Emojis on Android i iPhone are visually different - they are more rounded, detailed and “cartoon-like”, while standard emoji on most smartphones s Apple they are more rounded, detailed and “cartoon-like”, whereas the standard emoji on most smartphones with Android look simplified or even outdated. If you want your messages to WhatsApp, Telegram or Instagram displayed with iPhone emoticons, there are several ways to implement this - from simple applications to deep system changes.

In this article we will look at 5 working methods (including options without root-right), their pros and cons, as well as nuances that should be taken into account before changing system fonts. Important: some methods may affect the stability of the device, so we will separately highlight safe alternatives for beginners.

Why are emoticons on Android and iPhone different?

The difference in emoji design is due to in that each platform uses its own font to display characters. Apple develops a proprietary font Apple Color Emojiwhich is updated along with iOS and has a unique style. Android, in turn, uses the font Noto Color Emoji (from Google), which looks different and is updated less frequently.

In addition, smartphone manufacturers (for example, Samsung, Xiaomi, Huawei) can replace standard emoji with their own versions. For example, on devices Samsung you will see emoticons in the corporate style SamsungOne, which are also different from Apple. This creates confusion: the same symbol 😂 may look different for the sender and the recipient.

  • 📱 iOS (Apple): rounded, smooth, with shadow and details (for example, tears in 😂 look like drops).
  • 🤖 Android (Google): flatter, with clear contours, smaller details.
  • 🌐 Samsung/Huawei: intermediate style, often with its own “tricks” (for example, yellow faces in 👍).

It is interesting that some messengers (for example, Telegram) allow you to choose an emoji style regardless of the system. But in most applications (including SMS, WhatsApp, Viber), emoticons are taken from the system font.

Method 1: Applications to replace emoji (without root)

The simplest and safest method is to use third-party applications that intercept the input of emoticons and replace them with style iOS. Such apps do not require superuser rights and work on top of the system.

The most popular solutions:

  • 🔹 Emoji Changer Keyboard (free, with advertising) - keyboard with support Apple Emoji and customization.
  • 🔹 iFont (to install fonts) + Apple Color Emoji.ttf (needs to be downloaded separately).
  • 🔹 Textra SMS — messenger with the option to change the emoji style (works only in the application itself).

Example of work Emoji Changer Keyboard:

  1. Install the application from Google Play.
  2. Activate the keyboard in the settings (Settings → System → Keyboard).
  3. Select a style iOS 16/17 in the application settings.
  4. When you enter emoticons, they will be displayed in the style Apple (but only for you - the recipient will see them in his own style!).
💡

If after installing the keyboard the emoticons have not changed, restart the device or clear the application cache Settings → Applications → Emoji Changer → Memory → Clear cache.

Disadvantages of the method:

  • Emojis change only when entered through this keyboard.
  • In some messengers (for example, WhatsApp) may not work.
  • The recipient will see the emoji in his own style (if it Android, then not as on iPhone).

Method 2: Installing the Apple Color Emoji font (requires Magisk)

To completely replace the system emoji with the style iOS you will need install the font Apple Color Emoji.ttf to the system. with an unlocked bootloader and installed Magisk (alternative root).

Step-by-step guide:

  1. Download the archive with the font Apple Color Emoji (for example, from GitHub or thematic forums).
  2. Install the module MagiskFont via Magisk Manager.
  3. Place the font file in the folder /sdcard/MagiskFont.
  4. Reboot device.

Make a data backup|Unlock the bootloader|Install Magisk|Download Apple Color Emoji.ttf|Checking compatibility with firmware-->

Advantages of the method:

  • Emoticons will change global (in all applications).
  • Recipients on iPhone will see emoji in their native style.
  • You can return standard fonts at any time.
What happens if you install an incompatible font?

If the file Apple Color Emoji.ttf is damaged or not suitable for your version of Android, the system may start to crash when displaying emoticons (for example, in SMS or a browser). In this case, only a rollback via Magisk or will help. flashing.

Risks:

  • Incorrect installation can lead to «bootloop» (loop loading).
  • Some banking applications may block work on devices with Magisk.
  • After updating Android, you may need to repeat setting the font.

Yes, if it's safe|No, I'm afraid of breaking the phone|I would try it on an old device|I don't care what the emoticons look like-->

Method 3: Using alternative iOS emoji keyboards

If you don't want to interfere with system files, but want to see emoticons in the style Apple when typing, you can use keyboards that support alternative emojis. For example:

  • 🎨 Gboard (Google Keyboard) — allows you to set themes, but does not change the emoji style.
  • 🎨 SwiftKey —supports changing the design of emoticons via plugins.
  • 🎨 Fleksy —has built-in emoji packages, including style iOS.

How to set up SwiftKey:

  1. Install SwiftKey from Google Play.
  2. Go to Settings → Themes and design → Emoji.
  3. Select a package iOS (may require additional download).
  4. Activate the keyboard in system settings.

Restrictions:

  • Emojis will be displayed in the style iOS only when entering —in chats they will turn into standard ones.
  • Not all messengers support replacing emoji via the keyboard.

Method 4: Changing emoji via ADB (for advanced)

If your device does not have root, but has an unlocked bootloader, you can try replacing fonts via ADB (Android Debug Bridge). data-i="152">, but does not require permanent root access. Magisk, but does not require permanent root access.

Instructions:

  1. Download Apple Color Emoji.ttf and place it in a folder platform-fonts on your PC.
  2. Connect your phone to the PC and activate USB Debugging (Settings → For Developers).
  3. Run the command: 
    adb push AppleColorEmoji.ttf /system/fonts/
  4. Change access rights: 
    adb shell chmod 644 /system/fonts/AppleColorEmoji.ttf
  5. Reboot the device.
💡

The ADB method does not work on all firmware. On devices with Samsung One UI or MIUI additional modification of system files may be required.

Warnings:

  • ⚠️ Without backup do not proceed with changing system files fonts.
  • ⚠️ On some devices (for example, Xiaomi s MIUI), the system can automatically restore standard fonts after a reboot.

Method 5: Using themes (for custom firmware)

If your smartphone runs on custom firmware (for example, LineageOS, Pixel Experience), you can install a theme with emoji iOS via the built-in theme manager. For example:

  • 📲 Substratum Theme Engine — allows you to install themes, including replacing emoji.
  • 📲 iOS Emoji Theme —ready theme for firmware based on AOSP.

How to install a theme via Substratum:

  1. Install Substratum i Andromeda (to work without root).
  2. Download the theme iOS Emoji from Google Play.
  3. Apply the theme in the settings Substratum.
  4. Reboot the device.

Important: this method only works on firmware with support for overlays (for example, OxygenOS, LineageOSOn stock firmware Samsung or Xiaomi it will not work.

Comparison of methods: which one to choose?

Method Difficulty Root required? Global replacement? Risks
Keyboard applications ⭐ ❌ No ❌ Only when entering Minimum
Magisk + Apple font ⭐⭐⭐ ✅ Yes ✅ Yes Bootloop, bank account blocking applications
ADB (manual replacement) ⭐⭐⭐⭐ ❌ No (but you need an unlocked bootloader) ✅ Yes Font restoration after update
Themes design ⭐⭐ ❌ No (but you need custom firmware) ✅ Yes Does not work on stock firmware

The choice of method depends on your skills and goals:

  • 🔧 Beginners a keyboard will do with emoji iOS (for example, Emoji Changer).
  • 🔧 Advanced users - installation via Magisk.
  • 🔧 Owners custom firmware - design themes.
💡

Before any manipulations with system files, check the compatibility of your smartphone model on the forums (for example, XDA Developers or 4PDA).

Frequent problems and their solutions

When changing the emoji to Android the following errors may occur:

  • 🚨 The emoticons did not change after installing the font:
    Check the file path (/system/fonts/) and access rights (chmod 644). A reboot may be required.
  • 🚨 Applications crash when displaying emoji:
    Remove the installed font and return to the standard one. If the problem persists, reflash the device.
  • 🚨 Banking apps stopped working:
    Disable Magisk Hide or remove the module with the font. Some banks block devices with symptoms. data-i="233">Banking applications stopped working root.

If, after replacing the fonts, emoticons are displayed as squares or empty symbols, it means:

  • The font file is damaged or incompatible with your version Android.
  • There are not enough system libraries to display color emoji.
How to return standard emoji?

If you installed the font via Magisk, simply remove the module in Magisk Manager and reboot the device. If you changed it manually via ADB, run the command:

adb shell rm /system/fonts/AppleColorEmoji.ttf

and reboot your smartphone.

Is it possible to change emoticons on Android without root?

Yes, but only for display when typing (via keyboards like Emoji Changer or SwiftKey). Global replacement without root possible only on some custom firmware or via ADB (with the risk of errors).

Why does the recipient see emojis not in the iPhone style?

Because the emoji style depends on recipient devicesIf you send a message with. emoticon 😂 in the style iOS, but the recipient Androidwill see it in the standard form for his system. The exception is messengers like Telegram, where you can choose the emoji style regardless of the OS.

Does this method work on Samsung/Galaxy?

On devices Samsung with firmware One UI global replacement of emoji via Magisk or ADB often does not work due to protected system partitions. In this case, only keyboards with alternative emoticons remain.

Is it possible to install emoji from iOS 17 on Android?

Yes, but you need to find the current version font Apple Color Emoji.ttf (for example, from backup iPhone to iOS 17). Please note that new emoji (for example, 🫠 or 🍣 in the updated design) may not display correctly on old ones. versions Android.

Will Google Pay work after changing the fonts?

If you used Magisk to replace fonts, Google Pay may block payments due to detection rootTo fix this, activate Magisk Hide and add Google Pay to the list of hidden applications.