Xiaomi smartphone owners often find that standard emojis in MIUI look different than on iPhones. Apple uses a unique emoji design that many people find more modern and familiar - especially if you communicate with iOS users or switched from iPhone to Android. Fortunately, you can change the appearance of emojis to Redmi, POCO or Mi in several ways without resorting to rut or complex manipulation.
In this article, we will discuss 5 proven methods, including installing themes from the official Xiaomi Themes store, using third-party keyboards, manual font replacement (for advanced users), and even hidden MIUI settings. Importantly, not all methods are equally safe - some can affect the stability of the system. We will point out the risks and give recommendations on how to avoid problems.
Why are Xiaomi and iPhone emojis different?
The difference in emoji design is due to the fact that each operating system uses its own character sets:
- π iOS (Apple): Emojis developed by Apple and updated with the release of new versions of iOS.They have a unique style with smooth lines, bright colors and detailed elements (for example, the face of a smiley face). π iPhone is more rounded than Android).
- π€ Android (Google): Google is building its own stock Android emoji suite, featuring a flatter design and less saturated colors.
- π± MIUI (Xiaomi: The manufacturer can modify standard Android emojis or use their own variants. MIUI Emojis look more cartoonish and colors less natural.
In addition, Xiaomi sometimes makes changes to the system fonts, which can lead to visual differences even between devices on the same version of MIUI. For example, on the Redmi Note 12 and Xiaomi 13 Ultra emojis can slightly differ due to different versions of the firmware.
β οΈ Note: If you use messengers like WhatsApp or Telegram, they can swap out system emojis for their own, in which case changing the emojis at the OS level will not affect their appearance in these applications.
Method 1: Install theme with an iOS emoji from Xiaomi Themes
The easiest and safest method is to download a finished theme from the official Xiaomi Themes store. Many designers create themes that change not only wallpaper and icons, but also fonts along with emojis.
Here's how to do it:
- Open the Themes app (the icon with a brush on your desktop).
- In the search bar, type in the query: iOS emoji or Apple emoji.
- Choose your favorite theme (pay attention to the rating and number of downloads: π¨ "iOS 16 Emoji Theme β Copying the design of the emoji from iOS 16. ποΈ "Apple Style Icons & Emoji changes icons and emojis. π² "MiUI iOS Pack β a comprehensive theme for iPhone, including emoji.
Apply
After applying the theme, restart the device. Emoji should change in all standard applications (Messages, Contacts), but not necessarily in instant messengers.
Make sure the theme supports your version of MIUI|Reboot phone |Check emojis in standard messages |Check emojis on WhatsApp/Telegram (they may not change)
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β οΈ Note: Some topics may contain advertisements or require additional permissions. Read user reviews before installing them, especially if the topic is from an unknown author.
Method 2: Using a keyboard with an iOS emoji
If replacing system emojis is difficult, you can install a third-party keyboard that will show iPhone-style emojis, which works across all apps but doesnβt change the emojis in the messages you receive (only when you send them).
The best options for keyboards:
| keyboard | Features | Download link |
|---|---|---|
| Gboard (Google) | Supports iOS emoji through style settings. Enable the "Show iOS-style emoji" option (not available in all regions). | Google Play |
| SwiftKey | It has emoji packages, including Apple style, requiring manual adjustment in the "Keyboard Design" section. | Google Play |
| iOS Emoji Keyboard | A specialised keyboard with an emoji that is purely Apple-style and may conflict with some messengers. | Google Play |
Instructions for setting up Gboard:
- Install Gboard from Google Play.
- Open keyboard settings: Settings β System β Language and input β Virtual keyboard β Gboard.
- Select Themes β Emoji and find the iOS Style option (if available).
- Activate the keyboard in the default language settings.
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If you donβt have an iOS Style option in Gboard in your region, try changing your language to English temporarily, sometimes unlocking additional settings.
Method 3: Manual font modification (for advanced users)
This method requires unlocking the bootloader and superuser rights (root) and is only suitable for power users, as improper actions can lead to a loss of warranty or a βbrickβ of the device.
If you are willing to take a risk, follow the instructions:
- Unlock the bootloader on your Xiaomi through the official Mi Unlock Tool (instructions are available on the 4PDA or XDA Developers forums).
- Install a custom recap (TWRP) for your model.
- Download the archive with iOS fonts (for example, iOS_Fonts_MIUI.zip) proven-source.
- Using TWRP, run the archive to /system/font.
- Clear the cache and restart the device.
Example of Emoji Changer setup:
- Download the app from Google Play.
- Open it and select the iOS 16 or iOS 17 emoji package.
- Activate the Enable Emoji Changer option.
- In Android settings, allow the app to display over other windows.
Cons of this method:
- It can inhibit text entry in some applications.
- Not all emojis will be displayed correctly (e.g. animated emojis).
- On Instagram or Facebook, emojis can remain standard.
Install theme from Xiaomi Themes|Use keyboard with iOS emoji |Try the application for substitution |Manual change of fonts (if there is root)|I will not change anything
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Method 5: Hidden MIUI settings (for some firmware)
In some versions MIUI (Especially on Xiaomi.eu or custom firmware, there are hidden options for changing the style of emojis. They are not documented, but they can be activated through an engineering menu or ADB-team.
Instructions for MIUI 13/14:
- Connect your phone to your PC and activate USB Debugging in the developer settings.
- Open the command line (Windows) or the terminal (Mac/Linux) Enter adb shell settings put secure sysui_emoji_style 2 Here. 2 β iOS style code (other styles may have different meanings).
- Reset the device.
If the team fails, try an alternative method:
- Install Activity Launcher from Google Play.
- Find activity in it called com.android.settings.EmojiWallpaperSettings.
- Open it and select the iOS style (if available).
β οΈ Note: These methods do not work on all devices and can cause interface failures.
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Hidden settings MIUI β If the changes show emojis that are clumsy or disappear altogether, reset the settings via the command adb shell settings put secure sysui_emoji_style 0 (0 β standard-style).
Comparison of methods: which one to choose?
To make it easier for you to determine, we have compiled a comparative table:
| Method | Difficulty | Need root? | Works in messengers? | Risks. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Setting the topic | β (simple) | β No. | β Only in the standard SMS | Minimum (possible topic bugs) |
| Keyboard with iOS emoji | ββ (middle-of-the-road) | β No. | β Yes (when shipping) | No, but the emojis in the messages received will not change. |
| Substitution applications | ββ (middle-of-the-road) | β No. | β οΈ Partially. | They might slow down the system. |
| Manual font replacement | ββββ (difficult) | β Yes. | β Yes. | β οΈ High (brick risk) |
| Hidden MIUI settings | βββ (skilled) | β No. | β οΈ Depends on the firmware. | Medium (possible interface glitches) |
For most users, a combination of theme and keyboard is the best option, which will give visual unity in standard applications and correct display when sending messages.