How to take a screenshot on Xiaomi: all the ways from MIUI 12 to HyperOS

Taking screenshots on Xiaomi smartphones seems like a simple task — until you face unexpected limitations. For example, the standard combination of buttons Loud down + Power may not work in games or on a locked screen, and new versions of MIUI 14 and HyperOS have alternative methods that many do not know about. This article covers all the current ways, from classic to hidden features, including solutions for devices with broken buttons or non-standard shells.

We focus on the most common challenges users face: why screenshots are not saved in the gallery, how to take a screenshot on Xiaomi Black Shark or POCO F5 with game mode, and what to do if gestures stop working after the update.

If you’re using a device older than 2019 (like the Redmi Note 7 or Mi 9), some methods may differ – there’s a separate section in the article with compatibility on the MIUI versions. And for owners of Xiaomi Pad 6 or Mi Mix Fold, we’ve added instructions for screenshots on tablets and foldable screens.

1. Standard method: Volume and power buttons

The most versatile method, working on all Xiaomi models including Redmi, POCO and Black Shark, regardless of the MIUI or HyperOS version.

1. Open the screen you want to capture (unlock the device if necessary).
2. Press the Volume Down button and the Power button at the same time.
3. Hold them for 1-2 seconds until you hear the camera shutter sound and see the save animation.

The screenshot is automatically saved in the Screenshots folder in the gallery. On some models (for example, Xiaomi 13 Ultra), after creating the picture, a toolbar will appear for quick editing or sending.

⚠️ Note: On gaming-mode devices (such as Black Shark 5 Pro), the standard button combination may be disabled. To return the feature, go to Settings → Special facilities → Buttons and enable the screenshot option through the buttons.

2. Three-finger gesture: quick screenshot without buttons

The Three-Finger Gesture feature is introduced in MIUI 10 and remains one of the most convenient for users with faulty buttons or those who often take screenshots.

1. Go to Settings → Special features → Gestures.
2. Select a screenshot with three fingers and switch on the switch.
3. Test: Swipe down the screen with three fingers at the same time (not necessarily vertically, a small angle is allowed).

Advantages of the method:

• 👍 It works even with physical buttons turned off.
• 👍 You can adjust the direction of the gesture (up or down).
• 👍 Supports long screenshots – after creating a normal picture, a scroll button will appear.

On Xiaomi with HyperOS (such as Xiaomi 14 or Redmi K70), the path to customizing the gesture has changed: Settings → Additional → Gestures and movements → Screenshot with three fingers.

3. Notification panel: screenshot with one tap

If you're uncomfortable remembering button combinations or gestures, MIUI and HyperOS have a built-in screenshot button in the notification bar. Here's how to use it:

1. Swipe down from the top edge of the screen to open the notification bar.
2. Find a screenshot icon (usually a scissors or a screen thumbnail) if it's not there, tap on Edit (pencil) and add it to active shortcuts.
3. Click on the icon – the picture will be taken instantly.

This method is particularly useful for:

• 📱 Xiaomi Pad 6 and other tablets – because of the large screen, the volume and power buttons are difficult to access.
• 🎮 Smartphone gaming (Black Shark, POCO F6 Pro where the notification panel is not blocked in games.
• 👨‍🦽 Users with disabilities who find it difficult to press buttons.

⚠️ Note: On some firmware (for example, MIUI EU Or custom builds) the screenshot icon may not be available, in which case install a third-party app, such as Screenshot Easy.

4.Voice assistant: screenshot on command

If your Xiaomi supports Google Assistant or XiaoAI (Chinese firmware), you can take screenshots with your voice. This is convenient when hands are busy or buttons are not available.

For Google Assistant:

1. Activate the assistant with your voice (OK, Google) or hold the Home button.
2. Say, Take a screenshot or a screenshot.
3. Confirm the action if necessary.

For XiaoAI (Chinese firmware):

1. Press the Power button for 1-2 seconds to call the assistant.
2. Say in Chinese: (jiétú - "screenshot").

Limitations of the method:

• 🗣️ It only works when connected to the Internet (for voice command processing).
• 🔇 On some models (Redmi Note 12 and later), the voice screenshot may be disabled by default due to privacy policy.
• 🎙️ In noisy rooms, the assistant may not recognize the command.

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If the voice assistant doesn’t respond to the screenshot command, try alternative phrases like “take a picture of the screen” or “save the current screen.”

5. Screenshot via ADB: for developers and advanced users

If standard methods don’t work (e.g., on a damaged screen or custom firmware), you can take a picture via Android Debug Bridge (ADB), which requires a computer connection, but is guaranteed to work on any Xiaomi with USB debugging enabled.

Instructions:

1. Turn on Developer Mode on your phone: go to Settings → About Phone → MIUI version and tap it 7 times.
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable USB debugging.
3. Connect your phone to your PC, open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) and type: adb devices Make sure the device is defined.
4. Run the command for a screenshot: adb exec-out screencap -p > screenshot.png The picture will be saved in the folder where the command was launched.

⚠️ Note: HyperOS devices (e.g. Xiaomi 14 Pro) may require additional debugging confirmation USB And some banking apps also block the work. ADB security considerations.

6.Long Screenshot: How to Capture a Scrolling Page

Scrolling Screenshot (or long screenshot) allows you to save entire web pages, chats in Telegram or lists in apps. It is available on most Xiaomi devices with MIUI 11 and later, but it needs to be activated correctly.

How to do this:

1. Take a regular screenshot of any of the above methods.
2. Immediately after the appearance of the thumbnail of the picture at the bottom of the screen, tap on it.
3. In the editor that opens, click on the Scroll button (or Long Screenshot).
4. Wait for the page to automatically scroll to the end, or stop the process manually.

Limitations and nuances:

• 📄 It doesn’t work in some apps (like Instagram or TikTok because of content protection).
• 🔄 On Xiaomi with HyperOS, the Scroll button can be hidden behind an additional menu (tap on three dots in the editor).
• 📏 The maximum length of the image is about 10 screens. For longer pages, use specialized applications such as LongShot.

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A long screenshot is saved as a separate file and can take up significantly more space (up to 10-15 MB for web pages with multiple images).

7.Challenges with screenshots on Xiaomi: causes and solutions

Even on newer devices (Xiaomi 14, Redmi Note 13 Pro+), users are experiencing screenshot errors, and here are some of the most common problems and ways to fix them:

If none of these methods work, try:

• 🔄 Reset the device.
• 📱 Update MIUI HyperOS to the latest version.
• 🛠️ Reset gesture settings in Settings → System system → Resetting settings → Reset your gesture settings.

FAQ: Frequent questions about screenshots on Xiaomi