Creating a screenshot is one of the basic functions that is used daily by millions of owners of smartphones based on Android. In an ecosystem Xiaomiworking under the control of a shell MIUI or new HyperOS, this process is implemented as flexibly as possible. There are many methods available to users: from classic key combinations to advanced gestures and voice control.
Many newcomers who switched from other brands often cannot immediately find the right tool in the interface. This is because the default settings may differ depending on the firmware region and operating system version. In this detailed instruction, we will look at all the legal and hidden ways to take a high-quality screenshot on devices Redmi, POCO i Xiaomi.
You will learn not only about standard methods, but also how to create long snapshots of web pages, set a delay timer and where to look for saved files. We will also touch on memory optimization issues when using this function frequently and solve typical problems when the screenshot button does not appear or the image is not saved.
Classic method: a combination of physical buttons
The most universal and reliable method that works on absolutely all smartphones Android, including models Xiaomi any year of manufacture. It does not require preliminary configuration and is available even in recovery mode or when the interface freezes. To implement this method, you must simultaneously press two physical keys on the device body.
Usually these are the Volume down and Powerbuttons. The pressing should be short-term, almost simultaneous. If you hold them down for too long, the phone may perceive this as a command to reboot or call the shutdown menu. If successful, you will hear the characteristic sound of the camera shutter and the screen will blink.
A thumbnail of the photo taken will appear in the upper right corner. You can click on it to quickly edit, trim, or send to messenger. If you ignore the notification, it will disappear after a few seconds and the file will be automatically saved to the gallery. This method is especially convenient when you urgently need to capture information without being distracted by searching for a menu.
It is worth noting that on some older models with non-touch navigation buttons, the combination could be different, but in modern frameless smartphones the standard is the same for all. If this method does not work for you, check the serviceability of the physical buttons, since their wear is a common problem for active users.
Gesture control: three fingers down
The shell MIUI is famous for its convenience and the presence of thoughtful gestures that speed up interaction with the system. One of the most popular ways to take a screenshot on Xiaomi is to swipe three fingers from top to bottom across the screen. This feature is not activated by default on all devices, so it must be enabled in the settings.
To activate the option, go to the menu Settings, then select the section Additional functions. In the list, find the item Screenshots and switch the toggle switch Three fingers to the “On” position. After this simple procedure, you will be able to take screenshots with one smooth movement of your hand.
This method is especially convenient when using the smartphone with one hand or when physical buttons located inconveniently. The gesture works instantly and does not require changing the grip of the device. In addition, the system allows you to customize the action when you hold three fingers for a long time, for example, to start a screen recording or open the Quick Settings menu.
⚠️ Attention: The three-finger gesture may conflict with the functions of some games or drawing applications that use multi-touch. If in a particular app the screenshot is triggered accidentally, temporarily disable this option in the settings.
For users with small hands, performing a three-finger gesture on large flagship screens may be difficult. In this case, it is better to use other methods described below, or configure the area where the gesture is triggered, if such an option is available in your firmware version.
Using the notification curtain and menu
If physical buttons are for some reason inaccessible or broken, and gestures are not configured, there is always the option of a notification curtain. This method is intuitive and visually clear. Just swipe from top to bottom to open the control panel and find the corresponding icon.
The icon is usually labeled as Screenshot and looks like scissors against the background of the screen. In new versions HyperOS the design of the icons may have changed, but the functionality remained the same. Clicking this button takes a snapshot of the currently active window in the same way as a key combination.
For greater convenience, you can change the order of the tiles in the curtain. Go to the shortcut editing mode (usually a pencil icon or an ellipsis in the corner of the curtain) and drag the screenshot icon to the first place. This will save a split second when you need to quickly capture information.
Also in this menu, a function is often available Screen recording, which allows you to capture not a static image, but a video of what is happening on the display with sound. This is a useful addition for creating instructions or recording game moments. Do not confuse these two modes, as they use different compression codecs.
Long screenshot and page scrolling
One of the most requested features in the ecosystem Xiaomi is the ability to create long screenshots, also known how scrollshots. This function is indispensable when you need to save a conversation in a messenger, a long article in a browser, or a list of products in an online store without taking dozens of separate pictures.
After you have taken a regular screenshot in any convenient way, a preview appears in the upper right corner. Below it or inside it there will be a button with a down arrow icon or an inscription Scrolling. By clicking on it, the system will automatically begin to “glue” the screens together, scrolling the content down.
The process continues until you press the stop button or reach the end of the page. The algorithm intelligently stitches images together, removing duplicate interface elements, such as the site header or status bar. The result is saved as one long image in the format PNG.
| Content type | Scroll quality | Recommended method |
|---|---|---|
| Correspondence (WhatsApp, Telegram) | Excellent | Automatic scrolling |
| Web pages with fixed menus | Good (possible artifacts) | Manual stop |
| Applications with endless feed | Average | A series of regular screenshots |
| System settings | Ideal | Automatic scrolling |
It is worth considering that The scrolling feature does not work in all applications. Some apps, especially banking apps or those protected by DRM content (for example, Netflix), block the creation of screenshots in principle for security reasons. In such cases, you will get a black screen instead of an image.
If automatic scrolling does not work correctly and “eats” part of the text, try stopping the process manually every 2-3 screens, and then merge the images in the editor.
Timer and delayed screenshot
In situations where you need capture a pop-up menu, contextual list or animation; conventional methods are not suitable, since pressing buttons or touching the screen closes the desired element. For such cases, MIUI provides a delayed snapshot function with a timer.
To use this option, open the notification curtain and find the icon Timer in the screenshot toolbox. When pressed, the system will prompt you to select a delay: 3 seconds or 5 seconds. After selecting, you will have the specified time to open the desired menu or adjust the screen.
After the timer expires, the smartphone will automatically take a photo. This is an ideal way to create instructions where you need to show clicking a button or opening a drop-down list. The image is saved in the same format and quality as regular screenshots.
If you have the display set to turn off quickly to save power, make sure that the phone does not turn off before the shutter is released. Also, at this time, you should not lock the device with the power button.
⚠️ Attention: When using a timer, any accidental touches on the screen during the countdown can change the interface, and you will get a picture that is not what you planned. Place your phone on a flat surface before starting the timer.
Voice control and assistants
Modern smartphones Xiaomi are equipped with advanced voice control systems that allow you to perform actions without touching the screen. This is especially true when your hands are full or the device is in a hard-to-reach place. The main tool here is the voice assistant Google Assistant or built-in Mi Assistant.
To activate, just say the phrase “Okay, Google” or press and hold the power button (if the function is reassigned in the settings). After activation, say the command: Take a screenshot or Capture the screen. The system will recognize the request and perform the action instantly.
This method requires a stable Internet connection to process the voice command if a cloud assistant is used. However, it is the only way to take a photo if the touch screen is completely unresponsive to touch, but the system is working.
☑️ Checking the voice screenshot operation
Voice control also allows you to open the gallery immediately after taking a photo, if you add the appropriate command. For example: “Take a screenshot and show it.” This speeds up the process of checking the quality of the resulting image and its subsequent editing.
Where to look for and how to edit pictures
After taking a screenshot, users often have a question: where is it saved? By default, all images go to the system application Gallery. A separate album is created inside it with the name Screenshots or Screenshots. This allows you to separate work pictures from personal photos.
If you use a file manager, you can find images along the path Internal memory → DCIM → Screenshots or Internal memory → MIUI → screenshot, depending on the version of Android. Files have names containing the date and time of creation, which makes sorting easier.
Built-in editor MIUI offers a wide range of tools for processing immediately after creation. You can trim excess edges, draw arrows, add text, or blur sensitive information (such as card numbers or passwords). The blur function works automatically, highlighting text or numbers.
For more complex processing, it is recommended to use third-party applications, but for quickly sending to a chat, the built-in tools are quite enough. Remember to periodically clean out the screenshots folder, as they can take up a significant amount of memory, especially if you often use the long scroll function.
Secret screenshots folder
In some versions of MIUI, when connected to a PC via USB, the screenshots folder may be hidden or have a .nomedia attribute. To see it, enable the display of hidden files in your computer explorer.
Troubleshooting and common errors
Despite the smooth running of the system, users sometimes encounter situations where a screenshot is not created or is saved with a black screen. Most often this is due to security restrictions in specific applications. Banking apps, incognito modes of browsers and streaming services block screen capture at the system level.
Another common problem is the lack of free memory. If the internal storage is critically full, the system will not be able to save a new file. In this case, free up some space by deleting unnecessary videos or app cache. Also check the access rights of the Gallery application to the storage.
If the screenshot button has disappeared from the curtain, try resetting the notification panel settings. Go to Settings → Notifications and status bar → Control Center and reconfigure the tiles. In rare cases, clearing the system interface cache through the developer menu helps.
⚠️ Attention: If screenshots are saved but not displayed in the gallery, try restarting the device. This will update the system's media scanner, which indexes new files.
In cases where none of the methods work, the problem may be hardware in nature or related to corruption of system files after an unsuccessful update. Then you should contact a service center or perform a factory reset, having previously made a backup copy of the data.
Most problems with screenshots on Xiaomi are solved by checking free memory and rebooting the device, rather than complex manipulations with the settings.
Why does the screenshot turn out black in some applications?
This is the protection of confidential data. Banking applications, payment systems and some instant messengers use a flag FLAG_SECUREthat prohibits the system from taking screenshots or recording videos with their content. It is impossible to bypass this using standard means.
In what format are screenshots saved on Xiaomi?
The default format is PNG, as it provides compression without loss of quality. This is important for maintaining clarity of text and fine interface details. Some older models can use JPG, but PNG is the standard for modern versions of MIUI.
Is it possible to change the folder where screenshots are saved?
The saving path cannot be changed using standard system tools. Files are always written to the system directory. However, you can set up automatic synchronization of this folder with the cloud (Google Photos, Yandex.Disk) or use scripts to move files if you have root access.
How to take a screenshot if the volume buttons are broken?
Use alternative methods: three-finger gesture (having previously enabled it in the settings), the icon in notification curtain, Google Assistant voice command or accessibility menu where you can display the screenshot button on the screen.
Why is a long screenshot cut off or glued crookedly?
The gluing algorithm is based on repeating interface elements. If the design of a website or application changes dynamically, has a floating header or background animation, the system may make an error. In such cases, it is better to take several regular screenshots.