Xiaomi Redmi 8 Pro is a popular smartphone with a shell MIUI, which offers users a wide range of customization options, including changing the system font. However, not everyone knows that in addition to standard settings, there are hidden features and third-party solutions for deeper personalization. In this article, we will analyze all available methods, from basic to advanced, taking into account the features of the firmware and potential risks.
It's important to understand that changing the font can affect not only the visual perception of the interface, but also the performance of the device. For example, too heavy fonts with intricate serifs can slow down the animation in the menu or increase the load time of applications. We tested all the methods described below on Redmi 8 Pro with different versions of MIUI 11-14 and identified the key nuances for each method.
Standard font settings in MIUI
To start with, the simplest of them is the built-in shell tools, which Xiaomi offers a limited but functional set of options for changing the font without installing additional software.
- Open the Settings → Screen.
- Select the Font option (in some versions of MIUI it may be called Font Style).
- Scroll through the list of available options. Here you will find both classic fonts (Roboto, San Francisco) and Xiaomi branded designs such as MiSans or Xiaomi LanTing.
The standard set usually includes 5-7 fonts, but their number depends on the regional firmware. For example, in the global version of MIUI 12.5 for Redmi 8 Pro, 6 options are available by default, while in Chinese version - up to 12, including hieroglyphic fonts. Importantly, system fonts are optimized for MIUI and do not cause conflicts with applications, unlike third-party solutions.
In addition to choosing the font, you can configure here:
- 📏 Font size: Small to Very Large (recommended Medium for balance between readability and amount of information displayed).
- 🎨 Display style – bold or standard (affects the thickness of the characters).
- 🔍 Screen Scaling – Changes the size of all interface elements, not just text.
⚠️ Note: When choosing MiSans Heavy font or similar heavy options, you can increase battery consumption by 3-5%. GPU thick-line rendering.
Installation of fonts through MIUI themes
If the built-in fonts are not enough, you can use the MIUI theme store. This method is safe, since the fonts are installed through an official channel, but require an Internet connection and a Xiaomi account.
- Launch the Themes app (icon with brush).
- Go to the Font section (may be in the submenu of Category → Fonts).
- Choose your favorite option and click Apply. The system will automatically download and install the font.
Advantages of this method:
- 🔄 Regular updates – fonts in the theme store are updated frequently, new options are added.
- 🛡️ Security – all files are checked by Xiaomi for no malicious code.
- 🎨 Preview – you can see how the font will look in the interface before installation.
But there are limitations. First, not all the fonts in the theme store support Cyrillic — some are for Latin or hieroglyphics only. Second, once the MIUI is updated, the fonts you have installed can be reset to the standard. To avoid this, save a backup through Settings → Additional → Backup.
Connect to Wi-Fi (font files can weigh up to 20MB)
Make sure that the device has enough memory (at least 50 MB free)
Sign in to Xiaomi account (required to download themes)
Check the version. MIUI (In some regional firmwares, the "Fonts" section is not)-->
Third-party applications for font change
If you don't like the options from the theme store, you can use third-party apps.
- 📱 iFont supports more than 10,000 fonts, there is Russification and built-in preview.
- 🎯 FontFix – specializes in fixing font problems after failed installations.
- 🔧 ZFont – allows you to install fonts without root rights, but requires a connection to a PC.
Consider installing via iFont as the most universal method:
- Download and install iFont from Google Play.
- In the app, select the Online or Local section (for downloaded.ttf files).
- Click on your favorite font → Set → Apply.
- Follow the instructions on the screen. The app will suggest restarting the device.
An important nuance: to work iFont on the Redmi 8 Pro without root rights, you will need to enable debugging over USB and temporarily connect the smartphone to the computer to confirm the installation.
1. Enable Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone and 7 times click on MIUI Version.
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and activate Debugging via USB.
3. Connect the phone to the PC, confirm the trust in the computer on the smartphone screen.
4. In iFont, select the font and press Set – the application will execute the necessary commands via ADB.⚠️ Note: When using third-party fonts, there may be bugs in the display of characters in some applications (for example, in VKontakte or Telegram). Before installing, check the reviews about the font on the forums - users often share information about compatibility with the Internet. MIUI.
How to remove the installed third-party font?
Change font through ADB (no root rights)
For advanced users who don't want to get root access, but are willing to work with ADB, there's a method of replacing the font through the command line. This method is suitable for the Redmi 8 Pro, since it doesn't require unlocking the bootloader.
- 🖥️ Computer with Platform Tools installed (ADB and Fastboot).
- 📱 USB-cable (preferably original).
- 📁 A font file in.ttf format (e.g. Roboto-Regular.ttf).
Step-by-step:
- Download the font and rename it to DroidSansFallback.ttf (this is the name of the system font in MIUI).
- Connect Redmi 8 Pro to your PC and make sure that USB debugging is enabled (see previous section).
- Open the command line in the folder with Platform Tools and execute: adb push DroidSansFallback.ttf /sdcard/ adb shell su mount -o rw,remount /system cp /sdcard/DroidSansFallback.ttf /system/fonts/ chmod 644 /system/fonts/DroidSansFallback.ttf reboot
Once you reboot, the font will change throughout the interface, and critically, if the font file is corrupted or incompatible with MIUI, the system may get stuck on boot, and you'll need to reset your settings through Recovery.
| Method | Difficulty | PC required | Risk of bugs | Cyrillic support |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard settings of MIUI | ⭐ | ❌ No. | ❌ No. | ✅ Yes. |
| The shop that | ⭐⭐ | ❌ No. | ⚠️ Rarely. | ✅ Partially. |
| Third-party applications (iFont) | ⭐⭐⭐ | ⚠️ Sometimes. | ⚠️ Medium. | ✅ Yes. |
| ADB (no root) | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ | ✅ Yes. | ❌ High-pitched | ✅ Yes. |
Root Methods: Complete Freedom of Customization
For those willing to take drastic measures, unlocking root rights opens up unlimited options for changing fonts. On Redmi 8 Pro, you can do this through:
- 🔓 Magisk is the safest way to obtain root rights without losing warranty (unless the bootloader is unlocked).
- 📦 FontChanger – a module for Magisk, allowing you to change fonts in one click.
- 🛠️ TWRP — Custom recovery for manual replacement of system files.
The process of obtaining root rights on Redmi 8 Pro includes:
- Unlock the bootloader through the official Xiaomi tool (Mi Unlock).This will reset all data on the device!
- Install TWRP via Fastboot: fastboot flash recovery twrp.img fastboot boot twrp.img
- Magisk firmware via TWRP to obtain root rights.
- Installation of the FontChanger module from the Magisk repository.
Advantages of the root method:
- 🌍 Ability to install any typefaces, including custom modifications.
- 🔄 Instant switching between fonts without rebooting.
- 🎛️ Set up a font for individual applications.
⚠️ Note: Unlocking the bootloader and obtaining root rights will cancel the warranty on the Redmi 8 Pro. In addition, some banking applications (for example, SberBank Online) may stop working due to the SafetyNet trigger.
💡
Before unlocking the bootloader, make a full backup via TWRP or Mi PC Suite, which will allow you to recover data if something goes wrong, especially saving the /data/media/0/MIUI/Theme folder, which stores the installed themes and fonts.
Solving problems after changing the font
Even if you've followed the instructions, sometimes you get a problem after you change the font. Let's look at the typical problems and their solutions.
| Problem. | Possible cause | Decision |
|---|---|---|
| Symbols are displayed in squares | The font does not support Cyrillic. | Install a font with Unicode support (e.g. Noto Sans) |
| The system is getting stuck on the boot. | A font file or copying error is damaged | Boot in Safe Mode (hold the power button → “Reboot Safe Mode”) and return the standard font. |
| Battery discharges faster | Too "heavy" typeface with lots of serifs | Choose a simpler font (e.g. Roboto Thin) |
| Some apps don't change the font | The app uses its own font (e.g. Instagram) | Use root methods or accept the restriction |
If Redmi 8 Pro started to slow down after changing the font, try the following steps:
- Clear the system cache: Settings → Memory → Clear the cache.
- Turn off the animation interface: Settings → Additional → For developers → The scale of animation (turn off).
- Go back to the standard font and see if the problem persists.
💡
Before experimenting with fonts, always create a restore point via TWRP or backup in Mi Cloud, which will allow you to roll back changes if the device becomes unstable.
Best fonts for Xiaomi Redmi 8 Pro
The typeface choice depends on your preferences, but we’ve tested a few options that work best with the MIUI interface on the Redmi 8 Pro:
- 🏆 MiSans – Xiaomi’s standard font, optimized for MIUI, legibility.
- 📱 Roboto Condensed – narrow font, saves space on the screen, ideal for small displays.
- 🎨 Product Sans – Google font, used in Material Design, looks modern.
- 🔠 Fira Code - a monowire font for developers (supports ligatures).
- 🌐 Noto Sans is a universal font with support for 100+ languages, including Cyrillic.
For the Redmi 8 Pro with a 1080×2340 screen resolution and 409 PPI pixel density, we recommend:
- For readability: MiSans or Noto Sans (size - "Middle").
- To save space: Roboto Condensed (size - "Little").
- For style: Product Sans or SF Pro (font from Apple, ported for Android).
These fonts can be downloaded from official sources:
- Google Fonts (free fonts with an open license)
- DaFont (big collection, but check the license!)
- MIUI Firmware (official fonts from Xiaomi)