How to change the font on Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro with MIUI 12: 5 proven ways

Why users want to change the font on the Redmi Note 8 Pro and what to know before you start

Owners of the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 Pro on MIUI 12 firmware often face the desire to personalize their device’s interface. The standard MiSans font, optimized for reading, can seem too strict, shallow or simply boring after years of use, especially for users who are used to more “live” fonts on devices of other brands, such as Samsung or Google Pixel.

But changing the system font is not just a cosmetic procedure. Unlike changing wallpapers or design themes, it involves Android's deep settings, which can lead to unstable interfaces, application errors, or even crashes in the bootloop. For example, an improperly installed font can make unreadable Settings or recovery menus, making it difficult to roll back changes. So before you start experimenting, it's important to assess the risks and choose the safest method.

In this article, we’ll look at 5 ways to change the font, from official MIUI tools to manual interventions through ADB and custom firmware. Each method has its pros and cons, as well as its level of complexity, so you can choose the best option depending on your technical skills and readiness for potential problems.

Method 1: Using built-in MIUI themes (the safest method)

The easiest way to change the font on the Redmi Note 8 Pro is to use Xiaomi’s official themes, which include not only wallpaper and icons, but also alternative fonts. This method does not require root rights or unlock the bootloader, and all changes are easy to roll back at any time.

To apply a new theme with font:

• 📱 Open the Themes app (icon with brush on desktop).
• 🔍 In the search bar, enter the request “font” or “font».
• 🎨 Choose your favorite theme from the ones you like (e.g. MiSans Bold, Google Sans, or Handwriting).
• 📥 Click Apply and confirm download (Internet connection required).

Note that not all themes change the font globally – some only affect individual interface elements. To check if the font has changed, open Settings → About Phone and look at the text in the MIUI version section.

⚠️ Attention: After update MIUI Before the new version, the applied theme may reset to the standard. To avoid this, save the theme you like in My themes (heart icon in the upper right corner).

Backup of important data

Connect to a stable Wi-Fi network

Check the vacant space (at least 200 MB)

Close background applications to speed up loading-->

Method 2: Install fonts through the iFont application (without root)

If you don’t like the built-in MIUI themes, you can use the third-party iFont app, which allows you to install custom fonts without obtaining root rights.This method works on most Xiaomi devices, including the Redmi Note 8 Pro, but requires activation of the developer mode.

Step-by-step:

1. Download and install the iFont app from Google Play.
2. Open Settings → About the phone and 7 times click on the MIUI version to activate the developer mode.
3. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and enable the option to debug over USB.
4. Start iFont, select the Online section and download the font you like (e.g. Product Sans or Noto Sans).
5. Click Set, then select Apply via Miui Theme (for MIUI 12).
6. Confirm the installation and restart the device.

If the font hasn’t changed after the reboot, try repeating the steps or choosing a different font from the directory. Some users note that iFont may not work properly with Cyrillic characters, in which case it is recommended to test the fonts before final installation.

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Before installing the font through iFont, check the reviews of other users in the comments section of the font – this will help avoid problems with the display of characters.

Method 3: Manually modifying font via ADB (for power users)

For those who are not afraid of the command line, there is a method of changing the font through ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which does not require root rights, but involves working with system files, so only suitable for advanced users. Wrong commands can lead to a failure of the interface, so be sure to back up the data before you start.

Instructions:

1. Install. ADB-Tools on your computer and connect Redmi Note 8 Pro USB (Turn on Debugging. USB developer-setting).
2. Download the archive with the.ttf font and rename it MiSans-Regular.ttf (this is the name of the standard font in MIUI 12).

If the font hasn’t changed after the reboot, check the file access rights or try using a different font format (e.g..otf). Also make sure the file name matches the original font in the system – you can pre-back up the source file with a command:

adb pull /system/fonts/MiSans-Regular.ttf

⚠️ Note: If, after changing the font, ADB the device stopped loading or the interface became unreadable, try booting into Fastboot (click Power). + Volume reduction) and reset via the Mi Flash Tool. This will delete all user data!

Method 4: Install custom recovery and firmware font (advanced level)

For maximum flexibility in font settings, some users resort to installing custom recovery, such as TWRP, and then firmware modified.zip archives with fonts. This method requires unlocking the bootloader, which voids the warranty and can lead to data loss.

Advantages of the method:

• 🔧 Full control of system fonts (including fonts for SystemUI and applications).
• 🔄 Possibility to roll back changes through Nandroid backup.
• 📦 Support for community font packages (e.g. Magisk Font Modules).

Step-by-step:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool (requires a Mi Account binding and wait 7 days).
2. Install TWRP for Redmi Note 8 Pro (the version must match the device model – begonia for global firmware).
3. Download a.zip archive with a font (for example, from the XDA Developers forum) and place it on a memory card.
4. Download to TWRP (Press Power + Volume Up) and run the archive through Install.
5. Clear the cache (Wipe → Dalvik/ART Cache) and restart the device.

If the device loads after firmware, but the interface is not displayed correctly (for example, characters instead of letters), try flashing another font package or returning the standard one through a backup.

Method 5: Using Magisk and Font Modules (for root devices)

If your device has root rights and Magisk is installed, you can use special modules to change the fonts. This method is flexible and reversible - just turn off the module in Magisk Manager to return the standard font.

How to install font through Magisk:

1. Install Magisk (if not already installed) and check it through Magisk Manager.
2. Download the module with a font in.zip format (for example, FontPack_GoogleSans.zip) from a trusted source (recommended) XDA or Telegram-channels of developers).
3. Open Magisk Manager, go to Modules and click Install from Storage.
4. Select the downloaded archive and wait for the installation to be completed.
5. Reset the device.

The advantage of this method is that Magisk modules do not directly touch the system partition, but work through the systemless mechanism, which reduces the risk of system damage. However, not all modules are compatible with MIUI 12, so check the feedback of other users before installing.

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Magisk modules are the safest way to change the font on rooted devices, as they can be turned off at any time without any system consequences.

Solving problems after changing the font: frequent errors and fixing them

Even with careful follow-up, changing the font can lead to unexpected problems, and consider the most common mistakes and ways to fix them:

If you encounter display artifacts after changing the font (such as blurred characters or incorrect indentations), try:

• 🔄 Reset the device.
• 🧹 Clear the cache in Settings → Warehouse → Clear the cache.
• 📉 Reduce the font size in Settings → Screen. → Type size.

If the problem is not resolved, return the standard font and try another method from this article. Remember that Xiaomi may block some changes to new versions of MIUI, so it is recommended to return the standard settings before updating the firmware.

FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions About Changing Font to Redmi Note 8 Pro