The standard font in messages on Xiaomi smartphones does not always suit users - someone wants a larger size for ease of reading, someone does not like the style of MiSans or Roboto, and someone just wants to personalize. Unfortunately, the manufacturer does not bring this option to the fore, so many owners of Redmi, POCO or Mi do not even suspect that changing the font is possible without root rights. In this article, we will analyze all the current methods - from built-in MIUI tools to third-party applications and hidden functions.
It is important to understand that the methods differ depending on the firmware version (MIUI 12/13/14), phone models and even a region. 13 Pro with global firmware MIUI 14.0.5 The path to font settings can be dramatically different from what you see on the Redmi Note. 10 We've taken these nuances into account and we've developed universal solutions that work with the Chinese version. 90% brand.
1. Standard font settings in MIUI
To start with, the simplest of them are built-in options that don’t require additional programs to be installed. MIUI has two levels of font customization: system (affects all applications, including SMS) and individual (only for individual messengers).
To change the font size for all messages:
- Open the Settings → Screen.
- Select the text size item.
- Move the slider to the right (increase) or left (decrease).
- Click Ready and restart the phone if the changes didn’t apply immediately.
This method works for SMS-Apps, Telegram, WhatsApp and other messengers, but do not allow you to change the style of the font (for example, from Roboto to Helvetica.
2. Change of font style through MIUI themes
MIUI themes are the official way to customize the interface, which allows you to change not only wallpaper and icons, but also fonts. However, there are pitfalls here: not all themes support changing the font, and some can conflict with system applications.
How to change the font through the themes:
- 📱 Open the Themes app (icon with brush).
- 🔍 In the search bar, enter “font” or “font».
- 🎨 Choose your favorite theme (e.g. MiSans Bold or Google Sans).
- 📥 Click Apply and confirm the download.
After applying the theme, the font will change in all system applications, including Messages. However, be careful: some users note that after updating MIUI, the themes are reset to standard. To avoid this, save your favorite theme in Favorites.
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If the font in messages hasn’t changed after changing the topic, try clearing the Messages app cache in the settings (Settings → Applications → Application Management → Messages → Storage → Clear the cache).
3. Use of third-party applications for customization
If the built-in methods don't work, you can use third-party tools.
- 📲 iFont supports more than 5000 fonts, works without rooting on the Internet MIUI 12+.
- 📲 FontFix – specializes in fixing system fonts after updates.
- 📲 ZFont 3 – allows you to install fonts in.ttf and.otf formats.
Instructions for iFont (the most reliable option):
- Download and install iFont from Google Play.
- In the app, select the Online or Local section (if the font is already downloaded).
- Click on your favorite font → Set → Apply.
- Confirm installation via MIUI Theme Editor (if requested).
Important: Some models (such as POCO F4) may require manual reboots after installing the font via iFont – changes are not always automatically applied.
Download the font in.ttf or.otf| format
Check out MIUI version (starting with 12 supported without root)|
Make a backup of your current settings|
Close all messengers before installation-->
4. Manual font change via ADB (for advanced)
If you're willing to take drastic measures, you can change the font through ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which requires connecting your phone to your computer and basic command line knowledge, but gives you complete control over the system fonts.
Step-by-step:
- Enable USB Debugging in the Developer Settings (Settings → About Phone → MIUI Version – Press 7 times, then return to Additional → For Developers).
- Connect your phone to your PC and check the connection with the command: Adb devices
- Download the font archive (e.g. Google Sans) and unpack it into the system/fonts folder on your phone via the command: adb push Roboto-Regular.ttf /system/fonts/
- Change the access rights: adb shell chmod 644 /system/fonts/Roboto-Regular.ttf
- Reset the device.
⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB If you are not sure about your actions, you should use other methods. This method may not work on Xiaomi with a blocked bootloader.
5. Features for different messengers
Not all messengers allow you to change the font through system settings. Here's what you need to know about popular apps:
| messenger | Does the change of font support | How to change |
|---|---|---|
| SMS (standard application) | Yes (through system settings) | Changes with the system font (see section 1) |
| Partially. | Size only through Settings → Chat → Font size | |
| Telegram | Yes. | In chat settings → Text size + themes support |
| Viber | No. | The font is hard sewn in the app |
There's an extra life hack for Telegram, and you can set a custom theme with a modified font.
- Open the Settings. → Appearance.
- Choose to Create a new theme.
- In the Fonts section, upload your.ttf file.
6. Solving problems after changing font
Sometimes, when you change the font, you get bugs: characters instead of letters, app crashes, or text is completely unreadable. Here's how to fix it:
- 🔄 Reset font: Return the standard font through Settings → Topics → My subjects. → Standard.
- 🧹 Cache Clearing: For Messages or Messenger app where the font is displayed incorrectly.
- 📱 Rebooting: Sometimes a normal phone reboot helps.
- 🔧 Reinstall themes: Remove and re-apply custom theme.
⚠️ Note: If you change the font through ADB The phone stopped loading, try to go to Fastboot Mode (clip the power supply). + Reduce volume) and execute the command:
fastboot erase cacheThis will clear the cache and can return the working capacity.
What to do if the font resets after the MIUI update?
7. Alternative methods: Launcher and SMS applications
If neither method works, you can go a detour:
- 📱 Install a custom launcher (like Nova Launcher or Hyperion) that supports changing fonts for icons and widgets. This won't change the font in the messages themselves, but visually the system will become more harmonious.
- 💬 Use third-party. SMS-appendix, for example, Textra SMS — It allows you to change the font and text size. SMS — Supports custom themes with different fonts.Pulse SMS — has built-in design styles.
When selecting a third party SMS-Please note that certain functions (e.g, RCS-Messages may not work properly. Before installing, check the reviews about compatibility with your Xiaomi model.
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Third-party SMS-Applications are the most reliable way to change the font in messages if the system methods do not work, but they may not support some features of a standard application (for example, a spam filter or a cloud backup).