How to take a screenshot on Xiaomi: all the ways from MIUI 12 to HyperOS

Screenshots on Xiaomi smartphones are one of the most popular features that users use every day, from saving important information to showing errors in applications. However, not everyone knows that on devices with the MIUI shell and the new HyperOS, there are several ways to create screenshots at once, from classic button combinations to hidden gestures and voice commands. In this article, we will analyze all the current methods, including those that work on old Redmi 4X models and the new flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra.

The Xiaomi ecosystem is characterized by the fact that the manufacturer regularly updates the functionality of screenshots: adds scrolling pictures, editing directly to the preview, integration with the Mi Cloud. But with the updates, new bugs appear — for example, in MIUI 14, some users have faced the disappearance of the screenshot button in the notification panel.

1. Classical method: button combination

The most versatile method that works on all Xiaomi models – from Redmi Note 3 (2016) to Xiaomi 14 Pro (2026).

• 📱 Power button (on/off) + volume-button
• ⚡ In some models (for example, POCO F5) And the combination of the food works. + Volume increase – but it depends on the firmware version
• 🔊 If the sound is on, you will hear the characteristic shutter click (like a camera)

After you click on the top of the screen, you’ll see a thumbnail screenshot with buttons for quick editing or deleting. On HyperOS devices (like the Xiaomi 13T Pro), the thumbnail lasts longer, up to 10 seconds, which is convenient for multitasking.

⚠️ Note: On smartphones with a physical Menu button (e.g. Redmi) 3S) The classic combination may not work – use alternative methods in the following sections.

2. Three-finger gesture: quick screenshot without buttons

The Three-Finger Gesture feature was introduced in MIUI 9 and has since become one of the most convenient ways to capture screenshots.

1. Go to Settings → Additional Features → Gestures
2. Find the "Three Fingers Screenshot" and switch on the switch
3. Select the action: "Screenshot" or "Long shot" (scrollable screenshot)

Now swipe three fingers down from top to bottom at the same time (no matter what hand you use). The screenshot will be saved in the gallery in the Screenshots folder. This method is especially convenient for devices with large screens, where it is difficult to reach the volume and power buttons at the same time (for example, on the Xiaomi Mix Fold 3).

Enable the function in the gesture settings |

Select the action "Screenshot" |

Check the work on the main screen |

Check the work in the applications (some block gestures)-->

On HyperOS, the three-finger gesture received additional options:

• 📜 Scrolling Screenshot: After a normal shot, tap the thumbnail and select Scrolling to capture a long page (works in the browser, messengers, settings)
• 🖌️ Drawing on a screenshot: immediately after creating a picture, you can add markers or text
• 🔗 Quick Submit: Screenshot miniature contains buttons for instant submission to Telegram, WhatsApp or WeChat

3. Screenshot via notification panel

If the physical buttons on your Xiaomi don’t work (for example, after a drop or moisture), you can take a screenshot through the Quick Settings Panel.

1. Pull the notification curtain down twice (to open the full panel)
2. Find the screenshot icon (usually a scissor or a rectangle with lightning)
3. Slip on it - the screenshot will be taken instantly

If the icon is not in the visible area:

• 🔧 Click on the icon. ⚙️ Edit in the notification panel
• 🔍 Find the screenshot list and drag it to the active area.
• 📌 Secure the icon so it doesn’t disappear after the reboot

⚠️ Note: On some firmware (for example, MIUI 12.5 Enhanced for European region) the screenshot icon may not be on the list of available tiles, in which case update the firmware or use alternative methods.

4. Voice commands: "OK, Google" and Xiao AI

You can take a screenshot on Xiaomi with your voice, both the built-in Xiao AI assistant (available in China and global firmware with a regional patch) and the Google Assistant.

Method 1: Google Assistant

Activate the voice assistant with the “OK Google” command or hold the Home button, then say:

• 🎤 "Take a screenshot (English: Take a screenshot")
• 🎤 "Screenshot" (works in Russian in the latest versions)

Method 2: Xiao AI (supported firmware only)

Press the Home button (or say "Hey, Xiao AI"), then say one of the commands:

• 🤖 "" (Whale "to take a screenshot") - works on Chinese firmware
• 🤖 "Screenshot – on global versions with Xiao AI

The voice method is convenient when hands are busy or smartphone buttons are not available (for example, when using a case with a magnetic mount).

• 🔇 In public places, a voice command can be triggered by accident.
• 🌐 In some languages (for example, Ukrainian) support for screenshots through voice is absent.
• 🔋 The voice assistant consumes an additional battery.

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If Xiao AI doesn’t recognize the command on the screenshot, update the GetApps app – often updates for the assistant come through it.

5 Screenshots in games and secure applications

Not all Xiaomi apps allow screenshots, such as banking apps (SberBank Online, Tinkoff), secure messengers (WhatsApp in incognito mode) or anti-cheat games (PUBG Mobile, Genshin Impact) can block screenshots for security reasons.

For banking applications:

• 📸 Use the second phone to take pictures of the screen
• 🖥️ Connect your smartphone to your PC and take a screenshot via adb shell screencap (developer rights required)

For games:

• 🎮 Enable the game mode in the settings (Settings) → Special facilities → Game mode – some games allow screenshots only through it
• 🔧 Use screen recording followed by a frame from the video (in) MIUI 14+ It has a built-in recorder)

On devices with HyperOS, a feature called "Secure Clipboard" has been introduced, which automatically deletes screenshots from banking applications after 5 minutes to turn it off:

1. Go to Settings → Privacy → Secure clipboard
2. Turn off the option "Autoclean screenshots"

6. Advanced features: long screenshots and editing

Starting with MIUI 11, Xiaomi has added support for scrolling (long) screenshots — useful for saving entire web pages, chats or lists.

1. Take a regular screenshot of any of the described methods
2. Slip on the appeared miniature in the upper right corner
3. Select "Scroll" (or Scroll in English firmware)
4. Wait for the automatic scroll of the page and click "Done"

The function is:

• 🌐 Browser (Chrome, Mi Browser, Firefox)
• 💬 Messengers (Telegram, VK, WhatsApp – but not in secret chat rooms)
• 📄 Vertical scrolling apps (Twitter, Reddit, Call Magazine)

After taking a screenshot, Xiaomi offers tools for quick editing:

• ✏️ Drawing: markers, eraser, colors
• 📝 Text: Adding inscriptions (fonts to choose from)
• 🖼️ Blurring: to hide personal data
• 🔍 Cutting: changing the boundaries of the image

⚠️ Attention: Long screenshots don’t work in horizontal scrolling apps (like Excel or Google Tables) and in games. The feature can also glittle on web pages with dynamic content loading (like Instagram).

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Long screenshots are saved in PNG format with screen resolution, but their size can exceed 10 MB – keep this in mind when sending to messengers with a restriction on files.

7 Where screenshots are stored and how to manage them

All screenshots on Xiaomi are saved by default in the folder:

/storage/emulated/0/Pictures/Screenshots/

They can be accessed through:

• 📁 Gallery: Album Screenshots (or Screenshots)
• 🔍 Conductor: Internal storage → Pictures → Screenshots
• ☁️ Mi Cloud: if synchronization is enabled (settings in the Xiaomi Account) → Cloud)

To change the place of conservation:

1. Install a file manager with root rights (e.g. Solid Explorer)
2. Create a Screenshots folder in the desired location (e.g., on the SD-map)
3. Use it. ADB-Redirect command: adb shell settings put system screenshot_save_path /path/to/new/folder

For automatic screenshot sorting:

• 📅 Enable date grouping in Xiaomi Gallery (Gallery settings) → Grouping)
• 🏷️ Use tags: HyperOS can add tags to screenshots (e.g. #work, #game)
• 🗑️ Set up automatic cleaning of old screenshots in Settings → Warehouse → Cleanup

8. Solving screenshot problems

If screenshots are not created or saved with artifacts, check the following points:

For the diagnosis of complex cases:

1. Check the system logs through Settings → About phone → Debugging → Logs
2. Update your firmware to the latest version (HyperOS fixes bugs with screenshots in games)
3. Reset your gesture settings in Settings → Additional features → Gestures → Reset

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If screenshots are kept in low quality, turn off the power saving mode – it can limit the GPU performance when taking pictures.

FAQ: Frequent questions about screenshots on Xiaomi