Owners of Xiaomi smartphones often wonder whether it is possible to visually and functionally adapt the interface MIUI or HyperOS to the familiar Apple ecosystem. The desire to get a premium experience without the high cost of the device is quite feasible due to the flexibility of the Android system. Modern launchers and themes allow you to change the appearance beyond recognition, simulating the work of iOS.
The transformation process does not require deep knowledge of programming or obtaining root access rights. Just picking the right set of applications and settings to make the menu, control panel and even animations begin to resemble the iPhone. In this guide, we will look at a step-by-step algorithm of actions that will allow you to customize the device as efficiently and safely as possible.
It's important to understand that a complete operating system replacement is not possible or feasible because of the risk of loss of warranty and stability. However, the visual shell is the layer that the user interacts with 99% of the time. The graphical interface can be configured so that the difference between devices becomes noticeable only with a deep analysis of system functions.
Installation of design themes and launchers
The first and most obvious step is to change the standard shell. Xiaomi's Themes app contains thousands of design choices created by the community. To find the right style, type in searches like "iOS 17," "iPhone 15 Pro" or "Cupertino." Once you download and apply the theme, the desktop interface, application icons and lock screen will change beyond recognition.
If standard features are not enough, it is recommended to install a third-party launcher. The leaders in this niche are Launcher iOS 17 and Control Center iOS 16. These applications completely replace the desktop, adding the characteristic Apple grid of icons and folder behavior. It is important to provide the launcher with all the requested permissions so that it can correctly intercept system actions.
⚠️ Warning: When installing third-party launchers, turn off battery optimization for this application in the energy saving settings, otherwise the system may force the process to close and the animations will stop running smoothly.
To achieve maximum similarity, you need to adjust not only the icons, but also the fonts. In the Themes app, go to the "Fonts" section and select a style reminiscent of San Francisco. Many users also change the system notification sounds to standard Marimba or Reflection tunes to match the auditory experience with the visual.
Setting up the lock screen and widgets
The lock screen is the first thing a user sees, newer versions of MIUI have a feature called "Always on screen" with support for third-party styles. To copy the design of iOS, use time and date widgets of large size. In the theme store, there are often packages that completely replace the standard lockscreen with an interactive counterpart from Apple.
Special attention should be paid to widgets on the home screen. Standard Android widgets look alien in the environment of the squares of the iPhone. The solution will be to install the Widgetsmith app (or its analogues for Android) and download special plugins for the launcher, which allow you to create groups of widgets with rounded corners and a semi-transparent background.
To implement the “Live Activities” functionality, which displays the status of a taxi order or delivery tracker directly on the lock screen, you will need to install specialized plugins. ADB-teams, but most work out of the box after installing the appropriate launcher extension.
☑️ Setting up the lock screen
Don't forget the control center. In iOS, it's called by swipe from the top right corner. On Xiaomi, the default swipe on the right opens notifications. To fix this, go to Settings → Notifications and Control Center → Control Center Style and select "Version 2." Then, in the launcher settings, set the swipe control center on the right.
Gesture and navigation management
One of the key features of the iPhone is gesture navigation. Xiaomi has a great experience, but it needs to be set up correctly. Go to Settings → Desktop → Navigation and select Full-screen gestures mode. This will remove the button bottom bar and allow you to control your smartphone with swipes, like on Apple devices.
For the same, it’s important to adjust the sensitivity and return area. Some launchers have a separate Edge swipe setting that simulates a return to iOS. It’s also worth turning off the vibration when navigating if you want to replicate the tactile sensations from the Taptic Engine, although it’s software impossible to copy it completely.
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To simulate a Home swipe, set up a short swipe from the bottom up in the center of the screen in the launcher gesture settings, this will add a characteristic application folding animation.
Special attention should be paid to the “Back Tap” feature, which appeared in iOS 14. On Xiaomi, the analogue is implemented through the special features menu. Go to Settings → Additional Settings → Special Features → Sensor → Tapping on the back panel. Here you can assign a camera launch, a screenshot or an opening of the control center when you tap double or triple.
⚠️ Warning: The function of tapping on the back panel may not work properly when using thick protective covers or when the "In the pocket" mode is turned on".
Adaptation of system functions and interface
For a smartphone to behave like an iPhone, it's not just the appearance of the same. You need to adapt the behavior of the system. For example, in iOS there is no back button in the application interface, all control is based on swipes. In MIUI you can hide gesture prompts to make the interface look cleaner. For this, in the developer settings (if enabled) or launcher, look for the option "Hide gesture indicators."
An important element is "Brill" or Dynamic Island. If your Xiaomi has a cutout in the screen, it can be visually disguised. In Settings → Screen → Screen → Screencut select "Hide the cutout" mode. The black bar on the top will merge with the status bar, creating the illusion of a black bow like the old iPhone. For new models with Dynamic Island, there are special widgets that simulate its operation.
Below is a table of matching functions for quick setup:
| iOS feature | Analogue in MIUI/HyperOS | Where to find out. |
|---|---|---|
| Control Center | Control centre (style 2) | Settings → Notifications |
| App Library | Folders on the desktop | Launcher settings |
| Live Activities | Real-time widgets | Widget store |
| Back Tap | Tap on the back panel | Special opportunities |
Also worth paying attention to the system fonts. Changing the system font on San Francisco may require a patch through the zFont 3 application, since Xiaomi does not standardly allow you to replace the system fonts completely.
Replacement of standard applications with iOS analogues
Xiaomi's standard apps (Calendar, Calculator, Recorder) have their own unique design. To break the visual dissonance, they're better replaced with Google Play analogues that copy the design of iOS. For example, the Calendar iOS app or Calculator iOS app completely replicates the appearance and logic of the original work.
Focus on gallery and file management. The standard MIUI gallery is powerful, but it looks different. Installing Google Photos with minimalism enabled or Apple-style specialty gallery launchers will help keep the same style. Documents or Files-like file management apps are suitable.
Secret launcher settings
The browser also plays an important role. Safari is easy to find by the bottom address bar (in new versions) or the top. Chrome or Yandex Browser can enable the "Mobile version of sites", but it is better to install browsers with support for themes, such as Via Browser, and customize its interface to the minimalism of Apple.
Fine tuning of animations and transitions
iOS is famous for its smooth animations. Android can be smooth, too, but the default settings may differ. To speed up the interface and get closer to the experience of the iPhone, activate the developer menu. Tap 7 times on the build number in Settings → About phone.
Then go to Settings → Advanced Settings → Developer. Find Windows Animation, Transition Animation, and Animation Duration. Set 0.5x or 0.7x to make the interface more responsive and audacious, as is the case with the latest iOS versions.
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Reducing the scale of animations to 0.5x visually increases the speed of the smartphone and makes transitions between screens more like sharp transitions in iOS.
It’s also worth experimenting with screen refresh rates. If your Xiaomi supports 120Hz, make sure the screen settings are “Default” or “120Hz” rather than “Auto.” iOS aggressively uses high hertz for scrolling, and fixing this option at maximum will give the most similar experience.