How to Change the Font in Messages on Xiaomi: 5 Verified Ways (Including Hidden Settings)

The standard font in Xiaomi messages often seems too small, inexpressive or simply inconvenient to read, especially in the Messages app (SMS/MMS), where text can merge with the background, and in messengers like WhatsApp or Telegram, system fonts look inorganic. Fortunately, MIUI has hidden several ways to change the font, from standard settings to manual editing of system files.

In this article, we will discuss all the current methods for Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones based on MIUI 14/15 and Android 13/14.

• 🔹 Configure the font size and style through system settings (without root)
• 🔹 Install custom fonts through Topics and third-party apps
• 🔹 Change the font specifically to SMS-Appendix (including color and fat)
• 🔹 Apply modified fonts for messengers (Telegram, Viber)
• 🔹 Return the standard settings if something goes wrong

Important: Some methods require unlocking the bootloader or the rights of the superuser (root), and we have marked these methods with special warnings - read carefully!

Basic font settings in MIUI (without root)

To start with, the basics are built-in MIUI tools that allow you to resize and style the font for all apps, including messages, which works on all Xiaomi models (from Redmi Note 10 to Xiaomi 14 Ultra) and does not require additional rights.

To change the font globally:

1. Open the Settings → Screen.
2. Select text size and display.
3. In the font size section, move the slider to the right (to enlarge) or to the left (to reduce).
4. Click on the Font Style and select one of the suggested options (e.g. MiSans or Roboto).

These changes will affect all apps, including Messages, Telegram and WhatsApp, but the method has limitations:

• 🚫 There is no way to change the font just for SMS — shifting.
• 🚫 Only 2-3 font styles are available (depending on version). MIUI).
• 🚫 The color of the text cannot be changed.

💡

If the text is cropped or not placed in the dialogue bubbles after changing the font size in Messages, try enabling the option Settings → Special Features → Font size → Screen scaling and reducing the value by 5-10%.

2. Installation of custom fonts through “Themes”

Xiaomi’s official Themes app allows you to install not only wallpaper and icons, but also custom fonts. This method does not require root, but the choice of fonts is limited to what is available in the theme store.

Installation instructions:

1. Open the Themes app (if not, download it from Google Play).
2. Go to the Fonts section (may be in the Profile menu) → My subjects).
3. Select the font you like and click Apply.
4. Confirm the changes in the system window.

Advantages of the method:

• ✅ More font options (from handwritten to futuristic).
• ✅ Does not require technical skills.
• ✅ The font applies to all applications, including Messages.

Disadvantages:

• 🚫 Many fonts are paid (cost from 50 to 300 rubles).
• 🚫 Some fonts may be displayed incorrectly in messengers.
• 🚫 After updating MIUI font may be dropped.

3. Change font only in the appendix "Messages"

If you are happy with the font in other applications, but want to change it only in the standard SMS-There are two options: through hidden settings MIUI or through third-party launchers.

Method 1: Hidden MIUI settings (for advanced users)

Some versions of MIUI allow you to edit font settings for individual applications through the Developer Settings.

1. Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone and click on MIUI Version 7 times.
2. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
3. Find the option Minimum width (dp) and set a value of 360 or 400 (this will increase the text size in message bubbles).
4. Reboot the phone.

Method 2: Use of alternatives SMS-applications

If the standard Message application does not suit, install one of the alternatives:

• 📱 Google Messages – Supports text size change and dark theme.
• 📱 Textra SMS — allows you to customize the font, color of bubbles and animations.
• 📱 Pulse SMS — premium application with extended text styles.

Download the new app from Google Play|

Export old messages (Settings → Import/Export) |

Turn off notifications in the standard Messages app |

Configure the new application as the default application for SMS-->

4. Manual font modification via ADB (for experienced)

If you don't like the standard options, you can manually replace system fonts through ADB (Android Debug Bridge), a method that requires connecting your phone to your computer and basic command line knowledge.

Step 1: Preparation

• 🖥️ Install. ADB Tools on PC.
• 📱 Turn on the phone to debug. USB (Settings → For developers).
• 🔗 Connect your phone to your computer and confirm your trust in the device.

Step 2: Replace fonts

Download the archive with fonts in.ttf format (for example, from the Google Fonts site) and follow the commands:

adb shell


su




mount -o rw,remount /system




cp /sdcard/Download/YourFont.ttf /system/fonts/




chmod 644 /system/fonts/YourFont.ttf




mount -o ro,remount /system




reboot

Replace only fonts that are already in the system (e.g. Roboto-Regular.ttf). Deleting or overwriting critical files can lead to a bootloop.

💡

Before replacing fonts through ADB, be sure to backup the system through Settings → Additional → Backup or using TWRP. In case of an error, you will need to reflash the phone.

5. Change the font in messengers (Telegram, WhatsApp, Viber)

Unlike the standard Messages app, popular messengers have their own font settings. Let's see how to set them up in each of them.

To install fully custom fonts in messengers will require:

• 🔧 Install a modified version of the app (e.g. Telegram Fouad or WhatsApp) GB).
• 🔧 Use modules for Magisk (requires root).
• 🔧 Apply themes via Substratum or LSPosed.

- italic → text

- bold → text

- ~~crossed-out~~ → ~~text~~

- `monowire` → `text`-->

Problems and Solutions: What to Do If the Font is Strange

After experimenting with fonts, you might encounter bugs: characters instead of text, unreadable characters, or a complete messaging app. Here's how to fix it.

Problem 1: Instead of text, squares or hieroglyphs are displayed

⚠️ Attention! That means you've installed a font that doesn't support Cyrillic or emoji:

1. Remove custom font through Settings → Topics → My themes.
2. If the font was installed via ADB, replace it with the standard one (Roboto-Regular.ttf).
3. Reboot the phone.

Problem 2: The Messages app has stopped opening

⚠️ It could have been a font conflict or a cache damage:

1. Clear the app cache: Settings → Apps → Messages → Storage → Clear the cache.
2. If it doesn’t work, reset your app settings (Clear your data, but it will delete all SMS!).
3. In the extreme case, reinstall the application via APKMirror.

Problem 3: Font reset after MIUI update

This is standard behavior, so to avoid losing the settings:

• 🔄 Before updating, make a backup of themes in the Topic app.
• 🔄 If you've used ADB, Repeat the font replacement procedure after the update.
• 🔄 Install the FontFix app from Google Play – it will help restore fonts after updates.

FAQ: Frequent questions about changing the font in Xiaomi