Smartphone owners Redmi i Xiaomi often face the desire to personalize their device, making it visually similar to the company's products Apple. One of the most noticeable interface elements, by which users instantly identify the operating system, are emojis - those same small icons that we use in correspondence every day. The standard set of characters in the shell MIUI or HyperOS differs from the style iOSwhich may irritate aesthetes or those who are simply accustomed to the design of "Apple" devices.
Fortunately, the ecosystem Android is sufficient flexible to allow the user to change system fonts and keyboards without having to obtain root access or flash the device. There are several proven methods that allow you to replace standard yellow emoticons with recognizable three-dimensional icons from Apple. We will consider both safe methods through official themes, and more advanced methods of replacing system files through special applications.
Before starting any manipulations, you should understand that changing system fonts affects not only emoji, but also the display of regular text. An incorrectly selected file may result in squares or hieroglyphs being displayed instead of letters. Therefore, it is extremely important to follow the instructions and have at hand a way to roll back changes if the result is not satisfactory or the system starts to work incorrectly.
Using official themes in the Themes application
The easiest and safest way to change the appearance of emoticons on devices Redmi is to use the built-in theme store. The shell developers MIUI provided for the possibility of deep customization of the interface, including replacing system icons and fonts. There are thousands of themes in the catalog that imitate the iOSstyle, and many of them contain an emoji package identical to those used in iPhone.
To implement this method, you will not need to download third-party APK files from dubious sources, which minimizes the risk of viruses getting onto your device. Just go to the pre-installed application Themes and use the search. Enter queries like “iOS emojis”, “iPhone style” or “Apple font” into the search bar. The system will display a list of available designs, among which you need to choose the one that has a high rating and a large number of downloads.
However, it is worth considering an important nuance: using a full theme will change not only emoticons, but also application icons, the notification panel and the settings menu. If your goal is to change only emoji, this method may seem overkill. However, some themes only allow you to selectively apply fonts. After loading the theme, click the button Apply, and then in the window that appears, select the option to apply only the font, if it is available in your version of the shell.
⚠️ Attention: Some themes may be paid or require an account Mi Account with a certain level of access. Also, the interface of the theme store may differ depending on the region in which the smartphone was purchased (Global version or Chinese).
After applying the theme, reboot the device for the changes to take effect at the level of all system processes. Open any messenger, for example Telegram or WhatsApp, and check the display of emoticons. If they become similar to those in iOS, then the method worked. Otherwise, perhaps the selected theme does not replace the system emoji file, but only changes the interface icons, and then you will have to look for another theme or use other methods described below.
Installing the Gboard keyboard with iOS settings
Often users confuse system emoji and those that are displayed directly in the text input field of the keyboard. In fact, many modern instant messengers display emoticons as the sender sent them, using their own libraries. However, so that when entering text you see the usual rounded icons Apple, the best solution would be to install a proprietary keyboard from Google - Gboard. This app is officially supported and regularly updated.
Gboard has a built-in emoji style changer feature that allows you to switch between Android design and iOS design. This solution is the most stable, as it does not require intervention in system files and does not depend on firmware updates Redmi. First, you need to download the application from the store Google Playif it is not already installed on your device by default.
After installation, go to the keyboard settings. The path usually looks like this: Settings → Advanced settings → Language and input → Manage keyboards. Make sure Gboard is activated. Then open the application itself Gboard through the settings or by holding the globe icon on the keyboard and selecting settings. Find the section Settings inside the keyboard menu and scroll down to Emoji style.
- 🍏 Select the “iOS Style” option to display emoticons like on an iPhone.
- 🤖 Select the “Android Style” option to return to the native look.
- ⚙️ In the same menu, you can disable predictive input or change the theme of the keyboard itself.
It is important to understand the difference: this setting changes the appearance of emoticons only at the moment you enter them on your keyboard. If a user with pure Android sends you a message, you will see his emoticons in the form in which your messenger or system displays them. But for your own comfort when typing, the c Gboard method is the reference solution for owners Xiaomi i Redmi.
If, after changing the style in Gboard, the emoticons have not changed in a specific application, try clearing the cache of this application in the smartphone settings.
Replacing the system font through the app zFont 3
For those who want to change emoji system-wide so that they appear the same in all applications, including social networks and browsers, a deeper approach will be required. The leader in this niche is the application zFont 3that allows you to install third-party fonts and sets of emoji on devices without root access, using vulnerabilities or special installation methods available in MIUI.
Download the application zFont 3 from the store Google Play. Once launched, select the tab Emoji at the bottom of the screen. Here you will find different packages: iOS 14, iOS 15, iOS 16 and even newer versions. Select the desired version and click the button Download. After downloading, a button Applywill appear, which will offer several installation methods. For smartphones Redmi i Xiaomi the usually recommended method involves replacing the font through the theme settings.
The installation process may seem confusing, as the application will automatically redirect you to different phone settings menus. Follow the instructions on the screen: you will most likely need to apply the downloaded font through the menu Themes → Profile → Fonts. In some cases zFont 3 will offer to create a backup copy of the current font - do not ignore this offer, it can save you from having to reset settings in case of an error.
☑️ Installation algorithm via zFont 3
After successful installation and reboot of the device, you will notice that the emoticons have changed globally. However, it is worth remembering that this method replaces the system font file. This means that some rare characters or specific characters may not be displayed correctly if they are not included in the new font. In addition, with major system updates HyperOS or MIUI font settings may be reset to factory settings, and the procedure will have to be repeated.
Manual installation of fonts through the developer menu
If automatic methods through applications do not suit you or you prefer full control over the file system, you can try the manual method of installing fonts. This method requires downloading a font file with the extension .ttf or .otfthat contains the emoji glyphs you need. On the Internet you can find files with names like NotoColorEmoji.ttf in the version from Apple, adapted for Android.
For manual installation on Redmi Often you need to activate developer mode. Go to Settings → About phone and quickly click 7 times on the item MIUI Version or OS Version. After this, the item Advanced settings . Inside this menu, look for an option related to fonts or replacing system files, although in new versions of Android this option is often hidden or removed for security reasons. For developerswill appear in the menu
A more reliable manual method for MIUI involves using the “Second Space” function or specific tricks using a theme. You download the font file, rename it according to system requirements (sometimes archiving into a special theme format is required), and then apply it through the theme engineering menu. This path is difficult for a beginner and carries risks, so it is recommended to use it only for experienced users who understand the Android file structure. .mtz), and then apply through the engineering theme menu. This path is difficult for a beginner and carries risks, so it is recommended that only experienced users who understand the Android file structure use it.
| Installation method | Difficulty | Risk of system failure | Globality of changes |
|---|---|---|---|
| MIUI Themes | Low | Minimal | Partial (depending on the theme) |
| Gboard | Very Low | None | Text input only |
| zFont 3 | Medium | Medium | Full (system) |
| Manual replacement | High | High | Full (system) |
⚠️ Attention: The interface of the “For Developers” menu and the available functions may differ radically on different versions of Android (11, 12, 13, 14) and MIUI/HyperOS shells. What worked in the old version may be blocked in the new one.
Possible problems and ways to solve them
In the process of customizing the interface, users often encounter unexpected difficulties. One of the most common problems is the appearance of empty squares or question marks instead of emoticons. This occurs when the installed font does not support certain Unicode characters that the application is trying to display. In such a situation, the system does not know how to draw the glyph and displays a stub.
Another problem is version incompatibility. Emoji are constantly updated: every year the Unicode consortium adds new characters (for example, new professions, animals or flags). If you install a font from iOS 14 on modern Android 14, you may not see new emojis that are already in the system, or vice versa, old emoticons may not be displayed correctly in new applications. zFont 3 usually solves this problem by offering the latest versions, but manually installing outdated files is guaranteed to lead to conflicts.
It is also possible that the device will slow down or increased battery consumption, although this happens rarely. Replacing the system font forces the processor and graphics accelerator to process text data differently. If you notice that your phone starts to slow down after installing custom emoji, the best solution is to return to the standard font. To do this, the application Themes has a user profile where a backup copy of the standard font is stored Roboto or MiSans.
What to do if the phone stops loading after changing the font?
If the device is frozen on the logo during boot (bootloop), try entering Recovery mode (usually by holding down the Volume Up + Power button). In the Recovery menu, select Wipe Data (this will delete all data!) or try to find the theme reset option. As a last resort, only flashing the device via a computer using the Mi Flash Tool will help.
Comparison of methods and final recommendations
The choice of method for replacing emoticons depends on your goals and level of technical training. If you just need to conveniently type and see beautiful icons in instant messengers, you just need to limit yourself to the settings Gboard. It's fast, safe and reversible. If you are a perfectionist and want the whole phone to look like iPhoneincluding system notifications and settings, then you will have to use zFont 3 or look for the perfect theme in the store MIUI.
Do not forget about data security. By downloading font files from third-party forums or Telegram channels, you risk infecting your device with malware. Font files themselves are not executable, but the archives in which they are distributed may contain hidden threats. Always scan downloaded files with an antivirus and give preference to trusted applications from the official store. Owners of devices with a locked bootloader (which is the standard for most users) should not try to unlock it just to change emoticons. This will void the warranty, make it impossible to use banking applications (due to a security breach), and complicate the process of obtaining software updates. Modern methods without root access cope well with the task of visual transformation. Google Play.
For device owners Redmi With a locked bootloader (which is standard for most users), you shouldn't try to unlock it just to change the emoji. This will void the warranty, make it impossible to use banking applications (due to a security breach), and complicate the process of obtaining software updates. Modern methods without root access cope well with the task of visual transformation.
The optimal balance between security and customization is achieved by using the Gboard application for input and official MIUI themes for system display, without the need for deep intervention in the file system.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Will the setting be reset? emoticons after updating the Android system?
Yes, in most cases, a major firmware update (for example, moving from MIUI 13 to 14 or to HyperOS) resets all custom fonts to factory ones. You will have to reapply the theme or customize zFont 3. Keyboard settings Gboard usually saved, since it is a separate application.
Will my interlocutors see iPhone emoticons if I install them?
No, this is an important misconception. You see emoticons as the interlocutor sent them, and the interlocutor sees them as the device is configured. By installing an iOS font on your Redmi, you change the display only for yourself. To send an Apple-style emoji, you need to use a keyboard it device. By installing an iOS font on your Redmi, you change the display only for yourself. To send an Apple-style emoji, you need to use a keyboard Gboard with the appropriate setting, but even then the recipient will see it in their style if the messenger does not explicitly send emoji images (as Telegram does in some modes).
Is it possible to remove the iOS font and get everything back?
Of course. Go to the application Themes, go to the section Profile (person icon), select Fonts and apply the default font (usually it is called Default, Roboto or System). After the reboot, everything will return to its original state.
Does changing the font affect the operation of banking applications?
Usually not if you Didn't get root access and didn't unlock the bootloader. Banking applications check the integrity of the system and the presence of superuser rights. Simply changing the font through the theme menu or application zFont 3 (without root) does not violate the security of the system, so Sberbank, Tinkoff and other applications will work correctly.
Why in some applications emoticons still look like Android?
Some applications (for example, old versions of social networks or specific software) use their own built-in emoji libraries and ignore the system font. In such cases, it is almost impossible to influence the display without modifying the application itself, which is not recommended for ordinary users.