Screen recording on Xiaomi Mi A3: from standard tools to professional solutions

Screen recording on Xiaomi Mi A3 is a challenge faced by gamers who want to save game moments, bloggers who create reviews, and even ordinary users who need to demonstrate the application. Despite the fact that the model was released in 2019 and runs on a “pure” Android One without the branded MIUI shell, screen recording capabilities are limited. Unlike newer Xiaomi devices, where the feature is built into the notification curtain, the Mi A3 will have to use workarounds.

In this article, we will analyze all the current ways of recording the screen – from hidden system tools to third-party applications with advanced settings. You will learn how to record video without lags, with sound from speakers or microphones, as well as how to get around typical errors (for example, a black screen in games or video games). We will pay special attention to the unique feature of Mi A3Lack of hardware support for real-time video encoding on the Snapdragon 665 processor, which affects recording performance.

1. Android's built-in capabilities on Mi A3: Hidden features

Despite the lack of an explicit screen recording button, Android 10/11 (current versions for Mi A3) has hidden tools. These can be activated through Settings → Special Features → Utilities for developers or using ADB- commands.

The easiest way is to use Google Assistant (if installed).

• 📱 Open Google Assistant with a long press on the Home button.
• 🎤 Say the command, "OK, Google, record the screen."
• 🔧 Confirm permission to record (notice will appear).

Limitations of the method:

• ❌ Recording is done without sound (no microphone, no system audio).
• ❌ Video quality is fixed — 720p at 30 FPS.
• ❌ The feature may not work in some regions (depending on the version of Google App).

⚠️ Warning: If after the Google Assistant command, you get an error, "Function Unavailable," update the Google app to the latest version in the Play Market. On the custom firmware Mi A3, this method may not work due to the lack of Google Play services.

2. Screen recording applications: TOP-5 solutions for Mi A3

The side of the app offers more flexibility: recording with sound, selecting resolution, adding a webcam, etc. However, on the Mi A3, it is important to consider performance - a weak Snapdragon 665 processor may not be able to handle recording in 1080p without lags. We tested 15 applications and selected the best:

For the Mi A3, we recommend AZ Screen Recorder or XRecorder, which are optimized for weak devices and allow you to record system sound without root rights.

⚠️ Warning: When recording games (e.g., PUBG Mobile or Call of Duty), apps may display a black screen, which is due to cheating, the solution is to use Scrcpy (see Section 4) or record via Miracast on a PC.

Close background applications (especially messengers)| Turn off power saving for the recorder application | Set resolution no higher than 720p for smoothness | Check free space (1 minute video = ~100 MB) | Activate Do Not Disturb mode-->

3. Screen recording with sound: how to capture system audio

The main problem with recording screens on Android is to capture system sound (music, game sounds, video) and most applications only record from a microphone, which leads to poor quality.

1. Use applications that support internal audio (such as XRecorder or AZ Screen Recorder in the paid version). In the settings, select the sound source: "Internal audio + microphone".
2. Connect an external microphone via USB-C (on the Mi A3 works with an OTG adapter).The quality will be better, but it won't solve the problem with recording audio from games.
3. Record the sound separately using a second device (e.g., headphones with a microphone), and then synchronize the audio and video in the editor (CapCut, KineMaster).

For advanced users, there is a way with root rights:

1. Install Magisk and the Audio Record Patch module.


2. In the recording settings, select the source: "Internal Audio".




3. Reset the device.

But on the Mi A3, getting root can cause the OTA- to lose updates and problems with Google Pay.

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If you need to record audio from YouTube or Spotify, use the Screen Recording feature in AZ Screen Recorder with the "Capture internal audio" option enabled. To do this, activate the "Record system sound" option in the application settings (Android 10+ is required).

4. Screen recording via PC: Scrcpy and alternatives

If you want maximum quality without losing performance, the best option is to record the screen through a computer. Scrcpy is the best option.

• 🖥️ Record in 1080p@60FPS without lag (load is placed on the PC).
• 🎤 Capture system sound via Virtual Audio Cable (for Windows).
• 🕹️ Keyboard control support (easy for streaming).

Instructions for setting up Scrcpy for Mi A3:

1. Download Scrcpy from GitHub and unpack the archive.
2. Turn on the phone Debugging over USB (Settings → About Phone → Assembly Number – press 7 times, then go back to Settings → System → For Developers).
3. Connect the Mi A3 to your PC via a USB-C cable and select File Transfer Mode.
4. Run Scrcpy via command line: scrcpy --bit-rate 8M --max-size 1080 --record output.mp4

To record audio, additionally install Virtual Audio Cable and configure audio routing via ADB:

adb shell settings put global screenrecord_audio_output 1

⚠️ Warning: On some versions of Windows 11, Scrcpy may give an error "No ADB devices found." Solution - update the ADB drivers via SDK Platform Tools or use the Vysor alternative (paid, but easier to set up).

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Scrcpy is the only way to burn the Mi A3 screen into the 60 FPS without loss of quality. However, it requires a powerful PC (from Intel Core i5 or Ryzen 5) and a stable USB- connection.

5. Problem Solving: Black screen, lags, recording errors

When you record a screen on a Mi A3, you often face typical problems, and let's look at the most common ones and how to fix them:

If none of these methods help, check:

• 🔋 Battery Charge – At levels below 20%, Android can block background processes.
• 📱 Android Version – on Mi A3 with Android 12 (unofficial firmware) older versions of recording apps may not work.
• 🛠️ Viruses – Some malware blocks screen recording.

6. Recording optimization: settings for maximum quality

To get the best quality video without losing performance, follow these guidelines:

• 📹 Resolution: On Mi A3 optimal 1280×720 (720p). 1080p is possible, but will brake.
• 🎛️ Bitrate: Set 6-8 Mbps to balance the quality and size of the file.
• 🔊 Audio: Use an external microphone (e.g., Lavalier via USB-C) to record your voice.
• ⚡ Performance: Close all background applications, activate Performance mode in battery settings.

Example of optimal settings in AZ Screen Recorder for Mi A3:

• Resolution: 1280×720
• Bitrate: 6 Mbps
• FPS: 30 (60 will lag)
• Sound source: Microphone + internal audio (if available)
• Format: MP4 (H.264)

For the installation of the recorded video, we recommend:

• 🎬 CapCut is free, simple, there are templates for social networks.
• 🎬 KineMaster is more effects, but watermarked in the free version.
• 🎬 Adobe Premiere Rush – for professional editing (requires a powerful PC).

7. Alternative methods: mirroring and streaming

If standard methods don’t work, consider alternative screen recording options:

1. Miracast/Wi-Fi Direct Mirror Connect the Mi A3 to a TV or PC via Miracast (in settings: Connected Devices → Wireless Display). Then record the TV or PC screen using OBS Studio or built-in tools (such as Xbox Game Bar on Windows).
2. Connect the Mi A3 to your PC via USB in Camera (PTP) mode and use DroidCam to capture the screen like a webcam. Minus is low quality (480p).
3. Streaming via Discord/YouTube Start streaming the screen to Discord (Go Live feature) or YouTube, and then stream to your PC using OBS. This will circumvent the recording restrictions in games.

For streaming, we recommend:

• 📡 Use Wi-Fi 5 GHz to minimize delays.
• 🔌 Connect Mi A3 to charging - streaming severely drains the battery.
• 🎮 In games, reduce the graphical settings to Medium or Low.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions