Many Android users who have switched from iPhone or want to change their usual environment are often looking for a way to make the interface of a popular social network VKontakte more similar to the iOS version. Although the official Android app has its own unique design, there are legal ways to bring the visual style and logic as close as possible to what we see on Apple devices. This does not require jailbreaking your device or installing suspicious mods as long as you follow the correct instructions.
The main difference lies in the navigation. The iOS version uses a bottom tab bar, while classic Android often relies on a top menu or sidebar. However, the developers are constantly updating the client, and in the latest versions the functionality has become much closer. We will look at how to set up official application and what additional tools will help create the illusion of using iPhone version on your smartphone.
It is worth noting right away that a complete 1-in-1 copy is not possible due to differences in operating systems Android i iOS. System fonts, window minimization animations, and system notifications work differently. However, the visual component of the news feed, messages and profile can be brought to a common denominator with minimal effort.
Updating to the latest version and basic setup
The first and most important step is to install the latest version of the software. Older builds often have outdated designs that are very different from Apple's modern style. You need to go to Google Play Market or AppGallery and check for updates. If the “Update” button is active, be sure to click it.
After updating, go to the settings of the application itself. In the latest releases of VKontakte for Android, it became possible to customize the bottom navigation bar, which is a key element of the “iPhone” style. Go to section Settings → General → Bottom panel. Here you can choose which tabs will be displayed at the bottom of the screen, simulating the standard iOS tabbar.
⚠️ Attention: Do not download modified versions of the application (VK Mod, VK MP3 Mod and the like) from dubious sites in an attempt to get a “design like an iPhone.” These builds often contain malicious code that can steal your login information. Use only official sources.
It is also important to check the theme. By default, the application can use the device's system theme. To achieve maximum similarity, it is better to choose a light theme, since the classic iOS style is associated with a light background and blue accents. In the section Settings → General → Theme select “Light” or “System” if your phone is configured accordingly.
Navigation settings: bottom panel instead of a curtain
The main visual difference between the iPhone version is the fixed menu below. On Android, the hamburger menu at the top left is often activated by default. To change this behavior, you must manually reconfigure the partition display. Open the application and go to the panel editing menu.
You will see a list of all available sections: News, Messenger, Calls, Friends, Communities, Profile and others. Your task is to select exactly five main elements that will be fixed at the bottom. The standard set for iOS style usually includes: News, Messenger, Services (or Calls), Profile and Mini applications.
After selecting sections, save the changes. Now, when you launch the application, you will see the usual bottom line. This not only changes the appearance, but also improves ergonomics, allowing you to operate the social network with one hand, which is Apple's design philosophy. If you don’t need some section, you can hide it in the “Other” settings.
☑️ Setting up the bottom panel
Pay attention to the icons. In the latest versions VK icons have become more minimalistic and flat, which also brings them closer to the Cupertino style. However, if you use a third-party launcher on Android, you can additionally change the style of all icons in the system to round ones so that they visually blend with the social network interface.
Working with messages and calls in iOS style
The messenger interface inside VKontakte on Android has also undergone changes. To make it look as similar as possible to the iPhone version, you should pay attention to the display of avatars and message bubbles. In the chat settings (Settings → Messages), you can enable the display of avatars of interlocutors in the list of dialogues, which is standard for iOS.
The call function has also been unified. Now the screen during a video or voice call looks almost identical on both platforms. Control buttons (microphone, camera, end call) are located at the bottom of the screen on a translucent plate. This provides a familiar experience regardless of the operating system.
For convenience, it is recommended to enable quick replies and reactions to messages. On iOS this is done by swiping, on Android by a long tap. Although the gestures are different, the visual display of emoji reactions is now synchronized. You see the same emoticons as iPhone users, which simplifies communication.
Unfortunately, you can't hide the time of sending messages in chat (as in a minimalist design), but you can turn off text previews in notifications in your phone settings for more privacy.
Feature comparison: Android vs iOS
Despite the desire for a unified style, technical differences between platforms leave their mark on functionality. Below is a table that will help you understand which functions are available on both platforms in the latest version, and where there are nuances.
| Function | Android version | iOS version |
|---|---|---|
| Bottom navigation bar | Manually configured | Fixed system |
| Background playback | Available (VK Music) | Available (VK Music) |
| Return gestures (swipe) | Depends on the system/launcher | Built into the application |
| Widgets on the desktop | Wide customization options | Limited set widgets |
| Video quality in stories | Depends on the smartphone model | Optimized for the iOS camera |
As can be seen from the table, Android gives more freedom in customization, especially in terms of widgets. You can display not just an icon on the main screen, but a full-fledged music player or a news feed for a certain public. In iOS, widgets are more static and standardized.
On the other hand, camera optimization for recording Stories on iPhone is traditionally higher due to the direct integration of the system's camera API. On Android, quality may vary depending on your device manufacturer and driver version. However, in the latest updates compression algorithms were improved for all platforms.
Using widgets for complete immersion
One of the most effective ways to make using VK on Android similar to iPhone is the smart use of widgets. In iOS, widgets are integrated into the system very deeply. On Android, you can achieve a similar effect by adding VKontakte widgets to your home screen.
Long pressing on an empty area of the desktop will allow you to select an application widget. Select the Player or Feed widget. Place them so that they occupy a prominent place. This will allow you to control music or view updates without going deep into the application, creating a seamless experience.
⚠️ Attention: Operating system interfaces are updated independently of each other. What looks the same today may change tomorrow with a major Android or iOS update. You should not expect 100% identical behavior of the system.
You should also pay attention to “Bubbles” in Android. This feature lets you display active chats as floating icons on top of other apps, similar to how Messages works on iPhone. You can enable this in the system notification settings: Settings → Applications → VKontakte → Notifications → Bubbles.
Secret caching function
If the application is slow, try clearing the image cache in the VK settings (Settings → General → Memory usage). This often solves problems with loading avatars, which look “soapy” compared to iOS.
Solving problems with display and fonts
Often users complain that even after all the settings the application looks “wrong”. The problem may lie in the system fonts. iOS uses the San Francisco font, while Android uses Roboto or proprietary fonts of manufacturers (for example, MIUI Font or Samsung One UI Font).
You can change the system font without root access only on some shells (Xiaomi, Samsung). If you have such an opportunity, try installing a font that is as similar as possible to the standard system one, or simply resetting the font settings to standard ones. This will make the typography in the application more neutral and familiar.
Another problem is scaling. On iPhone screens have a certain pixel density. On Android, screen sizes vary greatly. Go to Phone settings → Screen → Font and display size. Try reducing the scale of the interface a little if the elements seem too large and “smeared.”
Complete identity is impossible due to different rendering engines, but adjusting the bottom panel and light theme gives 90% visual similarity.
Questions and answers about setting up the interface
Is it possible to install a real version of VK for iPhone on my Android?
No, this is technically impossible. Applications for iOS have the format .ipa and work only on the architecture of Apple processors in the iOS operating system environment. Installation on Android would require emulation of the entire system, which is impractical and ineffective on a mobile device.
Why did the bottom panel disappear after the update?
The display settings may have gone wrong. Go to Settings → General → Bottom panel and make sure that the items to be displayed are selected. Sometimes after major updates, the settings are reset to factory settings, where the side menu may dominate.
Is it safe to use themes from third-party developers?
Using third-party themes that change the system interface is usually safe if they are downloaded from your manufacturer's official theme store. However, themes that require installing a separate APK file to change VK specifically can be dangerous. Stick to the built-in customization tools.
How to enable dark theme like on iPhone?
In the application, go to Settings → General → Theme and select “Dark”. To turn it on automatically in the evening, select the “System” option and set up a dark theme schedule in Android itself in the “Screen” section.
Is the quality of uploaded photos in VK different on Android and iOS?
Yes, it is different. Image compression algorithms on the server may process photos from different platforms differently due to differences in color profiles (sRGB vs Display P3) and the original quality of the cameras. On Android, the result highly depends on the specific phone model.