How to change the font on Xiaomi Redmi 9A: from standard themes to manual installation

Xiaomi Redmi 9A is one of the most popular budget smartphones, but its standard MIUI font is not popular with everyone. Fortunately, the manufacturer and third-party developers offer several ways to personalize text: from simple themes to deep customization through ADB. In this article, we will analyze all the current methods, their pros and cons, and also tell you how to return everything back if the result does not suit you.

It's important to understand that changing system fonts is an interference with firmware that can lead to unstable interfaces or even loss of warranty. So, before any manipulations, we recommend backing up the data. If you're a beginner, start with standard MIUI themes - this is the safest way.

Now, let's get into the details. Below you'll find instructions for different levels of training, from basic settings to advanced techniques for power users.

1.Changing fonts through standard MIUI themes

The easiest and safest way is to use the built-in MIUI tools. The manufacturer offers several preinstalled fonts, as well as the ability to download additional ones from the official theme store.

To change the font:

Open the Themes app (icon with brush).
Go to the Fonts section in the lower menu.
Check out the options available. Free fonts are marked with a green tick.
Click on the font you like and select Apply.

Among the popular free fonts in MIUI:

📜 MiSans is Xiaomi’s standard font optimized for high-resolution screens.
🎨 SF Pro – font from Apple, adapted for Android.
🖋️ Roboto is a classic Google font, suitable for minimalist design.
📚 Noto Sans supports many languages, including Cyrillic.

If you don't have the options preset, you can download additional fonts directly from the Topic app.

In the Fonts section, click More (three dots in the upper right corner).
Choose Get More Fonts.
In the catalog that opens, filter out free options or pay for your favorite premium font.

⚠️ Note: Some fonts from the theme store may contain ads or collect data. Before installing, check other users' reviews and font ratings.

📊 Which typeface do you like better?

Standard MIUI

Roboto

SF Pro (Apple)

Other

2. Install fonts through third-party applications (without root)

If there are few built-in options, you can use third-party applications such as iFont or FontFix, which allow you to install custom fonts without obtaining root rights, but require pre-configuration.

For Redmi 9A, iFont (available on Google Play) is a good option.

Download and install iFont.
Open the app and select the Online section to view the available fonts.
Download your favorite font (click on it and select Download).
After downloading, press Set (install).
The app will suggest you choose the installation method. For the Redmi 9A, the iFont (No Root) option is suitable.
Follow the instructions on the screen. You usually need to confirm installation via ADB (more on this below).

If the font is not used after installation, follow the following steps:

🔄 Reboot your smartphone.
📱 Check what is in the display settings (Settings) → Screen) not worth a fixed font size.
🔧 Make sure that in the settings → Additionally. → For developers, the Local font installation option is enabled (if any).

⚠️ Note: Apps like iFont may conflict with updates MIUI. After a major update of the system, the font may reset to the standard and it will have to be installed again.

Download iFont from Google Play| Download your favorite font in the application |Enable debugging by USB in the developer settings |Confirm installation via ADB (if required) |Reboot the smartphone after installation-->

3. Manual font modification via ADB (for power users)

If you're willing to take risks for a unique font, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which does not require root rights, but requires command line work. On Redmi 9A with MIUI 12.5 firmware and later, this method may not work due to manufacturer restrictions.

Be prepared first:

Download and install ADB Tools on your computer.
Turn on USB Debugging on your smartphone: Go to Settings → About Phone. Tap 7 times on the MIUI version to activate Developer Mode. Return to Settings → Additional → Developer. Activate USB Debugging.

Redmi 9A

Now let's start installing the font:

Download the archive with a font in.ttf format (for example, from the Google Fonts website).
Rename the font file to font.ttf and place it in the folder with ADB.
Open the command line (or Terminal on macOS/Linux) and execute commands in order: adb devices (your device should be displayed) adb shell su (if there is root, otherwise skip) mount -o rw,remount /system cp /sdcard/font.ttf /system/fonts/Roboto-Regular.ttf chmod 644 /system/fonts/Roboto-Regular.ttf reboottf.

If the font hasn't changed after the reboot, try replacing other system font files (e.g. NotoSans-Regular.ttf or MiSans-Regular.ttf). The full list can be viewed in /system/fonts/ through the root-access file manager.

Systemic font	Replacement file	Note
Main text	Roboto-Regular.ttf	The most noticeable effect
Headlines	Roboto-Bold.ttf	Affects bold text
Monospace (code)	DroidSansMono.ttf	For terminal and technical text
MIUI font	MiSans-Regular.ttf	May require editing build.prop

⚠️ Warning: Incorrectly replacing system fonts can lead to "bootloop" ( looped boot).If the smartphone does not turn on after rebooting, try resetting via Recovery Mode (press Power). + Volume Up when switched on).

What if the screen becomes blurry after replacing the font?

This may be due to the font resolution incompatibility with the pixel density of the screen. Try: 1. Return the standard font via ADB. 2. Install a font that supports high DPI (e.g., Noto Sans). 3. Change the scale of the display in Settings → Screen → Text Size.

4. Using Magisk and modules for changing font (root)

If you have root rights (obtained through Magisk or TWRP), you can use specialized modules to customize your fonts flexibly, which gives you maximum freedom but also maximum risk.

The most popular module is MagiskFont, which can be installed as follows:

Install Magisk Manager.
Download the MagiskFont module (for example, with XDA Developers).
Open Magisk Manager and go to Modules.
Click Install from Storage and select the downloaded module file.
Reset the device.

⚠️ Note: Modules for Magisk may conflict with updates MIUI. Before updating the system, it is recommended to temporarily disable the font module to avoid failures.

💡

Before installing custom fonts through Magisk, back up /system/fonts/ with the Titanium Backup or Root Explorer app, which will help you quickly recover the original fonts in case of problems.

5. Restoration of the standard font

If experiments with fonts led to unstable operation of the smartphone or you just did not like the result, you can return everything back in several ways.

Method 1: Through MIUI Themes

Open the Topic app.
Go to the Font section.
Choose Default or MiSans.
Press Apply.

Method 2: ADB (if the font was manually installed)

Follow the command to restore the original font:

adb shell


su




mount -o rw,remount /system




rm /system/fonts/Roboto-Regular.ttf




cp /system/fonts/Roboto-Regular.ttf.bak /system/fonts/Roboto-Regular.ttf




chmod 644 /system/fonts/Roboto-Regular.ttf




reboot

Method 3: Resetting settings (extreme case)

If the smartphone has stopped working normally:

Go to Settings → System → Resetting settings.
Select Reset all settings (app data will be saved).
Confirm the action.

Even if the reset didn’t help and the smartphone doesn’t turn on, try flashing it through Fastboot using the official firmware for Redmi 9A.

💡

Before any typeface manipulation, back up /system/fonts/. This is the only way to guarantee the return of the original fonts without losing data.

Frequent problems and their solutions

When you change your fonts to Redmi 9A, you're faced with typical problems, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

Problem.	Possible cause	Decision
The font has not changed after installation	System cache not updated	Reboot your smartphone or clear the cache in Settings → Storage → Clear the cache
The text became blurry.	Incompatible DPI font	Set a high-resolution font or zoom in on screen settings
Apps fly out	Systemic font damaged	Restore the original font via ADB or reset settings
Cyrillic is not working.	Font does not support Russian language	Choose a font that supports Cyrillic (for example, Noto Sans or Roboto)
The smartphone is off.	Error when replacing system files	Log in Recovery Mode and reset to factory settings

If none of these methods helped, check:

📋 Font compatibility with the Android version (on Redmi) 9A Android installed 10/11 shelled MIUI 12+).
🔧 Availability of updates for applications (iFont, Magisk).
🛠️ Integrity of font files (re-download them from official sources).

FAQ: Answers to popular questions

Can I change the font to Redmi 9A without a computer?

Yes, but with limitations. You can use: Embedded MIUI themes (the safest way to do it), apps like iFont (requires ADB confirmation, but you only need a computer for one command), and you need root rights to fully customize without a PC.

Why do some characters appear in squares after changing the font?

This means that the font chosen does not support the desired characters (e.g., characters or special characters). Solutions: Install a font with advanced Unicode support (e.g., Noto Sans). Go back to the standard MIUI font. Use applications that allow you to load additional characters (e.g., Gboard for the keyboard).

How do I know which typeface is on my Redmi 9A?

There are several ways: Open the Themes → Fonts app. The current font will be ticked. Use the Font Inspector app (available on Google Play). For advanced users, connect via ADB and follow the command: adb shell ls /system/fonts/ (see which files have been changed recently).

Will the custom font work after the MIUI update?

It depends on the installation method: 🔄 Standard themes – will remain, but may reset with major updates. 📱 iFont/ADB — It's likely to reset. It'll require re-installation. 🛠️ Magisk modules - may conflict with the update. It is recommended to disable the module before the update. After the update, check the font and if necessary, repeat the installation procedure.

Can you change the font only for specific applications?

By default, MIUI applies the font globally to the entire system. However, there are workarounds: Some apps (like WhatsApp or Telegram) allow you to choose the font in their settings. With Magisk and the App Systemizer module, you can embed custom font into individual applications (requires deep knowledge). Use alternative launchers (like Nova Launcher) that support custom fonts for icons and menus.