How to change the font on Xiaomi Redmi Note 8: 5 proven ways

The Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 is still one of the most popular smartphones in the budget segment, despite the release of new models, owners of this device often want to personalize the interface, and one of the most noticeable elements of customization is the change of the system font. Unlike flagship devices, where the choice of fonts is wider, on the Redmi Note 8 with MIUI firmware, this process has its own nuances.

In this article, we will discuss all the current methods of changing the font, from standard MIUI tools to install custom solutions through TWRP. You will learn how to avoid common errors (for example, loss of system applications after installing incompatible fonts), which formats are supported, and where to download secure packages.

Important: Instructions are checked on MIUI 12.5-14 (including global and Chinese versions).If your Redmi Note 8 runs on an older firmware (e.g. MIUI 11), some menu items may differ, we will warn you about this separately.

1. Standard fonts in MIUI: what the system offers

The MIUI firmware out of the box includes several pre-installed fonts that can be activated without further manipulation, which is the safest way to do so, since it does not require third-party files to be installed and does not affect system stability.

To see the available options:

1. Open the Settings → Screen.
2. Select the Font option (in some versions of MIUI it may be called Font Style).
3. Scroll down and see all the built-in options, including Mi Sans (standard), Roboto, SF Pro (for iOS-like interface), and regional fonts (for example, Arabic or Thai).

Note that MIUI 14 has reduced the number of embedded fonts to 3-4 basic options, and if you have an older firmware version (e.g. MIUI 12), the list can be wider.

• ✅ Pros of the method: does not require administrator rights, is safe for the system, changes are applied instantly.
• ❌ Cons: limited choice, you can not add your fonts.
• ⚠️ Nuance: After the update MIUI The selected font can be reset to the standard.

2. Install fonts via MIUI Themes (without root)

If you have few built-in options, you can use the official MIUI Themes store, where hundreds of free and paid fonts are available, but there are restrictions:

⚠️ Note: Not all fonts from the MIUI Themes are correctly displayed in third-party apps (such as WhatsApp or Telegram.

Installation instructions:

1. Open the Themes app (the icon with a brush on your desktop).
2. In the lower menu, select the Font section.
3. Scroll through the directory or search (e.g., type in Google Sans or Product Sans).
4. Click on your favorite typeface. → Apply.

If the font is not used:

• 🔄 Reboot your smartphone.
• 📥 Check if the file is fully loaded (sometimes you need a Wi-Fi connection).
• 🛠️ Update theme app through Play Market.

💡

To return a standard font, go to Settings → Screen → Font and select Default or Mi Sans.

3. Manual font addition via file manager

If you find a font in.ttf or.otf format (for example, downloaded from Fontsquirrel or DaFont), it can be installed manually. This method does not require root rights, but only works for fonts that are compatible with MIUI.

Step-by-step:

Download the font in.ttf or.otf format|Connect your smartphone to your PC or use a file manager|Create a backup of the current font (optional)|Rename the font file in Latin without spaces-->

1. Download your favorite font on your smartphone (for example, through the browser).
2. Open any file manager (e.g., Mi File Manager or Solid Explorer).
3. Go to the folder. /sdcard/MIUI/theme/. If theme is not available, create it.
4. Inside the theme folder, create a new folder called font (if it doesn’t exist).
5. Place the font file (.ttf or.otf) in the font folder.
6. Reboot your smartphone.
7. After the reboot, go to Settings → Screen → Font – a new font should appear in the list.

If the font is not displayed:

• 📌 Make sure the file has the correct extension (.ttf or.otf).
• 🔤 Check the file name – it should not contain Cyrillic or special characters.
• 🔄 Try restarting your smartphone again.

⚠️ Note: Some fonts may not display Cyrillic or messenger characters correctly. Check the font on your PC using FontForge or Microsoft Word before installing it.

4. Install fonts via Magisk (for stitched devices)

If your Redmi Note 8 has an unlocked bootloader and Magisk installed, you can use the font change modules, which gives you maximum freedom, but requires technical skills.

The most popular modules for Magisk:

• 📦 FontManager – allows you to install fonts in.ttf format without replacing system files.
• 🎨 iFont supports more than 1000 fonts and has a built-in directory.
• 🔧 ZFont – specializes in fonts for MIUI ColorOS.

Instructions for installation through Magisk:

1. Download a module (such as FontManager) in.zip format from the official Magisk repository or XDA Developers website.
2. Open the Magisk Manager app.
3. Go to the Modules section. → Click Install from the vault.
4. Select the downloaded.zip file and wait for the installation to be completed.
5. Reboot your smartphone.
6. After the reboot, open the module app (like FontManager) and select the font.

Advantages of the method:

• ✅ Support for any typeface, including exotic.
• ✅ The ability to roll back to the standard font in one click.
• ✅ There is no risk of “bricking” the device (if the module is compatible with your version). MIUI).

5. Change font through ADB (for advanced users)

If you don't have root rights, but you have access to ADB, you can replace the system font through the command line, and this method is risky, because if you make a mistake, you can get a "bootloop."

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB Tools.
• 🔌 USB-cable (preferably original).
• 📄 A font file in.ttf format, renamed NotoSansCJK-Regular.ttf (this is the name of the standard font in the MIUI).

Instructions:

adb shell


su




mount -o rw,remount /system




cp /sdcard/Download/NotoSansCJK-Regular.ttf /system/fonts/




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




reboot

If the font has not changed after the reboot:

• 🔍 Check if the file has been copied to the correct folder (/system/fonts/).
• 🔤 Make sure the file name matches the original font in the system.
• 🛠️ Try to clear the cache in Recovery (Wipe) → Cache).

⚠️ Note: On some versions MIUI (for example, MIUI 13+) folder /system protected from records even through ADB. You will need to get root or use Magisk for a while.

6. Problems after font change and their solution

Even if you follow the instructions, you can get bugs when you change the font, and here are the most common problems and ways to fix them:

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

• 🔄 For fonts from MIUI Themes: Go to Settings → Screen. → Font and select by default.
• 🛠️ For manual installation: remove the added font file from the folder /sdcard/MIUI/theme/font/.
• 🔧 For Magisk modules: Deactivate the module in Magisk Manager.

💡

Before experimenting with fonts, always back up your system via TWRP or Mi Backup, which will quickly restore the smartphone to work in the event of a failure.

FAQ: Frequent questions about changing font to Redmi Note 8