Creating a screenshot is one of the most popular functions in the arsenal of a modern smartphone user. Device owners ZTE Blade often encounter interface nuances that may differ from standard Google solutions. Understanding how to correctly capture an image from the display saves time when saving important information, correspondence or instructions.
Methods for creating screenshots on ZTE Blade may vary depending on the version of the operating system and the MiFavor shell installed. In this article, we will analyze in detail all the available methods: from classic key combinations to advanced editing functions.
Regardless of the model of your device, be it budget ZTE Blade A3 or more productive ZTE Blade V2020, the basic principles of the system remain the same. However, some manufacturers make changes to the logic of the buttons, which requires special attention.
Classic method using physical buttons
The most common and reliable way to take a screenshot on any Android device is to use a combination of hardware keys. On smartphones ZTE this method works stably even when the touch layer freezes.
You need to simultaneously press the button Power (lock screen) and the button Volume Down (volume down). You need to hold them for no more than one second. If you hold the buttons for too long, the shutdown or reboot menu may be activated, which is not our goal.
Successfully taking a photo is accompanied by a characteristic camera shutter sound and a visual flash of the screen. A notification will appear at the top of the display indicating that the image has been saved to the gallery. This method is universal for most models in the series ZTE Blade.
⚠️ Attention: On some older ZTE models with very early versions of Android, the combination may differ. If the standard method does not work, try holding
PowerandHome(if there is a physical Home button on the case).
It is important to press the buttons synchronously. A common mistake made by beginners is that they first press one button, and then the second with a delay. The system perceives this as two separate actions, and not as a command to take a screenshot.
If you have large fingers and it is difficult to press two buttons at the same time with one hand, try holding the power button with your little finger and the volume button with the thumb of the same hand, while holding the phone with your palm.
Using the quick settings panel
In modern versions of the shell MiFavor, installed on ZTE Blade, provides the ability to create screenshots without using physical buttons. This is especially useful if the volume or power buttons are faulty.
To access this function, you need to swipe down from the top of the screen to open notification curtain. On some models, you will need to swipe twice to reveal the full list of quick switches. Among the icons you will find an icon with the image of scissors or a rectangle, labeled as “Screenshot”.
Clicking on this icon instantly captures the current contents of the display. After this, the system will automatically offer you options: share the image, edit it, or simply save it. This method is completely software and does not depend on the state of the hardware keys.
- 📱 Quick access to the function through one swipe.
- ✏️ Ability to immediately proceed to editing without saving.
- 🔇 Complete absence of sound effects (in some firmware).
If you don’t find the icon you need in the first row, try clicking on the pencil icon or three dots in the corner of the quick settings menu. This will open the tile editor, where you can drag the Screenshot function into the active area for quick access in the future.
Long screenshot function for capturing web pages
A regular screenshot captures only the area that is currently visible on the screen. However, when reading long articles, chatting in instant messengers or browsing websites, this is often not enough. Smartphones ZTE Blade implement a scrolling screenshot function.
Immediately after taking a regular screenshot (in any convenient way), a thumbnail image appears at the bottom of the screen. This thumbnail usually has a button with two down arrows or the words "Scroll". Clicking on it starts automatic scrolling of the content.
The system will scroll the page down, Stitching (sewing) new fragments into one long image. The process can be stopped at any time by clicking the stop button or touching the screen. The resulting file is saved as a single image with a high vertical resolution.
| Content type | Recommended method | Saving features |
|---|---|---|
| Short message | Buttons (Power + Vol-) | Instant save |
| Website / Article | Long screenshot | Requires manual stop |
| Video / Animation | Screen recording | Saves as MP4 file |
| Confidential data | Notification panel | No shutter sound |
It is worth considering that the long screenshot does not work in all applications. For example, in banking applications or secure video players, the system may block the creation of extended snapshots for security purposes.
Why can a long screenshot be cut off?
If the page content has a complex structure or contains floating elements (banners, pinned menus), the stitching algorithm may fail. In this case, it is better to take several ordinary screenshots manually.
Voice control and assistants
Technology does not stand still, and smartphone control is increasingly moving into the voice plane. Devices ZTE can have Google Assistant or a proprietary voice assistant installed. This allows you to take a screenshot without touching the screen at all.
To activate the function, just say the command “Ok Google” or press and hold the assistant button. After activation, say the phrase “Take a screenshot” or “Screenshot”. The system will recognize the command and perform an action similar to pressing physical buttons.
This method is especially useful in situations where your hands are full or the device is in a hard-to-reach place. However, for it to work correctly, a stable Internet connection is required, since voice commands are often processed on servers.
Make sure that access to screen functions is allowed in the assistant settings. Sometimes, after a software update, access rights are reset and the voice command stops working, displaying an error message.
Customizing hotkeys and gestures
Shell MiFavor from ZTE provides users with extensive customization options. You can change the standard behavior of the buttons or add new gestures for taking screenshots if the standard methods are inconvenient for you.
Go to the menu Settings → Ease of control → Smart gestures. Here you can activate the screenshot function by swiping three fingers across the screen from top to bottom. This gesture is intuitive and quickly performed with one hand.
Also in the button settings section, you can reassign a long press to the power key or volume button. For example, double-pressing the lock button can be configured to launch the camera, but some custom firmwares have an option to assign to a screenshot.
⚠️ Attention: The settings menu interface may differ on different versions of Android (10, 11, 12). If you do not find the "Smart Gestures" item, look for the "Accessibility" section or use the search in settings by entering the word "gesture".
☑️ Checking gesture settings
Using gestures requires some skill. The movement should be smooth and confident. If the sensor does not work the first time, try changing the speed of your fingers or the area you touch the screen.
Where to find and how to edit saved screenshots
After successfully taking a screenshot, it is important to know where to find it. By default, all screenshots are saved in the device's internal storage in a special folder. They can be accessed through the standard Gallery application or file manager.
The path to the file usually looks like this: Internal memory → Pictures → Screenshots. In some firmware versions, the folder may be named Screenshots directly in the root of the internal storage. Files are named by the date and time of creation, which makes searching easier.
Immediately after taking a screenshot, a preview panel appears on the screen. Basic editing tools are available here: cropping (crop), drawing with a marker, adding text and applying stickers. These tools allow you to quickly highlight important parts of an image before sending.
- ✂️ Cropping unnecessary areas to focus on details.
- 🖍️ Drawing arrows and circles for emphasis.
- 📝 Adding text comments directly to the image.
If you missed the editing moment immediately after creation, don’t worry. Open an image in the gallery, click the Edit button (pencil), and the same set of tools will be available to you. After editing, do not forget to save the changes by clicking the "Save a copy" button so as not to lose the original.
Screenshots take up space in the internal memory. Regularly check the Screenshots folder and delete outdated images to free up space for new photos and applications.
Solving common problems
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where a screenshot is not created. This could be due to a software glitch, low memory, or application-specific limitations. Let's look at the main reasons and ways to eliminate them.
The first reason may be an overfilled storage. If there is no free space left on the disk, the system physically cannot write a new file. Check the available space in the settings and delete unnecessary files. ZTE Blade there is no free space left, the system physically cannot write a new file. Check the available space in settings and delete unnecessary files.
The second common problem is content protection. When you try to take a screenshot in an incognito browser mode, in a banking application, or when viewing DRM-protected content (Netflix, Kinopoisk), you will get a black screen instead of an image. This is not a bug, but an Android security feature.
If the buttons do not respond, a system process may have failed. SystemUI. In this case, simply rebooting the smartphone will help. After turning it on, check the key combination again.
Why does the screenshot turn out black in some applications?
This is done to protect your personal data and copyrights. Banking apps block snapshots to prevent attackers from stealing card details via a screenshot. Video services protect content from piracy.
Is it possible to change the format for saving a screenshot on ZTE?
By default, the system saves images in JPG or PNG format. This cannot be changed through the standard settings. To convert the format, you will need to use third-party converter applications from Google Play.
Where do screenshots go after clearing the cache?
Screenshots are saved in permanent memory, not in the cache. Clearing the app cache should not delete your images. If they are missing, check the trash in the gallery or file manager; perhaps they were deleted accidentally.
How to take a screenshot if the screen is broken?
If the sensor does not work, but there is an image, you can connect a USB mouse via an OTG cable and click on the notification panel. If the screen is completely black, but the phone is working, connecting to a PC and using apps to control Android from a computer, such as Scrcpy, will help.
In conclusion, taking screenshots on ZTE Blade is a simple and intuitive process. Knowing all the available methods, you can effectively work with information on your device in any situation.