How to change emojis on Xiaomi smartphones: from standard ways to advanced hacks

Why Xiaomi’s Standard Emojis Aren’t Everyone Likes – and What to Do About It

Xiaomi smartphone emojis are a topic that has sparked a lot of debate among users, with some people liking the cute, rounded MIUI emojis, and some dreaming of bringing back classic Google icons or installing Apple style. The problem is that the manufacturer has tightly tied the emoji design to the system font and theme of the design. Even after upgrading to HyperOS in 2026, the situation has not changed: the emojis are still dependent on firmware.

The good news is that there are a number of ways to change emojis on Xiaomi, from simple (via keyboard settings) to complex (using ADB or root rights).In this article, we will discuss all the current methods that work on MIUI 14/15 and HyperOS, including bypassing restrictions for Redmi, POCO and Xiaomi 12/13/14 series. Importantly, not all methods are universal – some require unlocking the bootloader or technical skills.

If you're not ready to experiment with the system, start with the first two methods -- they're safe and they don't require super-user rights. For enthusiasts who want full control of emojis, we've detailed advanced techniques with ADB and system file modifications. But remember, any changes at the firmware level can lead to a loss of warranty or unstable device performance.

Method 1: Change emojis through MIUI/HyperOS themes

The most obvious and safe way is to use the built-in themes feature. Xiaomi allows you to change the style of the emoji along with the overall theme, but the choice is limited. This method is suitable for users who do not want to install third-party applications or delve into the system settings.

How it works:

• 🎨 V MIUI And HyperOS emojis are tied to the system font Noto Color Emoji or MiSans. Some themes redefine this font, replacing the standard icons.
• 🔍 Most themes with alternative emojis are tagged with "Emoji" or "Smiley" tags in the theme store.
• ⚠️ After the change of the topic, emoji will only change in system applications (Messages, Contacts.

Step-by-step:

1. Open the Themes app (icon with brush).
2. Go to the Topic tab → Popular or Recommended.
3. In the search bar, type "emoji" or "emoji".
4. Select your favorite theme (e.g., “iOS Emoji” or “Google Emoji”) and click Apply.
5. Confirm the change by waiting for the process to be completed (may take up to 1 minute).

Advantages of the method: does not require superuser rights, reversibly, works on all Xiaomi models.

Method 2: Install the keyboard with your own emoji (Gboard, SwiftKey, etc.)

If you don't like system emojis, but you don't want to change the whole theme, install a third-party keyboard, which works 90% of the time and doesn't require technical skills, and the keyboard that supports the emoji style change is the keyboard.

The best options for Xiaomi:

• 📱 Gboard (Google) – allows you to choose the style of emoji in the settings (iOS, Google, Twitter, etc.).
• ⌨️ SwiftKey (Microsoft) – supports several styles, including Apple and Samsung.
• 🎨 Chroom (from developers) MIUI) — Optimized for Xiaomi, but with limited emoji options.
• 🔧 Fleksy – flexible look and feel settings, including emojis.

Instructions for setting up Gboard (the most popular option):

1. Install Gboard from Google Play.
2. Activate the keyboard: go to Settings → System → Language & Input → Virtual Keyboard and turn on Gboard.
3. Click on the gear icon next to Gboard → Settings → Themes, emojis and GIFs.
4. Choose the Emoji Style and install your favorite option (such as iOS or Twitter).
5. Go back to any app (like WhatsApp) and check how the emojis appear when you type in.

Remove the cache of the current keyboard|Download APK-keyboard|Installation from unknown sources|Check compatibility with MIUI/HyperOS|Make a backup copy of settings-->

Important: changing the keyboard changes the emoji only when you type in the text, already sent messages in chats will remain with old emojis, and some messengers (for example, Viber) can ignore the style of the emoji of the keyboard and show their own.

Method 3: Replace system font through ADB (without root)

For users who are ready for deeper customizations, there is a way to change emojis at the system level without getting root permissions. The method works through ADB (Android Debug Bridge) and allows you to replace the system emoji font with any other one.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB-tool.
• 📱 Included debugging by USB on Xiaomi (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI → 7 times to unlock the developer menu → Settings → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 📁 Font file with emoji in.ttf format (you can download from themes) MIUI or from sites like DaFont).

Step-by-step:

1. Connect your phone to your PC via USB and select File Transfer mode.
2. Open the command line (Windows) or terminal (macOS/Linux) in the adb folder.
3. Check the device connection command: Adb devices should appear serial number of your Xiaomi.
4. Download a font file (like NotoColorEmoji.ttf for Google emoji) and place it in the adb folder.
5. Follow the commands in turn: adb shell su -c "mount -o rw,remount /system" su -c "cp /sdcard/Download/NotoColorEmoji.ttf /system/fonts/" su -c "chmod 644 /system/fonts/NotoColorEmoji.ttf" su -c " -o ro,remount/system" reboot
6. After the reboot, the emojis will change in all applications.

⚠️ Attention: Misuse of the right ADB If the phone doesn't turn on after you restart, try resetting it via Fastboot (fastboot erase userdata). This method doesn't work on HyperOS with dm-verity).

Method 4: Modification of system files (root required)

For the most advanced users who are ready to get root rights, there is an opportunity to completely replace the system emoji. This method gives maximum freedom, but requires unlocking the bootloader and installing Magisk or TWRP. Suitable for Xiaomi models based on Qualcomm Snapdragon (for example, Redmi Note 12 Pro+, Xiaomi 13 Ultra).

What needs to be done:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool (requires a Mi Account binding and a wait of 7-14 days).
2. Install TWRP or OrangeFox Recovery for your model.
3. Get root rights through Magisk.
4. Download a module for Magisk that replaces emojis (e.g., "Emoji Replacer" or "iOS Emoji for Android").
5. Install the module via Magisk Manager and restart the device.

Popular modules for Magisk:

⚠️ Note: Installing unofficial modules may result in a loss of functionality of banking applications (due to the SafetyNet trigger). XDA Developers or 4PDA.

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If the emojis have not changed after installing the module, clear the cache of the Android System WebView and Google Play Services apps in the phone settings.

Method 5: Use of Emoji-enabled launcher applications

Little-known life hack: Some launchers (like Nova Launcher or Lawnchair) allow you to change the style of emojis in the interface. This will not replace emojis in messengers, but will change their display in folder names, widgets and system notifications.

How to set up:

1. Install Nova Launcher.
2. Press your finger on the home screen → Nova Settings → Appearance.
3. Choose the Icon Style → Emoji.
4. Install your favorite emoji pack (e.g., "iOS Glyphs" or "Google Emoji").
5. Apply the changes and restart the launcher.

The limitations of the method: it only works in the launcher interface, does not affect system applications and messengers, but it is the only way to change the emoji without interfering with the system.

Frequent problems and their solutions

When replacing emojis with Xiaomi, users face common mistakes, and here’s how to avoid or fix them:

Problem 1: After the change in the topic, the emojis did not change.

• 🔹 Check if the chosen theme supports emoji replacement (read the description in the theme store).
• 🔹 Clear the app's cache Themes in Settings.
• 🔹 Reboot the phone.

Problem 2: On WhatsApp or Telegram, emojis are still old.

⚠️ Note: Messengers often use their own emoji fonts, which are independent of the system type, and to change them, you either need to use a keyboard with a different style (method). 2), or modify the system font through ADB/root (mode 3-4).

Problem 3: After ADB commands, the phone doesn't turn on.

• 🔹 Connect the device to your PC and check if it is detected in fastboot (fastboot devices).
• 🔹 If yes, run the stock firmware through the Mi Flash Tool.
• 🔹 If not, try to hold the power. + Vol Up to enter Recovery and do a reset.

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On Xiaomi models with HyperOS (2026+), the ADB method may not work due to the system partition lock, in which case only root or third-party keyboard methods remain.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions