How to change the font on Xiaomi Redmi 9S: 5 working ways and life hacks

Xiaomi Redmi 9S, with its MIUI-branded shell, offers users flexible customization options, including changing the system font. However, not everyone knows that in addition to standard settings, there are hidden features and third-party tools that allow you to set unique fonts or even create your own style of text. This article will reveal all available methods, from basic to advanced, and warn about possible risks and limitations.

It is important to understand that the procedure for changing the font to Redmi 9S depending on the version MIUI In some cases, custom fonts will require unlocking the bootloader or using the root rights. ADB-We'll go through each scenario in detail so you can choose the best option without risking damage to the system.

If you have never changed your system settings on Xiaomi before, start with the official methods – they are safe and do not require technical skills. MTZ-Themes and manual font replacement through recovery.

1. Standard method: changing the font through the MIUI settings

The easiest and safest method is to use the built-in MIUI tools. It does not require superuser rights and is suitable for most firmware versions on Redmi 9S (including MIUI 12/13/14).

To change the font in a standard way:

  1. Open the Themes app (the icon with a brush on your desktop).
  2. Go to the Fonts section in the lower menu.
  3. Scroll through the list of available fonts and choose your favorite option.
  4. Click Apply and confirm the changes.

The list of available fonts depends on the regional firmware. In the global version of MIUI, there are usually 5-7, in the Chinese version - up to 20. If you do not have the right option, try changing the region of the device through Settings β†’ Additional β†’ Region (reboot is required).

⚠️ Note: After changing the font through the Themes, some system applications (such as Camera or Phone) may display the text incorrectly. MIUI The solution is to return the standard font or use methods from the following sections.

  • πŸ”Ή Available without root rights and unlock the bootloader.
  • πŸ”Ή Changes apply to all system and most third-party applications.
  • πŸ”Ή You can return the standard font at any time.
  • ❌ Limited font selection (no support) TTF/OTF-file).
πŸ“Š How often do you change your smartphone?
Once a month
Less often, but experimenting.
Never changed.
Only after the MIUI update

2. Installation of custom fonts through MTZ-themes

.mtz files are MIUI theme archives that can include not only fonts, but also icons, wallpapers, sounds, and this method allows you to install custom fonts that are not available in the official theme store.

Installation instructions:

  1. Download. MTZ-a font file from a trusted source (e.g. miuithemes.com or zhuti.xiaomi.com).
  2. Transfer the file to the phone’s memory (for example, to the Download folder).
  3. Open the Topics application β†’ Profile β†’ Import.
  4. Select the downloaded.mtz file and wait for the unpacking.
  5. Apply the theme in full or only the font in the My Themes section.

The advantage of this method is access to thousands of custom fonts, including handwritten, pixelated or decorative.

Problem.Decision
Subject not applicableCheck out the MIUI version (some themes only work on Chinese firmware).
Font is displayed curveSet the topic completely, not selectively.
Lack of memory for importClear the cache in Settings β†’ Applications β†’ Topics β†’ Memory.
MTZ-file won't openCheck the integrity of the archive or download it again.

Important: Some MTZ-Themes contain advertising modules or change system settings without notice. download files only from official Xiaomi resources or trusted forums (for example, download files from official Xiaomi resources, 4PDA).

Download the file from a reliable source|Make a backup copy of the current theme|Check the vacant space (minimum 200 MB)|Shut down. VPN (may block imports)-->

3. Use of applications to change the font (without root)

If the standard methods don't work, you can use third-party apps from Google Play, which are overlay and do not require superuser rights.

  • πŸ“± iFont supports TTF/OTF fonts, has a built-in gallery.
  • πŸ“± FontFix – specializes in fixing font display in applications.
  • πŸ“± ZFont 3 – allows you to install fonts from cloud storage.

Instructions for iFont (on the example of Redmi 9S):

  1. Install the app from Google Play.
  2. Download your favorite font directly in the application or import your.ttf file.
  3. Click Set β†’ select MIUI from the list of supported shells.
  4. Follow the instructions on the screen (you will need to allow overlay in Settings β†’ Special features β†’ Overlay).

⚠️ Note: iFont applications may conflict with some banking programs (Sberbank, Tinkoff) due to the use of the overlay function. If payment services stop working after changing the font, return the standard font or turn off overlay in the Android settings.

Advantages of this method:

  • πŸ”Ή Support for any TTF/OTF fonts (can be downloaded from the Internet).
  • πŸ”Ή Pre-installing before installation.
  • πŸ”Ή Ability to back up the current font.

Disadvantages:

  • ❌ Not all apps support overlay (for example, WhatsApp or Instagram can ignore changes).
  • ❌ After updating MIUI font may be dropped.

πŸ’‘

Before installing the font via iFont, check it is compatible with your version of MIUI on the developer's website. Some fonts are optimized only for MIUI 12 and may not display correctly in MIUI 14.

4. Manual font modification via ADB (for power users)

This method is suitable for those who are ready to work with ADB (Android Debug Bridge) and have basic command-line knowledge, it allows you to replace system fonts without root rights, but requires caution.

What you need:

  • πŸ–₯️ Computer with installed Xiaomi and ADB-tools drivers.
  • πŸ“± Included debugging by USB on the Redmi 9S (Settings β†’ The phone. β†’ Version. MIUI β€” Press 7 times, then Settings β†’ Additionally. β†’ For developers β†’ Debugging by USB).
  • πŸ“ Font in.ttf format (e.g. Roboto-Regular.ttf).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect the phone to the PC and confirm debugging on the smartphone screen.


2. Open the command prompt (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the folder with ADB.




3. Check the connection:




adb devices




(Serial number of the device must be displayed)




4. Copy the original font for backup:




adb pull /system/fonts/Roboto-Regular.ttf C:\backup\




5. Replace the system font with your own (example for Roboto):




adb push C:\fonts\MyFont.ttf /sdcard/




adb shell




su




mount -o rw,remount /system




cp /sdcard/MyFont.ttf /system/fonts/Roboto-Regular.ttf




chmod 644 /system/fonts/Roboto-Regular.ttf




reboot

Critical warnings:

  • ⚠️ The wrong chmod command can make the font unreadable.
  • ⚠️ If the phone does not turn on after the restart, you need to flash through Fastboot.
  • ⚠️ Not all fonts support Cyrillic (check before replacing).
What if the phone does not turn on after the font replacement?
If Redmi 9S is stuck on the logo after manually changing the font, try: 1. Log in Recovery (press Power + Volume up). 2. Select Wipe & Reset β†’ Wipe Cache. 3. If it does not help - flash your phone through Fastboot using the Mi Flash Tool.

5. Font replacement via TWRP and Magisk (for advanced)

If you have custom recovery (TWRP) installed and you have root rights obtained through Magisk, you can replace the fonts at the system file level, which gives you maximum freedom, but also maximum risk.

Conditions required:

  • πŸ”“ Unlocked bootloader (official instructions Xiaomi).
  • πŸ“± Established TWRP Recovery for Redmi 9S (The version must match the phone model!).
  • πŸ› οΈ Installed by Magisk (for root rights management).

Algorithm of action:

  1. Download the archive with fonts in.zip format (for example, with XDA Developers).
  2. Reboot your phone to TWRP (clip Power + Volume up).
  3. Select Install β†’ specify the path to the archive with fonts.
  4. Swipe to Confirm Flash.
  5. After installation, clean the cache (Wipe) β†’ Cache/Dalvik) and reboot.

Advantages of the method:

  • πŸ”Ή Replace all system fonts (including emoji).
  • πŸ”Ή Ability to install fonts for specific languages.
  • πŸ”Ή Save Changes After Updating MIUI (unless you reset the settings).

⚠️ Attention: Installing the wrong typeface archive can lead to bootloop.Always check the file's compatibility with your Redmi model. 9S (codename: cattail and Android version.

πŸ’‘

Using TWRP and Magisk to replace fonts is the most powerful, but also the riskiest method, and is recommended only for users with experience with custom firmware.

Frequent problems and their solutions

When you change the font to Redmi 9S, you can get a lot of errors, and we've collected some of the most common and corrective methods:

Problem.Reason.Decision
Font reset after the MIUI updateSystem update overwrites font filesRepeat the font installation or use the Magisk module to protect against resetting
Some apps don't change the fontThe application ignores the system settings of fontsUse overlay support applications (e.g. iFont)
Text is displayed in squares or hieroglyphsThe font does not support Cyrillic.Install a font with Unicode support (e.g. Noto Sans)
The phone overheats after changing the fontBackground application for fonts consumes a lot of resourcesTurn off auto-update themes in Settings β†’ Topics

If none of the methods worked, return the standard font:

  1. For standard method: Topics β†’ Fonts β†’ Standard.
  2. For MTZ-Topics: Remove the topic in My topics β†’ Delete.
  3. For ADB/Magisk: Sweat back the original font or reset the settings.
Can I change the font to Redmi 9S without a computer?
The first three methods in this article (standard settings, MTZ-Themes and applications like iFont don’t require a PC connection, but a computer is needed to completely replace the system fonts (methods 4 and 5.
Why did the emoji disappear after the change of font?
Some fonts don't include emoji characters. To return them, install a separate emoji pack via Magisk (Emoji Replacer module) or return the standard font.
How to make a backup copy of the current font?
For a standard font, it is enough to remember its name in Topics β†’ Fonts: For custom fonts installed through ADB or TWRP, copy files from /system/fonts/ on PC: adb pull /system/fonts/ C:\backup\redmi9s_fonts\
Can I install an animated font?
No, MIUI does not support animated fonts at the system level. Maximum - static fonts with non-standard characters (for example, Windings).
Will this work on the Redmi 9A or 9C?
Most methods (except ADB and TWRP) are suitable for other Redmi 9 models, as they run on similar versions of MIUI. However, the device codenames are different (cattail for 9S, dandelion for 9A), so use files for firmware methods that are specifically designed for your model.