Why Xiaomi screenshots are “disappearing” and where to look
You took a screenshot of an important message, check or membrane, but you can't find it? The problem with "disappeared" screenshots on Xiaomi smartphones (including Redmi, POCO and Black Shark) occurs more often than it seems. The reasons can be different from trivial inattention to failures in MIUI or third-party applications. 90% of the time the files are not physically deleted - they are simply stored in an unexpected folder or hidden from the user's eyes.
In this article, we will look at all possible screenshot storage locations on Xiaomi devices, including standard and alternative paths, and learn how to recover deleted screenshots. We will focus on the nuances of different versions of MIUI (12 to 14) and models with custom firmware. If you are a user of POCO F5, Redmi Note 12 or Xiaomi 13 Ultra, the instructions below will also suit your device.
Before you start searching, check the obvious: whether the display of hidden files in the File Manager is disabled or whether a third-party application is used to create screenshots (for example, Screenshot Easy or Screen Master), these programs often save pictures to their own folders.
Standard location of screenshots on Xiaomi
By default, Xiaomi smartphones save screenshots to the Pictures/Screenshots folder (or DCIM/Screenshots on some models).The path may vary slightly depending on the MIUI version and regional firmware. Here are the exact routes for different scenarios:
- 📁 Main folder: /storage/emulated/0/Pictures/Screenshots/ — Here are the screens made by the standard button combination (Loudness down) + Meals) or gestures in MIUI.
- 📁 For scrolling screenshots: /storage/emulated/0/Pictures/Screenshots/Scrolling/ — Long page pictures are saved in a separate subfolder.
- 📁 On Android devices 12+: Some of the screenshots may be duplicated in /storage/emulated/0/DCIM/Screenshots/ Changes in the Media File Storage Policy.
- 📁 For users POCO: on certain models, for example, POCO X5 Pro) the path may be /storage/emulated/0/MIUI/ScreenShot/.
If you don’t see Screenshots in Pictures, try updating File Manager to the latest version or using a third-party explorer (like Solid Explorer or FX File Manager).
How to Change the Screenshots Saving Place
V MIUI There's no built-in option to change the way you save screenshots, but there are workarounds. SD-Map or cloud, use one of the methods below.
Method 1: Using a third-party application
Apps like Screenshot Touch or Super Screenshot let you choose a folder to save.
- Open the application settings.
- Find the Save Location section (or similar).
- Show a new path, for example, /storage/XXXX-XXXX/DCIM/CustomScreens/ (where XXXX-XXXX — ID yours SD-map).
Method 2: Transfer through the Automatic Rule (Tasker)
With Tasker or Automate, you can set up automatic transfer of new screenshots to another folder:
Profile: Event → File → Created [Folder: Pictures/Screenshots]
Task: Move the file → Specify the target folderInstall Tasker or Automate|
Create a profile to track a new folder |
Please indicate the path to the folder with screenshots |
Set up the task of moving files |
Test the rule-->
Important: When used SD-Make sure that it is formatted as internal memory (in the storage settings), otherwise some applications will not be able to write files to it.
Search for screenshots through system tools
If the Screenshots folder is empty but you're sure you took the pictures, use the built-in search tools. MIUI has several ways to find lost files.
Method 1: Search by date and file type
Open the File Manager and:
- Go to the Category section → Images.
- Sort the files by date (Last).
- Look for files with species names Screenshot_20260515_123456.png.
Method 2: Using the search string
At the top of the File Manager, enter the request:
type:image date:>20260501 name:ScreenshotThis will show all images with the name Screenshot, created after May 1, 2026.
Method 3: Checking the basket
In MIUI 12+, deleted files are sent to the Recycle Bin and stored there for 15 days to check:
- Open the File Manager → Basket.
- Find the Screenshots folder or filter files by Image type.
- Restore the necessary screens by clicking on them and select Restore.
What if the basket is empty?
Recovery of deleted screenshots
If screenshots were removed from the Recycle Bin or not saved initially, they can still be recovered, and success depends on how long it has been since the deletion and how actively the device's memory has been used.
Method 1: Google Photos (if sync was enabled)
Open the Google Photos app and:
- Go to the Library. → Basket.
- Check if your screenshots are there (60 days in storage).
- If not, use the creenshot search (with a typo, as Google Photos sometimes ignores the first letters).
Method 2: With the help of specialized utilities
For restoration without root rights suitable:
- 🔧 DiskDigger scans internal memory for deleted images.
- 🔧 Dumpster – works as an extended Recycle Bin, recovers files even after cleaning.
- 🔧 EaseUS MobiSaver – Supports Recovery from SD-map.
The critical nuance is that the more you use your phone after you delete the screenshots, the lower your chances of recovery, so when you delete a file, only the link to it is erased, and the data itself remains on the disk until it is overwritten with new files.
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Before recovery, turn off mobile internet and Wi-Fi to avoid automatically downloading new data that can overwrite deleted screenshots.
Problems with saving screenshots: causes and solutions
Sometimes screenshots don't survive at all, and this may be due to:
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Screenshots are not saved | There's not enough disk space. | Clear cache or delete unnecessary files via Settings → Storage |
| Black screen instead of screen | DRM restrictions (e.g. in banking applications) | Use a third-party app for screenshots or take a screen photo with another device |
| Screenshots are kept in low quality | Traffic or memory saving mode enabled | Turn off Adaptive Quality in the Camera or File Manager Settings |
| Screenshots folder is empty, but disk space is shrinking | Screenshots are saved in a hidden folder or under another name | Use a search by file creation date (see section above) |
If the problem persists, try resetting the File Manager settings:
- Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
- Find the File Manager and select the Warehouse.
- Click Clear Data and Clear Cache.
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If screenshots are not saved in games or secure applications (such as Netflix), this is due to DRM policy.
Features on different models Xiaomi
The way screenshots are stored may vary depending on the model and version of MIUI, and here are the key nuances for popular devices:
- 📱 Xiaomi 13/13 Pro/13 Ultra: Screenshots are saved in Pictures/Screenshots, But when you use the Long Screenshot function, you create a separate Scrolling folder.
- 📱 Redmi Note 12 Pro+: global-string — DCIM/Screenshots, Chinese — Pictures/Screenshots.
- 📱 POCO F5/F5 Pro: screenshots with a three-finger swipe gesture are saved in MIUI/ScreenShot.
- 📱 Black Shark 5/5 Pro: due to the JoyUI custom shell, screens can persist in BlackShark/Screenshots.
On Android 13+ devices (such as Xiaomi 14), some screenshots can automatically upload to Google Photos even if sync is disabled. Check the Screenshots folder in the Google Photos web version at photos.google.com.
⚠️ Note: On some models POCO firmware MIUI for POCO The path to screenshots may change after the update. After installing a large update, check the File Manager settings for a new folder. POCO_Screenshots.