Xiaomi and Redmi smartphone owners often face the need to adapt the interface to their individual needs. One of the most sought-after features is text zooming, especially in communication apps and standard messaging, especially for people with visual impairments or those who prefer large typography for quick reading.
The interface of the MIUI shell and the new HyperOS provides extensive customization, but not all settings are on the surface. The standard Messages app does not have a separate slider for adjusting the size of letters within the dialogue. However, the system allows you to globally change the font, which will automatically apply to SMS, contacts and other system elements.
In this guide, we will take a look at all the scaling techniques available, learn how to use both standard tools and additional features for older people, and also touch on third-party applications if standard functionality is not enough.
Standard font settings in MIUI and HyperOS
The main method of resizing text is to use the system settings of the theme, which is the most stable approach and does not require the installation of additional software. The changes made here will affect most system applications, including the settings menu, the phone book and the standard SMS client.
To get started, you need to go to the main settings menu of your device, find the partition that is responsible for the appearance of the system. Different versions of the firmware may call it differently, but the layout logic remains the same. You need to find the Screen or Wallpaper and personalization.
- 📱 Open the settings on your Xiaomi or Redmi.
- 🎨 Go to the Screen section (in some versions of the Display).
- 🔍 Find and select Text Size or Font Size and Display.
- 👆 Move the slider left or right to choose a comfortable scale.
Once you move the slider, the changes are instantaneous, and you'll see how the text on the menu has gotten bigger or smaller, and note that too much font size can cause some words to be moved to a new line, changing the layout of the interface.
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Systemic font change affects all applications that support Android scaling standards, including standard SMS.
Use of the “Simple” regime for the elderly
If you're not getting a standard font zoom, or you're setting up your phone for an older person, you should pay attention to a special mode, which is called Simple Mode in the MIUI shell, which is a very dramatic interface that changes the way you look at your desktop and system applications.
Turning on this mode not only increases the font, but also changes the structure of the menu: icons become huge, the signatures under them become as large and readable as possible. The standard message application also adapts: the letters in SMS become much larger, and the interface is simplified to a minimum of functions.
⚠️ Warning: In simple mode, the usual widget of the "curtain" notifications in the upper corner disappears. The control panel is called by swipe down the entire screen, which may be unusual for experienced users.
To activate this mode, go to Settings and find Simple Mode, which is usually located at the top of the list or in the Additional section. Once turned on, the phone will ask for confirmation, as the appearance of the system will change completely.
☑️ Verification after the Simple Mode is activated
Availability settings and scale-up
In the arsenal of the Android operating system, on which Xiaomi and Redmi are based, there is a powerful section for people with disabilities. Here you can find the feature "Grow" that works like a magnifier, which allows you to temporarily enlarge any part of the screen, including text in SMS.
This feature does not change the font size constantly, but allows you to view small text in detail at any time. Activation is done by triple tapping on the screen or through a special button in the control panel, which is convenient for a one-time reading of small notifications or long messages with small print.
To set up, go to Settings → Advanced Settings → Special. Features. In Vision, select Enlargement. You can select Window or Whole Screen. In window mode, you move the magnifying glass through the text, and in full screen, the entire picture is scaled.
- 🔍 The function allows you to increase the text up to 500% of the original size.
- 👆 Control is carried out by multi-touch gestures (pick for zoom).
- ⚙️ You can adjust the triple press speed to activate.
- 👁️ Perfect for people with very poor eyesight.
Using the zoom function doesn't require rebooting applications. You can read SMS, then activate the magnifier, review the text, and turn off the function. It's a flexible tool that doesn't break the layout of other applications.
Problems with displaying long SMS after increasing
With a significant increase in font size, users often encounter visual artifacts, text in messages can "push" buttons, crop at the edges of the screen or be carried incorrectly, due to the fact that the Messages app has fixed boundaries of containers for text.
In some versions of MIUI, at maximum font size, the last words in a line may disappear from the visible area. To avoid losing the meaning of the message, try not to put the font size slider in the extreme right position. 3-4 divisions out of 5 possible are considered optimal.
If you notice text in a text message has become unreadable or cropped, try changing the orientation of the screen. Turning your smartphone to a horizontal position (album orientation) can temporarily solve the problem, as the lines will become longer and the text will fit the whole.
⚠️ Note: If after changing the font, the buttons in the SMS become invisible or overlap with text, the only solution is to temporarily zoom in the system settings.
Also, long messages (component SMS) can break down incorrectly, instead of one coherent text, you can get a few short pieces, which is a technical limitation of the application when working with large fonts.
Why does the font not change in some applications?
Third-party SMS applications with flexible settings
If the standard Xiaomi app doesn’t meet your font size requirements, you can always install an alternative.The Google Play store features a lot of SMS clients who have their own typography customization system independent.
One of the most popular solutions is Google Messages, which is often pre-installed on smartphones, but hidden, and has a separate text-size changer that works independently of the MIUI system settings.
To install an alternative application:
- Open the Google Play Store.
- Type "SMS" or "Messages" into the search.
- Choose a high-ranking app (e.g. Textra, Chomp SMS).
- Install and open the application.
- In the settings of the new application, find the Appearance or Display section.
Using third-party clients offers another advantage: the ability to change not only the size, but also the font (type), you can choose a more readable font without serifs, which will significantly improve the perception of text on the screen.
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When you install a new SMS application, the system asks for permission to send messages, which is a standard procedure without which the application will not work.
Comparison of methods of changing the size of the text
To make it easier for you to choose the right method, we have prepared a comparison table that will help you assess the pros and cons of each method depending on your situation and the model of Redmi or Xiaomi.
| Method | Impact on the system | Flexibility of setting | Difficulty |
|---|---|---|---|
| Systemic font | Global (all menus) | Medium (size only) | Low. |
| Simple mode. | Complete interface change | Low (fixed style) | Low. |
| Increase (Lupa) | Temporary | High (any scale) | Medium |
| Third-party annex | Only inside the app. | Maximum (font, color, size) | Medium |
As you can see from the table, the best way to use it is with a system setup or a third-party app, the Simple mode is ideal for older users who don't need any extra features, and the magnifier is good as a backup tool.
Remember that after any changes to the system, you may need to restart the device to correctly apply all parameters, especially when switching between normal and simple mode.
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A combination of techniques (e.g., system magnification + third-party app) gives the best result for people with severe vision problems.