Modern smartphone users are often faced with the need to record information displayed on the screen. Whether it's important correspondence, a concert ticket, a recipe, or a bug in an application, saving the current display image becomes a routine task. For owners of a popular budget smartphone Xiaomi Redmi 9 this process can be implemented in several ways, each of which has its own advantages depending on the situation.
The firmware interface MIUIinstalled on the device by default offers flexible settings for controlling gestures and physical keys. Understanding all available methods will allow you to act as quickly as possible, without wasting time searching for the right combination in a stressful situation. In this article we will analyze in detail each available option, from classic to advanced, and also consider possible problems with saving files.
Classic method using physical buttons
The most reliable and universal method that works on the vast majority of devices running Android, including Redmi 9, involves the use of hardware buttons. This method does not require any prior setup and works even if the touch screen is temporarily unresponsive or the system is frozen but still responds to physical touches. To take a screenshot, you must simultaneously hold down the volume down key and the power lock button.
It is important to follow the correct pressing algorithm: the buttons must be pressed simultaneously, but not for too long. A short press lasting about one second is sufficient. If you hold down the keys for too long, the system may perceive this as a command to bring up the shutdown or reboot menu, which will interrupt the image creation process. A successful action is accompanied by a characteristic camera shutter sound (if the sound is not turned off) and a visual flash of the screen.
After taking a photo, a special notification with a thumbnail appears at the top of the display. By clicking on it, you will immediately be taken to the editor, where you can trim off the excess, apply markup, or send the file to your interlocutor. If you ignore the notification, the image will automatically be saved in the gallery in the folder Screenshots. This method is considered the "gold standard" due to its stability.
⚠️ Warning: On some screen protectors or high-sided cases, it may be physically difficult to press two buttons at the same time. In this case, make sure that you press clearly so that only one key does not work.
It is worth noting that the layout of the buttons is standard: the volume is located on the left side, and the power button is on the right. This ergonomic solution allows you to comfortably hold the smartphone with one hand (for example, the little finger and ring finger of the left hand), and press with the thumb of the same hand or the fingers of the right hand. Practice shows that after a few days of use, this method becomes a reflex action. Redmi 9 standard: the volume is located on the left side, and the power button is on the right. This ergonomic solution allows you to comfortably hold the smartphone with one hand (for example, the little finger and ring finger of the left hand), and press with the thumb of the same hand or the fingers of the right hand. Practice shows that after a few days of use this method becomes a reflex action.
If you take a screenshot in a game where the volume buttons are used for control, use alternative methods so as not to interrupt the gameplay.
Using the control panel and notification shade
For those who prefer to control their smartphone exclusively through the touch screen interface, the company Xiaomi has provided a built-in function in the quick access panel. This method is especially convenient when the phone is lying on a table or when one of the physical buttons is faulty. To use this method, you need to swipe from top to bottom of the screen to open the curtain of notifications and switches.
In the menu that opens, look for an icon with a picture of scissors. It's usually found among the main switches, such as Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, or flashlight. If you don't see it right away, it may be hidden on the second page of the panel. Swipe left on the row of icons to find additional tools. Clicking on the "Screenshot" icon instantly creates a snapshot of the current screen.
The advantage of this method is the ability to create a screenshot without the risk of accidentally pressing other buttons, which is important when watching videos or reading books. In addition, this method is often used when creating training materials where you need to show the process of calling a function. However, it is worth remembering that in some applications that work in full screen mode (for example, video players), the curtain may not open with a standard gesture.
- 📱 Swipe from top to bottom to open the control center.
- ✂️ Find the "Screenshot" icon (scissors).
- 🖼️ Click on the icon to instantly capture an image.
- 📂 Check the result in the gallery or in the notification that appears.
Interface MIUI allows you to customize the set of icons in the curtain. You can move the screenshot button to the first place for quick access. To do this, go to the control panel settings and edit the order of the icons. This will save you a few seconds in the future, making the screen capture process as intuitive and fast as possible.
Three-finger gesture for quick capture
One of the most convenient features of the shell MIUI is the ability to create a screenshot using a gesture. This method requires prior activation in the system settings, but once enabled it becomes one of the fastest ways to capture information. The essence of the method is simple: you swipe three fingers from top to bottom across the screen, and the system instantly saves the image.
To enable this function, you need to go to the settings section. The path may vary slightly depending on the firmware version, but usually it looks like this: Settings → Additional settings → Shortcut gestures → Screenshot. In this menu, you need to activate the switch opposite the “Three fingers” item. Once activated, the system will respond to the corresponding gesture in any application.
This method is especially valuable for users with large smartphones, such as Redmi 9where it can be difficult to reach the top edge of the screen with one hand. The gesture can be performed in any area of the display, making it universal. However, be careful: Accidentally swiping with three fingers may result in multiple unplanned snapshots if the phone is in your pocket without being locked.
⚠️ Warning: The three-finger gesture may conflict with control gestures in some games or drawing applications. If you notice random screenshots during the game, temporarily disable this feature in the settings.
☑️ Activating the three-finger gesture
There is also an extended version of this gesture. If, after swiping three fingers, you do not release them immediately, but hold them on the screen, the advanced actions menu will open. From there you can choose to create long screenshot (scroll) or go to editing. This adds another level of convenience for those who often work with long lists or correspondence.
Creating long screenshots (scrolling)
Often one screen is not enough to capture all the necessary information, for example, a long correspondence in a messenger or an article in browser. In such cases, the “Long Screenshot” or “Scroll” function comes to the rescue. On Xiaomi Redmi 9 this function is built into the standard snapshot mechanism and is activated automatically after a regular screenshot.
Immediately after you take a regular snapshot (using buttons or a gesture), a floating window with a thumbnail will appear at the top of the screen. At the bottom of this window there will be a button in the form of two downward arrows, or the inscription “Scroll”. By clicking on it, the system will begin to automatically scroll the contents of the screen down, adding new areas to the image.
The scrolling process can be stopped at any time by clicking on the stop button or simply touching the screen. The system will automatically “glue” all received frames into one long picture. The maximum length of such an image is limited by the system's capabilities, but is usually enough to save several screens of text. The file is saved in the same format as regular screenshots.
| Activation method | Convenience | Speed | Risk of error |
|---|---|---|---|
| Buttons (Volume + Power) | High | High | Low |
| Notification curtain | Medium | Medium | Low |
| Three finger gesture | Very high | Instant | Medium |
| Voice command | Low | Low | High |
It is important to understand that the scrolling function does not work in all applications. It is effective in browsers, instant messengers and settings, but may not work in games or applications with non-standard layout, where the content does not scroll linearly. In such cases, the system will simply stop scrolling or offer to take a regular photo.
What to do if a long screenshot is “torn”?
Sometimes when creating a long screenshot, artifacts or breaks may appear at the seams. This is due to the fact that the scrolling animation does not have time to render. Try scrolling the content more slowly manually before capturing, or use third-party applications for stitching.
Using the Google Assistant voice assistant
For lovers of voice control or in situations where your hands are full, using Google Assistantis an excellent solution. This method requires an active Internet connection and a configured voice assistant on the device. Activation occurs with the standard phrase “Okay, Google” or by long pressing the “Home” button (if navigation is done using buttons).
After activating the assistant, just say the command “Take a screenshot” or “Create a screenshot”. The system will recognize the command, beep and save the image. This method may seem slower than mechanical methods, but it is indispensable when physical access to the buttons is difficult.
It is worth considering that voice control depends on the quality of the microphone and the level of noise around it. In a noisy room, the assistant may not recognize the command the first time. In addition, in some secure applications (for example, banking), the creation of screenshots may be blocked at the security level, regardless of the call method.
Voice control is the best choice when your hands are full or physical access to the smartphone is limited, but requires stable Internet.
If the standard phrase does not work, check the language settings in the Google application. Sometimes the assistant may not understand a command in Russian if priority is given to another language in the settings. Also make sure that Google Assistant has permission to access the screen and perform actions on behalf of the user.
Where are screenshots stored and how to find them
After successfully taking a screenshot, many users wonder: where exactly is the file saved? In the operating system Android based on MIUI a separate directory is allocated for screenshots. You can find it through the standard "Gallery" application or any file manager.
In the "Gallery" application there is usually a separate album called "Screenshots" (or Screenshots). All images created by any of the methods described above automatically end up in this folder. This makes it easy to find the file you need among hundreds of photos taken with the camera. The album is sorted by creation date, so the last picture will always be at the top of the list.
If you prefer to use file managers, the path to the files looks like this: Internal memory → DCIM → Screenshots. In some firmware versions, the path may be Internal memory → Pictures → Screenshots. Knowing the exact path is useful when connecting your phone to a computer to bulk transfer files or clear memory.
- 📁 Open the Gallery app or "Files".
- 🔍 Go to the "Screenshots" album or folder
DCIM/Screenshots. - ✏️ Edit or delete unnecessary files right from here.
- 📤 Share files via instant messengers or email.
The amount of memory occupied depends on the screen resolution and image complexity. Screenshots with Redmi 9resolution 2340×1080usually weigh from 500 KB to 2 MB. When actively using the screenshot function, this folder can grow quickly, so it is recommended to periodically revise and delete outdated images.
⚠️ Attention: The interface and folder paths may vary slightly depending on the version of MIUI (11, 12, 13, etc.). If you do not find the folder in the specified path, use the file search inside the manager.
Use the "Cleanup" widget on the desktop to quickly check the folder with screenshots for duplicates or temporary files taking up space.
Possible problems and solutions
Despite Despite the simplicity of the process, users sometimes encounter situations where the screenshot is not created or saved. One common reason is when you try to take a photo in a security-enhanced app. Banking applications, incognito modes of browsers and some streaming services block the ability to capture the screen at the software level in order to protect confidential data.
In such cases, instead of an image, you will receive a black screen or a notification that the action cannot be performed due to the security policy. It is impossible to bypass this limitation using standard means. The only legal way to capture information in such applications is to use a second device (for example, another phone) to take a photo of the screen.
Another problem may be due to the lack of free memory on the device. If the internal storage Redmi 9 is full, the system will not be able to save a new file. In this case, you need to free up space by deleting unnecessary applications, videos or cache. It's also worth checking the permissions for the Gallery or System UI app in your privacy settings.
Why is the screenshot saved in black?
A black screenshot usually means the content is copyrighted (DRM) or in a protected area of the app. This can also happen when you try to capture the screen while playing a video in some players.
Is it possible to change the format for saving screenshots?
By default, the system uses the JPG format to save space. In some versions of MIUI, through additional settings or third-party applications, you can configure saving in PNG for better quality, but this will increase the file size.
How to disable the shutter sound when taking a screenshot?
The sound of the screenshot is tied to the general volume level of notifications or media. To make the process silent, put your phone in silent mode or lower the notification volume before taking a photo.
Where can you find the screenshot button if it has disappeared from the curtain?
Go to the notification curtain settings (pull the curtain down and click on the edit/pencil icon). Find the screenshot icon in the list of available but hidden elements, and drag it to the active area.
Does screenshot work in Recovery mode?
No, in Recovery mode, standard Android functions, including taking screenshots using a button combination or gestures, are disabled. To fix errors in this mode, you need to photograph the screen with an external device.