Modern Xiaomi and Redmi smartphones have highly detailed screens, but standard font settings are often too small to comfortably read news or messages in instant messengers. This is especially true for users with reduced vision or those who prefer a minimalist interface with large elements. MIUI system and the new HyperOS provide extensive personalization options that go far beyond simple wallpaper selection.
Changing the size of the text is one of the first things you should do after buying a new device to adapt it to your physiological characteristics. Unlike many other Android shells, Xiaomi’s interface allows you not only to stretch the letters, but also to change their style, as well as the density of display elements of the interface, which makes reading information from the display really convenient in all lighting conditions.
In this guide, we will take a look at all the ways you can change typography, from the standard settings menu to the hidden features of the engineering mode, how to avoid common errors when text hits buttons, and how to get everything back to the original state if the experiments went too far.
Standard font setting through the menu
The easiest and safest way to change the size of letters is available to everyone out of the box, and you have to open the main settings menu and find the Screen section. Depending on the firmware version, this item may be called differently, but the logic of the layout has remained unchanged over the past years of shell development.
Once you enter the menu, you will see a slider that moves in real time to change the size of the text in the preview, which allows you to choose the perfect value at which the eyes do not strain, but the screen fits enough information, and it is recommended not to twist the slider to the maximum unnecessarily, as this can disrupt the layout of some applications.
Importantly, in newer versions of HyperOS, the zoom algorithm works more intelligently, automatically adjusting the indentations between the lines. If you have an older version of MIUI 12 or 13, the changes can only affect the main text, leaving the system menu headers the same.
⚠️ Note: With a strong increase in font size in standard settings, buttons in some applications may become unreadable or partially hidden outside the screen boundaries.
Remember that after you have set up, the system may ask for a reboot, although in most cases the changes are effective instantly. If you accidentally knocked down the settings and can't read the text on the screen, just go to the same menu and move the slider to the far left position.
Advanced settings and styles in the app Topics
For those who don't have the standard options, Xiaomi has integrated deep into the Theme Store, and you can find not only wallpaper, but also custom fonts that support dynamic sizing, which opens up thousands of free and paid text design options.
To take advantage of this method, open the Themes app and go to the font profile or section. Once you load the desired style, you can apply the same zoom settings to it as you would for the system font. Some third-party fonts have unique geometry that can look better with a larger pin.
It is worth considering that installing third-party fonts requires a Mi Account. In some regions, this service may work with restrictions, so make sure that your region in the phone settings matches the acca-unta region or is set to India / Singapore if you have connection problems.
- 🎨 Open the Themes app on the main screen.
- 🔍 Go to the Font tab in the bottom panel.
- ⬇️ Download your favorite option and click Apply.
- 📏 Return to the screen settings for the final size calibration.
Using custom fonts is a great way to personalize your device, but remember to read. Too pretentious serif or decorative designs can be bad for long texts, such as browser articles or e-books.
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Use sans-serif fonts (like Roboto or standard Mi Sans) for the main interface – they are better read on smartphone screens at any size.
Size adjustment of interface elements and density
Users often confuse font size with interface element size, although Xiaomi's system has two different parameters. The change in DPI density (dots per inch) affects how much content is placed on the screen, scaling not only text but also icons, buttons and indentations.
This feature is especially useful on large-diagonal smartphones, where standard elements may seem too small and disparate. To change this setting, go to Settings → Additional → Element Size. Here you will see a separate slider that works regardless of the size of the text.
And density adjustment allows you to make the interface airier or more compact, and if you zoom in on the font but the buttons are small, this tool will help you harmonize the look of the system, and the best position is in the middle or just to the right of the center.
| Parameter | Impact on the system | Where to find out. |
|---|---|---|
| Size of text | It only changes the height and width of the letters. | Settings → Screen → Text Size |
| Size of elements | Scaling icons, buttons and indentations | Settings → Additional → Size of elements |
| Bold text | Increases the saturation of the font | Settings → Screen → Fat Text |
The balance between these settings is comparable to the Simple Interface mode on push-button phones, but with all the features of the smartphone still in place. Experiment with both sliders at the same time to find the middle ground.
☑️ Verification of readability of the interface
Use of the “Simple” regime for the elderly
In the arsenal of the MIUI shell, there is a special mode designed specifically for the elderly or users who critically need large controls, which radically changes the logic of the launcher, increasing all elements to maximum values.
You can activate this mode through the Settings menu → Advanced Settings → Simple Mode. Once turned on, the interface transforms: icons become huge, the font increases to the limit, and unnecessary functions are hidden so as not to confuse the user.
It also simplifies the menu structure, eliminating complex swipes and gestures that may not be obvious to beginners, and is the perfect solution for handing a smartphone to grandparents, as the chance of random changes in settings is minimized.
⚠️ Note: In Simple Mode, some familiar features may be hidden. To return to the normal interface, you need to pinch the Settings icon or find the corresponding item in the menu.
In addition, this mode often changes the logic of calls and messages, making them more visible. If the standard font increase is not enough, switching to this mode is the most effective solution to the problem of poor visibility.
How do you get out of Simple Mode?
Advanced customization through the engineering menu
For power users who want to have full control over the graphics display, there is access to hidden settings through an engineering menu, which allows you to change the pixel density (DPI) to within one, which is not available in the standard interface.
To get into the developer menu, you need to quickly click on the build number in the About Phone section several times. After the notification “You became a developer”, a new option will appear in the settings menu Additional → For developers.
Within this section, look for Minimum Width, which changes the value of the minimum width, and you can be very careful that setting too small a value can make the interface unreadable and too large can make it stretch outside the screen.
Recommended default value: 360-411 dpi
Safe range of changes: ±20-30 unitsWrite down the initial value before making changes to be able to go back, a technique that is particularly useful when connecting your smartphone to external displays or using specific applications that ignore the system settings of the font.
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The engineering menu gives the maximum accuracy of the settings, but requires caution: an incorrect DPI value can temporarily make the phone unusable without resetting the settings.
Return to factory font settings
If the design experiments have led to inconvenience or conflict in the display of text, you can always go back to the original state. Xiaomi system allows you to reset only the font settings, without affecting personal data and installed applications.
To do this, just go back to the Screen → Text Size menu and press the reset button if available, or manually return the sliders to the center position. For fonts from the theme store, you need to re-apply the standard Roboto or Mi Sans font through the Theme app.
In extreme cases, when the interface becomes unstable, cleaning the launcher cache helps, which will not delete your photos or contacts, but will return the standard display of icons and desktop grids, often solving problems with the "go" layout after installing heavy themes.
- 🔄 Go to Settings. → Annexes.
- 🔍 Find in the list the launcher or desktop.
- 🗑️ Press Clear Clear. → Clear the cache.
- 📱 Restart the device to apply changes.
Regularly returning to standard settings is useful if you notice that in new system updates, some elements have become incorrectly displayed. MI Sans is optimized by the company’s engineers specifically for their device screens.