How to take a screenshot on the phone Xiaomi: 5 proven ways + life hacks

Screenshots on Xiaomi smartphones are not just about saving the screen, but about an arsenal of tools for work, learning and communication. Whether you want to save an important message on WhatsApp, share your successes in a mobile game or capture an error in the application — the ability to quickly take screenshots saves time and nerves. But not all users know that on devices with the shell of MIUI there are several ways to create screenshots, including hidden functions and gestures.

In this article, we’ll look at not only the standard keyboard shortcuts, but also the little-known tricks, from scrolling long pages to saving snapshots without notifications. We’ll focus on the nuances for different models — Redmi Note 12, POCO F5, Xiaomi 13T and others. And you’ll also learn how to edit screenshots right after you’ve created and where to find saved files in the minimalist MIUI 14/15 interface.

Method 1: Classical button combination

The most versatile method that works on all Xiaomi smartphones, regardless of the model and firmware version, you don’t have to customize gestures or look for hidden features: just remember one combination.

How to do this:

1. Open the screen you want to save (for example, correspondence in Telegram or a map in Google Maps).
2. At the same time, press the power button (on/off) and the volume reduction button.
3. Hold them for 1-2 seconds until you hear the characteristic shutter sound of the camera and see the save animation.

⚠️ Note: Some models (e.g. Xiaomi) 12S Ultra) the power button can be sensitive. If you don't get a screenshot the first time, try pressing a little longer or releasing the keys faster.

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If you have a magnetic lock case (such as the Xiaomi Smart Cover), open it before you create a screenshot – otherwise the power button may not work.

Where to find the saved screenshot?

• 📁 In the Gallery: Open the Gallery app → screenshot.
• 🔍 Through File Manager: Go to Internal Drive → Pictures → Screenshots.
• 📱 In the notification: immediately after the creation of the picture, a panel with the buttons Share and Delete will appear.

Method 2: Three-finger gesture (screenshot and scrolling)

MIUI's signature feature is to take screenshots with a gesture, which is convenient when you hold your phone with one hand and scroll through Instagram or read a long article with the other.

How to set up and use:

1. Go to Settings → Additional functions → Gestures.
2. Activate the switch opposite the screenshot with three fingers.
3. Swipe the screen from top to bottom with three fingers (no pause!).

Check that the gesture is enabled in the settings|Make sure your fingers touch the screen at the same time|Try to move faster/slower|Reboot your phone if the gesture doesn’t work-->

🔹 Bonus: If you swipe it three fingers down, the phone automatically snaps a snapshot of the entire web page or chat — ideal for saving long conversations in Viber or recipes from Pinterest.

Method 3: The button in the notification panel

If you don’t feel comfortable remembering keyboards or gestures, MIUI has an alternative, a quick button in the notification curtain, which is especially useful for users with disabilities or those who often take screenshots with gloves (for example, in winter).

Instructions:

1. Swipe your finger down to open the notification panel.
2. Find the screenshot icon (usually hidden under the button) ⋯ or edit).
3. Drag it to the active area for quick access.
4. Now it is enough to open the desired screen and press the icon in the curtain.

⚠️ Note: On some firmware (for example, MIUI Global for the European market, the screenshot button may not be available, in which case update the system or use alternative methods.

Method 4: Voice assistant Xiao AI

For smartphone owners with support for voice assistant Xiao AI (available on most models for the Chinese market and global versions with MIUI 12+ firmware), there is another unusual way to do it: it comes in handy when hands are busy or the screen is dirty.

How to activate:

1. Make sure that Xiao AI is enabled: Settings → Xiao AI → Voice Assistant.
2. Tell the command to take a screenshot or a screenshot (English: Take a screenshot).
3. Confirm the action if necessary.

🔹 nuance:

• 🎤 On global firmware, the voice assistant may not support Russian - use English commands.
• 🔇 In public places, this method is inconvenient due to the need to say the command out loud.
• 📵 It only works when connected to the Internet (voice processing is required in the cloud).

Method 5: Screenshots via ADB (for developers)

If you need to automate screenshots (e.g., for app testing or guide creation), you can use Android Debug Bridge (ADB) developer tools, which will suit advanced users, but requires training.

Step-by-step:

1. Turn on Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone and click on MIUI Version 7 times.
2. Activate USB Debugging in Settings → Additional → For developers.
3. Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command: adb shell screencap -p /sdcard/screen.png
4. The screenshot will be saved in the root folder of the device under the name screen.png.

🔹 Enhanced opportunities:

• 🖥️ To transfer the screenshot to your PC, use: adb shell screencap -p | adb pull - screen.png
• 📏 To trim the screen, add coordinates (for example, top left corner) 100x100, size 500x500): adb shell screencap -p | perl -pe 'binmode STDOUT, ":raw";' | convert - -crop 500x500+100+100 screen_crop.png

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Screenshots via ADB are saved without compression and watermarks – ideal for professional processing or interface analysis.

Editing and managing screenshots

This screenshot is only half the story, and MIUI has built-in tools for quick editing that many users don't know, and here's what you can do right after you take the picture.

📝 Editing tools:

• ✏️ Trimming: Click on the scissors icon in the notification panel to highlight the desired area.
• 🎨 Drawing: brushes, markers and eraser with thickness adjustment are available.
• 📋 Text: Add captions or comments (fonts can be changed!).
• 🔍 Blurring: Hide personal data (phone numbers, addresses) with the Mosaic tool.

🗃️ File management:

• 📂 Folders: In the gallery, screenshots are automatically sorted by date, but you can create separate albums (e.g. Work, Games, etc).
• ☁️ Cloud: Enable autosynchronization with Mi Cloud in Settings → Xiaomi account → Mi Cloud → gallery.
• 🗑️ Cleanup: To delete all screenshots at once, go to the Gallery → Screenshots → Delete everything.

Important: Screenshots taken in Safe Mode or in some banking applications (e.g. SberBank Online) may be saved without notice and not displayed in the gallery. Search through the file manager on the path /Pictures/Screenshots/secure/.

Common Problems and Their Solutions

Even with the simple action of taking a screenshot, Xiaomi users sometimes face difficulties. Here are the most common scenarios and ways to fix them:

❌ Problem 1: Screenshots are not saved.

• 🔄 Solution: Reboot your phone – often helps with system process failures.
• 📱 Solution: Check the space in memory (minimum 50-100 MB required).
• 🛠️ Solution: Clear the gallery cache: Settings → Annexes → gallery → Warehouse → Clear the cache.

❌ Problem 2: The three-finger gesture doesn't work.

• ⚙️ Solution: Make sure the function is included in Settings → Additional functions → Gestures.
• 👆 Solution: Try to hold your fingers not strictly vertically, but at a small angle.
• 📱 Solution: If you use oleophobic-coated protective glass, wipe the screen – sometimes sensors do not recognize touch.

❌ Problem 3: Screenshots are black or blank.

• 🎮 Solution: In secure games or apps (such as Netflix), screenshots are blocked by security policy.
• 🔒 Solution: For banking applications, use the built-in screen save feature (if available).
• 📱 Solution: Update the firmware - in new versions MIUI Improved compatibility with protected applications.

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If screenshots are saved in low resolution, check the screen settings: Settings → Display → Resolution. For quality shots, choose FHD+ or WQHD+ (if supported).

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions