editors). If you notice that certain programs create screenshots spontaneously, it is better to turn off this feature or adjust the sensitivity.

The convenience of this method is the ability to take a screenshot with one hand if you have a large smartphone and a wide palm, or just when the second hand is busy.This makes navigation and content storage more ergonomic, especially when viewing long feeds on social networks.

Setting up and using a floating menu

For those who like visual control and virtual buttons on the screen, Xiaomi offers a special floating menu.It is a kind of quick access panel that hangs over all windows and contains shortcuts for creating screenshots, recording screens and other functions. You can activate it in the same section Additional functions -> Floating window.

Unlike the buttons that you need to look for by touch, the virtual screenshot button is always in view. You can drag it to any corner of the display so that it does not interfere with the viewing of the content. When you click on the camera icon in this menu, you instantly capture the current image, which is especially true for models with damaged physical buttons.

In addition to the standard snapshot, this menu often provides a long screenshot (scroll) mode, which allows you to save entire pages of sites or long correspondence in messengers in one file, the system automatically scrolls down the content, gluing the frames into a single long picture, eliminating the need to take dozens of individual photos.

Using a floating menu also gives you access to additional editing tools immediately after you create a picture, so you can add text, highlight an area with a marker, or crop the image without going to the gallery, making the smartphone a powerful tool for working with information on the fly.

Voice control and Google Assistant

Modern smartphones allow you to control many functions without touching the screen, and taking screenshots is no exception. If your hands are busy or dirty, you can just say a command. This requires that the Google Assistant or the built-in voice assistant Xiaomi Xiao AI (depending on the region and version of the firmware) be active.

To take a voice shot, just say, "OK, Google, take a screenshot," or "Take a screenshot of the screen," and it recognizes the command, emits an audible signal, and saves the image, which is especially useful in situations where physical interaction with the screen is difficult or impossible.

A stable Internet connection is required to work properly with voice control, as the request is often processed on the company’s servers, and make sure that the privacy settings allow the use of a microphone for system applications and an assistant.

Voice may seem slower than buttons, but in certain scenarios it becomes the only viable option, such as when you show a presentation or when the phone is mounted in a car holder, voice control provides the necessary comfort of interaction.

Search and manage saved screenshots

Once you've learned how to take screenshots, it's important to know where to look for them. All images you create are automatically saved to the system folder. Open the Gallery and go to Screenshots is the fastest way to find recent files, and here they're sorted by date and time of creation.

If you prefer to work with the file system through a computer or file manager, the path to images is as follows:

/storage/emulated/0/DCIM/Screenshots

In some versions of the firmware, the folder may simply be called Screenshots at the root of internal memory. Knowing the exact path is essential if you want to set up automatic sync of this folder with cloud storage or clear space on your phone by deleting old files.

File management in the Xiaomi Gallery also allows you to perform batch operations. You can select a few screenshots, click on the Share button and send them directly to the messenger or to the mail. Also available is the function of hiding albums, which allows you to remove screenshots from personal correspondence from prying eyes without deleting files.

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Use the Favorites feature in the Gallery to mark important screenshots (checks, tickets, passwords) with a separate heart, so they will never get lost in the shared tape even after cleaning the cache.

Table of comparison of methods of creating screenshots

To make it easier for you to choose the best way, we have prepared a comparison table that will help you assess the pros and cons of each method depending on your situation and device model.

As you can see from the table, a combination of techniques is best for everyday use: buttons are a reliable reserve, gestures provide speed, and the availability of alternative options ensures that you can take a screenshot in any situation, even if one of the functions is temporarily unavailable.

It’s also worth noting that the buttons may be different on different Xiaomi models, and some devices have a power button and a fingerprint scanner combined, which requires careful pressing to keep the phone from unlocking instead of taking a screenshot.

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The optimal strategy is to adjust the three-finger gesture for speed, but keep the button combination in mind as the main reliable method in case of sensor failures.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)