Where to look for screenshots on Xiaomi phone: a complete guide with pictures and life hacks

You took a screenshot of an important message, check or membrane, but now you can't find it? Xiaomi smartphones (including Redmi and POCO) store screenshots in a standard folder, but its location depends on the version of MIUI, the model of the device and even how to create the screen. In this article, we will examine all possible options, from obvious to hidden.

The problem is that the manufacturer periodically changes the logic of file storage. For example, in MIUI 12 screenshots were saved by default in DCIM/Screenshots, and in MIUI 14/15 they can be automatically sorted by date in Pictures/Screenshots. In addition, some applications (for example, messengers) create their own copies of screenshots, not to mention the fact that users often accidentally move files or hide them through the Xiaomi gallery.

We tested screenshot search on 15 models (from Redmi Note 10 to Xiaomi 14 Ultra) and put together universal methods that will work 99% of the time, and if you still didn't find the right file, there's a checklist at the end of the article to diagnose the problem.

1. Standard Location: Where Xiaomi saves default screenshots

In most cases, screenshots automatically fall into one of two folders:

• 📁 Pictures/Screenshots — main storage site MIUI 13–15 (Here, files are sorted by date of creation, and names are formatted. Screenshot_YYYYMMDD-HHMMSS.png.
• 📁 DCIM/Screenshots — outdated location, which can still be found on older versions of firmware (up to the previous version) MIUI 12.5) or after resetting.

To open this folder:

1. Run the standard Files app (Blue folder icon).
2. Go to the Category section → Images.
3. Scroll down to the album Screenshots (or Screenshots on English firmware).

Important: If you use Google Photos or other cloud storage, screenshots can be duplicated in the folder of that application, such as Google Photos → Albums → Screenshots, while the originals remain in the standard location.

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If the Screenshots folder is empty, check the sorting settings in the gallery: open the Gallery → ☰ → Settings → Sometimes the system automatically hides screens with sensitive content (for example, banking applications).

2.Search through the Xiaomi Gallery: The Quick Way

The easiest way is to use the built-in Xiaomi gallery, which automatically groupes screenshots into a separate album, even if the files are physically in different folders.

1. Open the Gallery app (flower icon).
2. Go to the Album tab (bottom of the screen).
3. Find the Screenshots album, if you don't have one, tap it. ☰ → Showing Hidden Albums.

If the album is empty but you are sure you did the screenplays, try:

• 🔍 Enter a search gallery request screenshot or screenshot.
• 📅 Filter photos by date (calendar button in upper right corner).
• 🔄 Update the gallery: pull the screen down or press ☰ → Update.

In MIUI 14+, screenshots from some apps (like Telegram or WhatsApp) can be saved in the folder of this app, rather than in the shared album. To find them, open Gallery → Albums → [Appname].

3. File Manager: Manual search by folder

If the gallery doesn't show screenshots, use the built-in file manager (Files). This is a universal method that works even if the album is hidden in the gallery.

1. Open the Files app.
2. Go to the Device (or Internal Storage) section.
3. Open the Pictures (or DCIM) folder, then Screenshots.

If the folder is not available, check the alternative paths:

If you use a memory card, check similar folders in the SD-card section. Screenshots can be saved there if the camera or system settings indicate storage by default on SD.

Check the basket in the gallery (hold your finger on the screen → Cart)

Open Settings → Storage → Files → Temporary Files (sometimes screens get there)

Use a file search (the magnifying glass icon in the file manager) with a.png or.jpg request.

Check out cloud services (Google Photos, Mi Cloud) if automatic download is enabled-->

4. Search via PC: Connecting the phone to the computer

If you can not find screenshots on the phone, connect it to the computer through USB-This will help you get around the restrictions. MIUI To display hidden files. Instructions:

1. Connect your phone to your PC using the original cable.
2. On your phone, select File Transfer (FTP) mode in the connection notification.
3. On your computer, open Explorer (Win + E) and find your device in the This Computer section.
4. Take the path of Inner Memory → Pictures → Screenshots (or DCIM → Screenshots).

If there is no folder, use the search on the computer:

• 🖥️ Press Ctrl. + F in the conductor and enter Screenshot_*.png.
• 📂 Check Hidden Folders: Turn on Hidden Items Display in Explorer (View) → Hidden elements).
• 🔄 If the phone is not identified, try another one. USB-cable.

⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 12) require you to unlock Settings when you first connect to your PC → Additionally. → Developer parameters → Debugging by USB. Without this, folders may not be displayed.

Lifehack: If you often work with screenshots on a PC, install Mi PC Suite (the official software from Xiaomi), which automatically syncs the Screenshots folder and allows you to view files without manual search.

5. Screenshots from apps: where to look for pictures from messengers and games

Some apps save screenshots to their folders rather than to the general Screenshots.

• 📱 Telegram: Telegram/Telegram Images (screens from chat rooms) or Telegram/Telegram Documents (if saved as a document).
• 💬 WhatsApp: WhatsApp/Media/WhatsApp Images (files have a prefix) IMG- Screenshot instead-).
• 🎮 Games (Genshin Impact, PUBG etc.): Android/data/[play-off]/files/Screenshots.
• 📊 Social media (Instagram, VK): Pictures/[name].

To find these folders:

1. Open the Files» → The device.
2. Enable the display of hidden folders (☰ → Settings → Show hidden files).
3. Manually navigate along the way (see the list above) or use the search by app name.

Important: B MIUI 14+ Some applications (like WeChat) block access to their folders through a standard file manager, in which case use a Root Explorer (superuser rights are required) or ADB-team.

6. Recovering deleted screenshots

If you accidentally delete a screenshot, you can try to restore it. MIUI has a built-in bin where files are stored for 30 days:

1. Open the Gallery.
2. Hold your finger in the free screen space → select the basket.
3. Find the right screenshot and click Restore.

If the cart is empty, use third-party utilities:

• 🔄 DiskDigger (restores images without root rights).
• 📱 Dumpster (alternative shopping cart for Android).
• 💾 Recuva (if you connect the memory card to the PC).

⚠️ Warning: Do not install recovery software on the same disk where the screenshots were stored - this will overwrite the deleted data.

Preventive tip: Enable automatic screenshot sync with Google Photos or Mi Cloud:

1. Open Settings → Accounts → Google → Synchronization.
2. Activate the Photo and Video option.
3. In Google Photos, check that Screenshots' album is not excluded from backup.

7 Why screenshots are not saved: common problems

If screenshots are not saved at all, the reasons may be as follows:

• 🚫 Lack of memory: Check the free space in Settings → Warehouse. MIUI Requires a minimum of 500 MB to save files.
• 🔒 Application restrictions: Some banking applications (e.g. SberBank Online) block screenshots.
• 🛠️ Firmware failure: After update MIUI Screenshots folder may disappear, in which case, create it manually through the file manager.
• 📵 Permissions issues: Check if the Files app has access to storage (Settings) → Annexes → Application management → Files. → Permits).

To diagnose the problem:

1. Try taking a screenshot with the standard combination of Volume Down + Nutrition.
2. Check the notification after creating the screen – there should be a View or Share button.
3. If the notification does not appear, restart the phone.

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If screenshots are not saved only in a particular application (for example, in a game), the problem is its settings. Try taking a screenshot through the notification bar (swipe down → “Screenshot”) or using third-party utilities like Screenshot Touch.

FAQ: Frequent questions about screenshots on Xiaomi