How to take a screenshot on a Xiaomi phone: all the ways for Android (with buttons, gestures, voice)

Contents

• Standard method: power and volume buttons
• Three finger gesture (no buttons)
• Google Voice Assistant or XiaoAI
• Quick settings panel (for MIUI 14/15)
• Screenshot with scrolling (long pages)
• Problem Solving: Screenshots are not saved, black screen
• Alternative methods: ADB, third-party applications
• Frequent Questions (FAQ)

You can take a screenshot on a Xiaomi smartphone in at least five different ways, from the classic button combination to voice commands and gestures. But not all of them work equally well on different models: for example, a three-finger gesture can conflict with navigation in games, and the voice assistant XiaoAI is not available in global firmware. In this article, we will analyze all the current methods for Redmi, POCO and flagship series (Xiaomi 13/14, Mix), including hidden features of MIUI 14/15 and bypassing typical errors.

Important: instructions below are checked on Android 13/14 shelled MIUI 14/15. If you have an older version of the system (for example, MIUI 12 on the Redmi Note 8 Pro, some methods may not be available. To clarify the version, go to Settings → The phone. → Version. MIUI.

Also note that screenshots cannot be taken in some secure applications (banks, encrypted messengers) – instead of taking a picture, the screen will be black.

1. Classic method: power buttons + volume

The most reliable and versatile method that works on all Xiaomi models - from the budget Redmi A1 to the flagship Xiaomi 14 Ultra.

1. Open the screen you want to capture.
2. At the same time, press the power button (on) and the volume reduction button.
3. Hold them for 1-2 seconds until you hear the camera shutter sound and see the save animation.

Important nuances:

• 🔊 Shutter sound can be turned off in Settings → Sounds and vibrations → System sounds (switch "Screenshot Sound»).
• 📁 Screenshots are saved in the folder DCIM → Screenshots or Pictures → Screenshots (depending on version) MIUI).
• ⚡ If the buttons don’t work, check if they are locked in Settings. → Additionally. → Buttons (relevant to POCO F5 Xiaomi 13T).

On some models (e.g. Redmi Note 12 Pro+), a quick editing toolbar appears at the bottom of the screen after you take a screenshot, and if it interferes, you can turn it off:

1. Take a screenshot.
2. Slip the thumbnail in the lower right corner.
3. Click “More” (three dots) → “Settings” → turn off “Show Toolbar”.

2. Three finger gesture (no buttons)

The Screenshot by Gesture feature allows you to take a screenshot with three fingers from top to bottom, which is handy if the power or volume buttons are broken, or you often take screenshots in games (where physical buttons may interfere).

How to turn on:

1. Go to Settings → Additional → Buttons and gestures → Screenshot gestures.
2. Activate the "Screenshot by gesture" switch.
3. (Optional) Select the gesture direction: "Top Down" or "Blow Up" (both options are available on MIUI 15).

How to use:

• 👆 Place three fingers on the screen (for example, index, middle and ring fingers).
• 📱 Quickly swipe them from top to bottom (or bottom to top if you choose this option).
• 🎯 The gesture will work even if you are in the full-screen app (like YouTube or TikTok).

On curved screen models (Xiaomi 13 Ultra, Mix Fold 3), the gesture may be triggered by randomly holding the phone by the sides, in which case turn off the function or reduce the sensitivity of the gesture in the settings.

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If the gesture doesn’t work, try swiping your fingers closer to the center of the screen – the edges may be ignored by the system.

3. Voice commands: Google Assistant or XiaoAI

There are two ways to take a voice screenshot: through Google Assistant (on all models) or XiaoAI (only on Chinese firmware), the first method is universal but requires an Internet connection, the second is faster but not available on global versions of MIUI.

Method 1: Google Assistant

1. Activate the assistant with your voice ("OK, Google") or hold the Home button (if you have one).
2. Say “take a screenshot” or “screenshot”.
3. Confirm the action (if required).

Method 2: XiaoAI (Chinese firmware only)

1. Hold the power button for 1 second to call XiaoAI.
2. Say in Chinese: "(jiétú - "screenshot").
3. Or in English, "Take a screenshot."

Limitations:

• 🚫 Google Assistant does not work in office applications (such as Word or Excel) due to security policies.
• 🌐 XiaoAI requires Chinese firmware and may not understand commands in English/Russian.
• 🔇 Voice commands will not work if the microphone is turned off or the "Do Not Disturb" mode is turned on».

4. Quick settings panel (for MIUI 14/15)

The latest versions of MIUI have the ability to take screenshots directly from the notification panel, which is useful if your hands are busy or your buttons are not working.

How to add a screenshot button to the curtain:

1. Swipe down from the top edge of the screen to open the notification bar.
2. Slap the icon «⚙️» (edit).
3. Find the Screenshot tile (usually in the Tools section) and drag it to the active area.
4. Press "Ready."

How to use:

• 📱 Open the screen.
• 🔽 Swipe down to open the curtain.
• 🖼️ Slip on the "Screenshot" icon».

On some models (POCO F5, Redmi K60) the screenshot may not be on the list.

1. Make sure you have a MIUI 14 or newer (check Settings → About Phone).
2. Update the firmware through Settings → System Update.
3. If the tile never appears, use alternative methods (gesture or buttons).

5. Script with scrolling (long pages)

If you want to save all the chat in Telegram, a page in your browser or a feed in Instagram, a regular screenshot will not work — it will capture only the visible area. MIUI has a built-in Scrolling Screenshot feature, but it does not work in all applications.

How to do this:

1. Take a regular screenshot in any way (buttons, gestures, etc.).
2. Immediately after the miniature appears at the bottom of the screen, tap it.
3. In the editor that opens, click “Scroll” (an icon with two arrows down).
4. Wait until the system automatically scrolls through the page and collects all the pieces in one long screenshot.
5. Click "Ready" and save the result.

Where it works and where it doesn't:

• ✅ Works: Chrome, Telegram, WhatsApp, VKontakte, Twitter.
• ❌ Not working: Instagram (blocks screenshots), TikTok, banking apps, some games.
• ⚠️ Partially working: YouTube (only if the page is not automatically scrolling).

On Xiaomi 14 and Redmi Note 13 Pro+, the scrolling screenshot feature supports saving to PDF. To do this, after you create a long shot, click “More” → “Save as PDF”.

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Scrolling screenshots do not work in applications with dynamic content (such as games or videos).

6. Problem Solving: Screenshots are not saved, black screen

If screenshots are not created or saved in black, there can be many reasons, from a simple memory deficit to security constraints, and we can look at the typical cases and how to fix them.

Problem 1: Screenshots are not saved

• 📲 Check your memory: if your phone has less than 500MB of free space, the system may not save your photos. → Warehouse.
• 🔧 Reset the settings of the Gallery app: go to Settings → Annexes → Application management → gallery → Warehouse → Clear the data.
• 🔄 Reboot your phone: Sometimes a banal reboot helps, especially if screenshots have stopped saving after the update.

Problem 2: Black screen instead of screenshot

⚠️ Warning: The black screenshot is not a bug, it's an Android security feature that works in apps that don't allow screenshots (banks, Netflix, some messengers), and you can't get around that restriction without root rights.

List of apps where screenshots are blocked:

• 🏦 Banks: Sberbank Online, Tinkoff, VTB.
• 🎬 Streaming services: Netflix, Disney+, OKKO.
• 🔒 Messengers: WhatsApp (in some chat rooms), Signal.

Problem 3: The three-finger gesture doesn't work

• 🔧 Check if the gesture is enabled in the Settings → Additionally. → Buttons and gestures.
• 🎯 Try to hold your fingers vertically (not diagonally).
• 🛠️ If the gesture conflicts with navigation, turn off Navigation Gestures in the same settings.

Problem 4: Screenshots are kept in low quality

• 📸 By default. MIUI If the quality is poor, check the resolution of the display in Settings → Screen. → Screen resolution (should be) FHD+ higher).
• 🔍 Make sure that traffic saving mode is not included in Settings → SIM-maps and mobile networks.

7. Alternative methods: ADB, third-party applications

If standard methods don’t work (e.g., a power button is broken), you can use ADB (for advanced users) or third-party apps.

Method 1: ADB (without root rights)

To do this, you need a computer with ADB drivers installed and USB debugging enabled on the phone.

adb shell /system/bin/screencap -p /sdcard/screen.png

After this command is executed, the screenshot will be saved in the root folder of the storage under the name screen.png.

Method 2: Third-party applications

Popular programs for screenshots:

• 📱 Screenshot Easy – Supports Delayed Shooting and Editing.
• 🖼️ Screen Master – allows you to take screenshots with scrolling even where the standard feature does not work.
• 🎨 Screenshot Touch – Adds a floating button for quick access.

⚠️ Note: Google Play apps may contain ads or collect data. Before installing, check the reviews and permissions the program requests (e.g. access to storage or microphone).

Method 3: Developer mode

MIUI has a hidden option to create screenshots through ADB without connecting to a PC:

1. Enable Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About the phone and 7 times tap on the "Version" MIUI».
2. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
3. Find the option “Screenshot via ADB” and turn it on.
4. You can now take pictures via the terminal on the phone itself (for example, using the Termux app).

8. Frequent Questions (FAQ)