Apple emojis have long been the standard of beauty among emojis: their design is more detailed, animation is smoother, and the color palette is more pleasant to the eye. Xiaomi smartphone owners (including the Redmi, Poco and Mi series) often find that standard MIUI emojis look simplistic or outdated. Fortunately, they can be replaced with iPhones in several ways, both with root rights and without them.
In this article, we’ll look at three proven methods: from simply changing the font through settings to deeply modifying system files, how you can use your model (Redmi Note 12, Poco X5, Mi 11, etc.), what risks are there, and how to get it back if you don’t like it, and how to compare how iOS 17 emojis look next to Xiaomi’s original ones in 2026.
Why are Xiaomi emojis different from iPhones?
Apple has been developing its own emoji since 2008, regularly updating its design (most recently in iOS 17.4), while Xiaomi, like most Android makers, uses Google’s standard emoji set (or slightly modified version).
- 🔹 Less detailed – Apple has more gradients and shadows (compare) 😂 iPhone and Redmi).
- 🔹 With other colors, like the heart. ❤️ on iOS, bright red, and on MIUI — darker.
- 🔹 Without animation – some Apple emojis come to life with a long press (for example, 🎉 or 💥).
- 🔹 With another order – in the keyboard Xiaomi emojis can be located not as on the iPhone.
Google and Apple also interpret emojis differently, like smileys. 🤏 On iOS, it looks like a pinch, and on Android it looks like an Italian gesture, and these differences are especially noticeable in messengers, where your emoji may appear differently from the iPhone user.
Method 1: Installation of font with iPhone emoji (without root)
The easiest and safest way to do this is to change the system font to one that contains an Apple emoji, which doesn't require root rights, but you need to:
- 📱 Xiaomi smartphone on the MIUI 12-14 (older versions may not work).
- 🔄 Backup of data (in case of failure).
- 📥 Application for installing fonts (for example, iFont or FontFix).
Step-by-step:
- Download the font from the iOS emoji: 🔗 Emoji iOS (dafont.com) 🔗 Download Google Play Open the app and allow access to files.
Import the font:
In iFont, click Local → select the downloaded file → Set.
Apply the font:
Go to Settings → Screen → Font and select the set font (e.g. Apple Color Emoji).
☑️ Preparation for font installation
Limitations of the method:
- 🚫 In some apps (such as Telegram or WhatsApp), emojis may still be displayed.
💡
If some characters are shown squares after you install the font, try restarting your phone or selecting another font that supports Unicode 15.0+.
Method 2: Using a keyboard with iPhone emojis
If you can't replace the font or you don't want to take the risk, you can install an alternative keyboard that shows an iOS-style emoji.
| keyboard | Support for iOS emoji | Additional functions | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Gboard + Theme | ✅ Partially (through topics) | Gestures, voice input, translation | Not all smileys are replaced |
| SwiftKey | ✅ Yes (in the premium version) | AI predictions, cloud synchronizer | Fees paid |
| Kika Keyboard | ✅ Complete (in settings) | GIFs, stickers, customization | Advertising in the free version |
| Fleksy | ✅ Yes (through expansions) | Minimalist design, gestures | Less to do with the design |
How to configure Gboard to display iPhone emoji:
- Install the Gboard.
- Open the app → Themes → Select a theme marked iOS or Apple.
- In the keyboard settings, turn on Show iOS-style emoji (if any).
- Activate the keyboard in Settings → System → Language and input.
Important: This method only changes the look of the keyboard, but does not guarantee that the smiley will be displayed to the recipient in this way. 😊 via WhatsApp, the interlocutor on the iPhone will see the original emoji, and on Android – the standard for his system.
Why do not emojis change in Telegram?
Method 3: Replacement of system emojis through Magisk (for advanced)
If you're ready for more radical measures and your Xiaomi has an unlocked bootloader, you can replace system emojis with Magisk. This method gives 100% replacement of all emojis in all applications, but requires:
- 🔓 Unlocked bootloader (instructions for Xiaomi here).
- 🛠 Installed Magisk (root manager).
- 📦 iOS Emoji Magisk Module.
Step-by-step:
- Install Magisk: Download the latest version of Magisk and run through fastboot or TWRP. fastboot flash boot magisk_patched.img
- Download the emoji module: Find the iOS 17 Emoji module or the Apple Emoji Font in Magisk Repo.
- Install the module: Open Magisk → Modules → Install from storage → select the downloaded file.
- Reboot your phone: After installing the module, be sure to restart the device.
- Check the result: Open any app (like Messages) and check if the emojis have been replaced.
💡
Magisk modules may conflict with MIUI updates. Before upgrading, temporarily disable the emoji module in Magisk to avoid hanging out.
Risks of the method:
- ⚠️ Loss of warranty – unlocking the bootloader will void the Xiaomi warranty.
- ⚠️ Possible bugs – some applications (such as banking) may not work with root rights.
- ⚠️ Difficulty rollback – if something goes wrong, you will need to reflash the phone.
⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi models with HyperOS (such as the Redmi Note 13 or Xiaomi 14), Magisk modules may not work smoothly. XDA Developers.
Comparison of methods: which one to choose?
To make it easier for you to determine, we have compiled a comparative table:
| Method | Difficulty | Need root? | Replaces emoji everywhere? | Risks. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Installation of typeface | ⭐ (simple) | ❌ No. | ⚠️ Partially. | Minimum |
| Keyboard with iOS emoji | ⭐⭐ (middle-of-the-road) | ❌ No. | ❌ Only on the keyboard. | No. |
| Magisk + emoji module | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (difficult) | ✅ Yes. | ✅ Completely. | High (loss of warranties, bugs) |
Selection recommendations:
- 📱 For beginners, try method 1 (font) or method 2 (keyboard) first).
- 🔧 For power users: if you need a complete replacement, method 3 (Magisk).
- 🔄 If you don’t like it: all changes are reversible (except unlocking the bootloader).
Frequent problems and their solutions
Even after successfully replacing your emoji, you may have problems, and here are the most common ways to fix them:
- 🔳 Smileys are displayed in squares: Reason: font does not support all Unicode characters.Solution: download the full font version (e.g. AppleColorEmoji.ttf) + SF-Pro.ttf).
- 🔄 After updating MIUI Smiley reset: Reason: System update overwritten fonts Solution: Re-installing font or Magisk module.
- 🚫 Apps don't run after Magisk: Reason: Some banking apps block root-righted devices Solution: Hide the root through Magisk Hide or use Universal SafetyNet Fix module.
- 📱 Emojis don't change in Telegram/WhatsApp: Reason: These messengers use their emoji sets.Solution: Try alternative clients (like WhatsApp's Fouad for WhatsApp).
⚠️ Note: Some Xiaomi models (e.g. Poco) F5 or Redmi K60) When you replace the emoji with Magisk, you may lose the sound in the calls, because of the module conflict.
How to return standard Xiaomi emojis?
If the experiment with iPhone emojis did not suit you, you can return everything in a few steps:
- If you used the font: Go to Settings → Screen → Font and select System by default.
- If you used a keyboard: Remove the installed keyboard or reset its settings to standard.
- If you used Magisk: Open Magisk → Modules → Find the module with emoji → click Delete → Reboot the phone.
If the emojis didn’t come back after removing the Magisk module, try:
- Clear the cache of the Android System WebView app in Settings → Apps.
- Reset the keyboard settings (in the language and input settings).