How to find fonts on Xiaomi: hidden folders, system files and ways to replace

Have you ever wondered why your Xiaomi fonts look like this? Or would you like to swap the standard Roboto for something more original, but you don't know where these files are stored at all? Unlike many other Android devices, Xiaomi smartphones (including Redmi and POCO) use their own MIUI shell, which hides system fonts deep inside the firmware. Without root access or special tools, they are not so easy to detect - but we'll show you how to do it.

In this article, you will find not only the exact paths to folders with fonts in different versions of MIUI, but also how to extract them, back up them, and legal methods for installing new fonts without the risk of “bricking” the device. We will analyze the options for both users with an unlocked bootloader and those who do not want to lose warranty. And you will learn which hidden MIUI system fonts can be activated without root - a little-known feature that is not even mentioned in the official documentation.

Where to store fonts on Xiaomi: folder structure in MIUI

In MIUI firmware, fonts are scattered across multiple system directories, and their location depends on the Android version and shell modification. The main folders where you can find font files (.ttf,.otf), are as follows:

• 📁 /system/fonts/ — The main directory with standard Android fonts, which is where Roboto, Noto Sans and other basic families are located.
• 📁 /system/media/fonts/ — additional fonts used by the system. MIUI Here are stored Cyrillic variants.
• 📁 /vendor/fonts/ — fonts specific to the hardware platform (e.g., Qualcomm or MediaTek processors).
• 📁 /data/fonts/ — user fonts installed through MIUI Themes or third-party apps. Access is possible without root.

It is important to understand that MIUI 12/13/14 may have different structure, for example, in newer versions some fonts are migrated to /product/fonts/ – this is due to the transition to Project Treble. To determine exactly where the files are on your device, you can use a root-access file manager (for example, Solid Explorer or FX File Explorer) or a command in ADB Shell:

adb shell ls /system/fonts/ /vendor/fonts/ /product/fonts/ 2>/dev/null

If you don't see these folders in standard Explorer, it doesn't mean they don't exist -- they're just hidden from the user without the superuser rights. In the next section, we'll explain how to access them.

How to Access System Fonts Without Root

If you don't have root rights, but you want to see which fonts are installed on your Xiaomi, there are a few legal ways. The first and easiest way is to use the built-in MIUI Themes app, which allows you to view and install additional fonts, but does not allow you to access system files directly.

The second way is to connect to the device via ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which does not require root, but requires the inclusion of USB debugging in the developer settings.

Turn on Developer Mode (7 times click on Version) MIUI" on the telephone")

Activate "Debugging by USB" in "Settings → Additional → For developers"

Connect your phone to your PC and confirm your trust in your computer

Install. ADB-Drivers (for example, through Minimal) ADB and Fastboot)

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After connecting, perform in the command line:

adb shell


su -c "ls -la /system/fonts/" if there is root



or without root (shows only available files):



ls /data/fonts/

The third method is to use applications like FontViewer or iFont that scan system fonts and allow you to preview them, but they won't let you copy files directly, just apply them through an overlay.

⚠️ Note: Do not attempt to manually copy or replace files in /system/fonts/ without root or modified recovery (e.g, TWRP). This can result in a bootloop (locked device turn on) or reset to factory settings.

How to copy fonts from Xiaomi to a computer

If you need to extract fonts for backup or use on another device, there are a number of ways you can do this, and the most reliable is through ADB Pull. Here's how it works:

1. Connect the phone to your PC and make sure that ADB recognizes the device (the adb device team must show its serial number).
2. Run the command to copy the entire font folder (e.g. /system/fonts/): adb pull /system/fonts/ C:\XiaomiFonts\ Here C:\XiaomiFonts\ is the path on your computer where the files will be copied.
3. If you want fonts from /data/fonts/, use: adb pull /data/fonts/C:\XiaomiUserFonts\

If you have root access, you can use a root-enabled file manager (like Root Explorer) and simply copy.ttf or.otf files to your root. SD-The alternative is to use a map or the cloud. TWRP:

• 🔄 Boot in. TWRP Recovery (hold on to food) + Volume up when switched on).
• 📁 Go to Advanced. → File Manager.
• 📋 Find the file. /system/fonts/ And copy it to an external storage device.

It's worth noting that some MIUI fonts can be compressed in.ttc (TrueType Collection) format, and can be unpacked using utilities like FontForge or online services.

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If you want to save fonts for later use, create an archive with the entire /system/fonts/ folder. This will help you quickly recover them after resetting or firmware.

How to replace fonts on Xiaomi: ways with root and without

Replacing system fonts with Xiaomi is not an easy task, but it is a doable one. Consider both scenarios: root access and no root access.

No root (via MIUI Themes)

The safest way is to use the built-in Topics app:

1. Open the Themes → Fonts.
2. Choose your favorite font from the collection (for example, MiSans, Xiaomi Euclid or SF Pro).
3. Press Apply.

Limitation: The choice is limited to preset fonts. Custom ones will require a workaround to install.

Root Access (complete replacement)

If you have an unlocked bootloader and Magisk installed, you can replace the fonts manually:

1. Copy new.ttf files to your device (e.g. /sdcard/Download/).
2. Open Root Explorer and go to /system/fonts/.
3. Rename the original fonts (for example, add.bak at the end).
4. Insert new files and set the rights to 644 (rw-r--r---).
5. Reset the device.

To automate the process, you can use a Magisk module called FontManager, which allows you to replace fonts without manual copying, right from the application interface.

⚠️ Note: Do not replace fonts with the.ttc extension, this can lead to system failure.

Hidden MIUI fonts: how to activate without root

Few people know, but MIUI has hidden system fonts that don’t appear in the Topics menu, but can be activated via ADB or special commands, such as the firmware for global devices often hides Asian fonts (Noto Sans CJK), which support characters but also contain improved Cyrillic glyphs.

To activate them:

1. Connect to the device via ADB.
2. Run the command to view the list of available fonts: adb shell cmd overlay list | grep -i font
3. Find a line like com.xiaomi.fontprovider or NotoSansCJK in the output.
4. Activate the desired font with the command: adb shell cmd overlay enable --user 0 com.xiaomi.fontprovider.NotoSansCJK
5. Reset the device.

This method doesn’t work on all devices, but on the Xiaomi 11/12/13 series and Redmi Note 10/11, it often allows you to enable additional options without root.If the command didn’t work, try using the LADB (Local ADB) app to perform the same actions directly from your phone.

Problems with fonts and their solutions

When replacing or retrieving fonts on Xiaomi, users often encounter common errors, and here are the most common ones and how to fix them:

If you encounter a problem that is not described in the table, try resetting the font settings to the standard.

1. Go to Settings → Design → Fonts.
2. Select the default option or Reset.
3. Reset the device.

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Before any manipulation with fonts, be sure to back up /system/fonts/. This will quickly restore the device to work in the event of a failure.

The Best Apps for Font Management on Xiaomi

If you don't want to mess with ADB Or root, you can use third-party apps.-5 Utilities for working with fonts on Xiaomi:

• 📱 iFont allows you to install fonts without root through overlays. Supports.ttf and.otf.
• 🎨 FontFix - fixes font display problems after they're replaced.Requires Magisk.
• 🔍 FontViewer – font viewer, shows all installed families, including system.
• 🛠️ ZFont 3 – a utility for replacing fonts with support MIUI. There is a backup function.
• 📦 MIUI Font Changer – a specialized application for Xiaomi devices, works through Magisk.

When choosing an app, pay attention to user reviews of your Xiaomi model. For example, iFont and ZFont work better on the POCO X3 or Redmi Note 9, and flagships (Xiaomi 13 Ultra) may need FontFix to display correctly.

If you use Magisk, we recommend the FontManager module – it allows you to replace fonts directly from the Magisk Manager interface without resorting to manual copying of files.

FAQ: Frequent questions about fonts on Xiaomi