Modern Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones offer users a huge amount of personalization beyond just installing wallpaper. One of the most popular features is the ability to change text displayed on the device screen. This can involve not only changing the interface language, but also installing unique fonts that radically transform the visual perception of the system. Deep customization of text elements allows you to adapt the gadget to the individual preferences of the eye and aesthetic tastes of the owner.
MIUI and the new HyperOS have powerful typography tools, you can choose a larger, more readable font to improve visibility, or you can choose a sleek handwriting style to make your phone look personal. The process of changing these settings doesn't require super-user rights and is done with the system's regular tools. Understanding the way system fonts work will help you safely experiment with the look of your device.
However, it is worth considering that replacing system elements always requires care. Incorrect character type can lead to some characters being displayed incorrectly or turn into squares. In this article, we will discuss in detail all the available ways to change text display, from basic language change to advanced installation of third-party fonts through official directories.
Basic change of interface language and region
The first and most fundamental level of text change on a device is the choice of the system language. This parameter determines which language all menus, notifications and system messages will be displayed in. To go to the appropriate section, you need to open Settings and find the Advanced Settings item where the Language and Input menu is located. In some versions of the firmware, this item can be immediately in the main settings menu or in the Additional section.
Once you have selected the right language, the system will instantly restructure all text arrays, and it is important to understand that choosing a region in the same menu can affect the availability of certain features and the set of pre-installed applications. For example, choosing a region "India" or "China" can add specific services, while choosing "Russia" or "Ukraine" optimizes the calendar and weather widgets for local features.
⚠️ Note: When changing the system language, some third-party applications may not switch automatically, but must be configured separately in their own settings menus, as they often ignore the system priority of the language.
If you need to change the language just to type (keyboard), go to the keyboard management section, where you can add multiple language layouts and configure how to switch between them, such as swipe over space or long press, which allows you to comfortably type in multiple languages at the same time without changing the main language of the phone interface.
There is also the option to change the format of the date and time display, which directly affects the textual representation of this data in the status bar. These settings are usually located in the subsection Date Format or Region.
Installation of new fonts through the Topics app
The most popular way to change the visual style of text is to install a new font, and in the Xiaomi ecosystem, the Themes app is responsible for this, which is a huge catalog where you can find both free and paid design options. To get started, open the application and go to the Font tab at the bottom of the screen, and here is a ranking of popular styles and new items.
The installation process is as simple as possible: just click on the font you like, and then select the Download and subsequently Apply button. After application, the system will ask for a reboot or simply update the interface, and all text elements, including menus, settings and supported applications, will change their appearance. Some fonts can only change the headings, leaving the main text as standard, which should be considered when choosing.
- 🎨 Categories: Fonts are divided into categories such as "Manuscript", "Strict", "Cartoon" and"3D", This makes it easier to find the right style.
- ⚡ Performance: Complex animated fonts can slightly increase the load on the GPU, but in most cases it is imperceptible.
- 🔄 Updates: Font authors periodically release updates that correct the errors of displaying individual characters.
Not all apps support custom fonts, but system applications such as Phone, Messages and Settings are usually subject to global changes, but some third-party programs such as instant messengers or banking applications can use their own built-in fonts to ensure security or brand uniformity, ignoring system settings.
💡
Before using a paid font, use the preview function (Aa button) to see how the text will look in the real interface and check the readability of small characters.
Setting the size and fat content of the text
Visual read comfort is not only about letter style, but also about size and saturation. Xiaomi smartphones have flexible settings to adjust these settings without having to install third-party solutions. To resize, go to Settings → Screen → Text size and boldness. Here you will see a slider, moving which in real time changes the size of the font throughout the interface.
Text size enhancement is a critical feature for visually impaired users or those who prefer a minimalist, large interface. The system allows you to choose from five preset sizes, ranging from very small (S) to very large (XL). When choosing the maximum size, some interface elements can be rebuilt to accommodate enlarged lines, which ensures the preservation of the layout.
Fat makes characters more saturated and contrasting, especially when using fonts with thin lines that can be hard to read in bright sun or low brightness, and the combination of large size and high fat creates a mode that is as close to accessibility as possible, making text readable even without glasses.
| Parameter | Impact on the system | Recommended use |
|---|---|---|
| Size S (Small) | It contains more text on the screen. | For users with good eyesight and large screens |
| Size M (Mediocre) | Standard display | Basic default setting for most |
| Size L/XL (Large) | Increases the area occupied by the text | To improve readability and older users |
| Fat (Bold) | Increases the contrast of symbols | For thin fonts and use on the street |
In some cases, when the text is very large, the buttons or input fields can “go”, so it is recommended to choose the optimal value that does not break the interface of often used programs.
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The optimal combination of text size and fatness significantly reduces eye fatigue with prolonged use of a smartphone, especially in poor lighting conditions.
Advanced font settings in the app Topics
The Themes app has more features than you might think. In addition to standard downloads, the Profile → Fonts section is available, where you store all the type you upload. In this section, you can not only activate the font, but also customize its detailed display. Some versions of MIUI allow you to adjust the scale of individual font elements, if it supports this feature.
An interesting feature is the ability to create custom combinations or use "Designer fonts." These fonts are often created in collaboration with well-known brands or artists and have unique characteristics. They can include modified numeral shapes, specific punctuation marks, and alterative Latin and Cyrillic spellings.
⚠️ Note: When downloading fonts from third-party, unofficial sources (not through the Themes app), there is a risk of malware infection of the device.
If you want to get it back to normal, the Tham app in the font section always has the standard Roboto font (or Mi Sans in newer versions of HyperOS) installed to reset all visual changes to the text to factory state, which is safe and does not result in loss of personal data, contacts or messages.
For users who like to change the design often, there is a “Blind Install” feature or preload multiple fonts, and you can download a set of 5-10 options to quickly switch between them depending on mood or time of day, without spending time searching and downloading each time.
☑️ Checking before installing font
Problems with encoding and displaying symbols
When installing custom fonts, users may encounter a problem when instead of letters, squares or question marks are displayed, which means that the selected font does not have a character table for your language (encoding). Most quality fonts in the official Xiaomi store contain a full set of characters, but when downloaded from the outside, this risk increases.
A common problem is that text is not displayed correctly in messages (SMS/MMS) or in contact names. If you notice that contact names have turned into a set of incomprehensible characters after changing the font, you should immediately return the standard font, which indicates an encoding conflict that can lead to the loss of information during synchronization.
- 📉 Scaling: Some fonts may incorrectly scale when changing the system size of text, leading to letter clipping.
- 🔢 Figures: Pay special attention to the display of numbers, as in the phone book and dialing they are critically important.
- 💬 Emoji: Replacing the system font sometimes affects the display of emojis by making them black and white or changing their style.
To solve encoding problems, in some cases, cleaning the Themes app cache and System UI helps. You can do this through Settings → Apps → All apps. Find the appropriate system processes and choose Clear cache. Don't confuse it with Clear all data, as this can reset your personalizations.
What if the phone stops turning on after changing the font?
Change text in specific applications and widgets
Many users don’t want to change text across the system, but only in applications like a browser or a reader. In such cases, the system font settings may not work and require the use of internal settings of the application itself. For example, Chrome or Mi Browser has a separate Settings menu → Special Features → Text Size, which overrides system values.
For e-books and reading applications (such as MI Reading or Lithium), there are custom text rendering engines. Here you can choose any typeface installed on the system, or import your own.ttf or.otf file. This gives maximum flexibility for those who spend a lot of time reading texts from the screen.
Desktop widgets can also react differently to changing fonts. Xiaomi's standard widgets (watches, weather, notes) usually adapt to the global style. However, third-party launchers or apps widgets may ignore these settings. In such cases, you need to look for the design settings inside the widget itself, often available with prolonged clicking on it.
Socialization apps like WhatsApp or Telegram deserve special attention. Telegram, for example, allows you to change the text font through chat settings by selecting one of the built-in options or connecting a third-party font through a bot, which allows you to create a unique style of correspondence that is visible only to you, while the interlocutor sees the text in their standard font.