How to record video from the screen of Xiaomi phone

Xiaomi and Redmi smartphone owners often face the need to capture what is happening on the display, whether it is saving bugs in games, creating training instructions or simply fixing an interesting dialogue in the messenger. Fortunately, the shell of MIUI and HyperOS already has a powerful tool that does not require installing third-party software. You do not need to look for complex applications in the Play Market, since the basic functionality fully covers the needs of most users.

But standard settings often require refinement to get a quality result. Many users don't even know they can change the resolution, frame rate or sound source directly from the recording menu. In this article, we'll look at not only the basic methods, but also the intricacies of the system recorder that will help you create professional screencasts. Understanding these nuances will avoid common mistakes, such as the lack of sound or the low quality of the final file.

The current video compression algorithms in Xiaomi smartphones work quite efficiently, but they also depend on the parameters you choose. If you plan to edit a video or upload it to YouTube, you should take care of the maximum bitrate in advance. At the same time, standard settings will also work for fast chatting. Let's take a detailed look at the whole process from start to finish.

Activation and configuration of the system recorder

The first step is to find and run the native app. Most of the time, the Screenshot icon is already on the desktop or in the Tools folder. That's where the video capture functionality is hidden. If you can't see the icon, try searching the system or adding a widget to the lock screen for quick access, which will save time in the future when you need to react quickly.

Once you start the app, you'll see the control interface, and there are buttons for taking screenshots and, importantly, videos, and before you start shooting, it's critical to check your quality settings, and then you click on the gear icon or the three dots in the corner of the screen to get into the settings menu, and that's where you decide whether your video is going to be clear or blurry.

Note the Sound. The system offers three options: no sound, system sounds or microphone. The choice depends on your goal. If you record gameplay with music, choose system sounds. If you comment on actions with voice, microphone. The best combination for streaming games with voice chat, but it is not available on all versions of Android.

⚠️ Note: When recording system sounds, notifications from messengers can also get into the video. To avoid embarrassment, turn on Do Not Disturb mode before you start capturing.

And there's also the touch feature, which displays mugs on the screen where you touch your finger. It's useful for educational videos to make the viewer understand the logic of navigation. But for gameplay, it's better to turn it off, because it distracts and spoils the visual image. The setting is in the same setting menu, often hidden in an additional list.

Using the Control Panel for a Quick Start

The second, and perhaps most convenient, way to start recording is through the notification curtain. Swipe top-down twice to expand the full list of switches. Among the many icons, find the Screen Record button. If it's not on the first screen, flip to the right or tap on the pencil to edit the panels. Add this tool to the active one for permanent access.

When you press the button, you start counting down, and you write it, and you get a floating control widget on the screen, and you pause, you take screenshots, you draw over the image, and this is especially true for creating tutorials where you want to focus on a particular interface element in real time.

You can drag a floating window to any corner of the screen so it doesn't interfere with viewing. This becomes critical when you record it for a long time. This widget also allows you to instantly end your session. The file will automatically save to the gallery. The path to it is usually standard: Gallery → Albums → Screenshots. There the video will lie along with the static images.

It's important to note that some applications, especially banking ones, can block screen recording for security reasons, so you'll see a black screen instead of an image, and it's not a phone bug, it's data protection, and it's impossible and not recommended to get around this with standard tools, because it violates Android security protocols.

Fine tuning of quality and bitrate

For those who want to get the most out of their device, there are advanced settings available. You can choose the resolution from the recorder menu. The standard is 1080p, but flagship models allow you to write in 4K. Remember, high resolution requires more CPU resources and storage space. If the phone starts to warm, lower the quality to Full HD.

Frame rate is another important parameter. For static content (presentation, reading text), 30 FPS is enough. For dynamic games and fast scrolling tapes, it is better to set 60 FPS. This will make the movement smooth, but will increase the file size almost twice. The balance between smoothness and volume is a key point of setting.

The compression code also plays a role. H.264 is compatible with all devices, but gives you a larger file size. The H.265 (or HEVC) codec provides better quality with less weight, but older computers may not open such a video without additional codecs. Choose a format depending on where you plan to play the recording.

Sound recording: microphone against system

The audio is a separate issue. System Audio records what you hear: music, in-game gunshots, notifications. The microphone records ambient noise and your voice. The newer versions of Android 10+ and MIUI 12+ have the ability to write both at the same time, but this feature doesn't work well on older models.

If you're recording a voice comment, keep your phone quiet. Noise-cancellation algorithms can work aggressively to cut off quiet parts of your speech. Speak clearly and loudly enough. The distance to the microphone should be optimal -- not too close to no spitting, not far away from echoes.

When you record system audio, make sure that the media volume is turned to the maximum. The recorder captures the signal from this channel. If the volume in the system is low, then the video sound will be quiet, even if you add volumes when playing, which is a common mistake of beginners.

⚠️ Warning: When switching the sound source during active recording, the setting may not apply until the next start. Always check the source before pressing the Start button".

Third-party alternatives from Google Play

Despite the powerful built-in tool, sometimes features are required that Xiaomi has not implemented, such as a front-in-picture camera or more flexible bitrate management, in which third-party applications come to the rescue, with XRecorder and AZ Screen Recorder leading the market.

These apps often have a built-in video editor that allows you to crop, overlay music or text right after recording. They can be useful for bloggers who need to quickly edit a video on their knees. However, remember that third-party software requires more permissions and can consume more battery power.

Installing a third-party recorder is justified if you need a specific feature, such as drawing arrows of different colors or changing the shape of the cursor. Xiaomi’s standard tool is more ascetic, but it is guaranteed stable and does not contain advertising, which is often found in free versions of analogues from the market.

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Use the Game mode in Xiaomi’s security. Not only does it clean up memory, it also allows you to customize the behavior of the recorder specifically for gaming applications, turning off notifications during the process.

Where records are stored and how to share them

Once the process is complete, the file is stored in the device's memory, and can be found through the file manager along the Internal Memory path. → DCIM → Screenshots or MIUI → screen_recorder. Depending on the firmware version, the path may vary slightly, but a search by date of creation usually solves the problem.

The default file format is MP4. It's a universal format that opens on any TV, computer or smartphone. If you're planning to do further processing on a PC, it's also the most compatible format for editing programs like Premiere Pro or DaVinci Resolve.

For instant messaging (Telegram, WhatsApp), the system may offer video compression. Be careful: messengers severely degrade quality. Always choose sending as a "File" to save details or using cloud storage. Direct transmission via Wi-Fi Direct or Mi Share also maintains original quality.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

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The built-in Xiaomi recorder is optimized better than third-party counterparts, as it has access to system resources at the core level, which ensures the stability of FPS in games.