How to change emoticons on Xiaomi on iPhone: a step-by-step guide

Apple emojis have long been the benchmark of visual style: their design looks neater, more modern and versatile than standard emojis on Xiaomi. If you are tired of simplified MIUI icons or want your messages in messengers to be displayed in the same way as friends on the iPhone, this guide for you. In this article, we will analyze three proven ways to replace emojis: from simple (via apps) to advanced (with root rights).

It's important to understand that the complete system emoji replacement is only possible with superuser rights (root). However, even without them you can achieve visual similarity in most messengers. We tested all methods on the Redmi Note 12 Pro+, Xiaomi 13 Ultra and POCO F5 models - instructions are relevant for MIUI 14/15 and Android 13/14. If your smartphone runs on an older version, some steps may differ.

Why do Xiaomi and iPhone emojis look different?

The difference in displaying emojis is due to system fonts. Apple has its own Apple Color Emoji set, which is integrated into iOS and is not available for Android out of the box. Xiaomi, like other manufacturers, uses Noto Color Emoji fonts (from Google) or their modifications. These fonts have:

• 🎨 Simplified design – less detail, flatter colors.
• 🔄 Other shades – for example, the complexion of emojis is often darker than that of Apple.
• 📏 Other proportions – some emojis (e.g., emojis, 👍 or ❤️) visually.
• 🔍 Lack of animation – in iMessage, emojis can come to life, on Android this is not.

Apple also regularly updates the design of emojis (most recently in iOS 17.4), while fonts on Android change less often. 🥹 ("A crying but happy face on Xiaomi can look like a slightly sad smiley, and on iPhone – with big tears and a smile.

Method 1: Install Apple fonts through apps (without root)

The easiest way is to use third-party apps that replace the messenger emoji, which don't change the system fonts, but replace the display of emojis on WhatsApp, Telegram, Viber and other programs.

• 📱 Emoji Font 3 – supports the latest versions of Apple emoji, works on the MIUI 12+. Link to Google Play.
• 🖼️ iFont (Expert of Fonts) - allows you to install custom fonts, including emojis. Requires additional settings.
• 🔧 ZFont 3 - specializes in replacing emojis, has a built-in style gallery Apple.

The following is a step-by-step guide for Emoji Font 3:

1. Download and install the app from Google Play.
2. Open Emoji Font 3 and select the style of iOS 17 Emoji (or another current version).
3. Press Apply and confirm installation. The app will ask permission to Overlay over other windows -- let me.
4. Reboot your smartphone. Once you turn on, the messenger emojis should be displayed in Apple style.

Importantly, this method only works in applications where emoji render through system fonts. In some messengers (for example, in Signal), emojis may remain the same.

⚠️ Note: Apps for replacing fonts may conflict with MIUI. If after installation there are artifacts (squares instead of smileys), clear the cache of the application in Settings. → Annexes → Emoji Font 3 → Memory. → Clear the cache.

Method 2: Manually add Apple fonts (Magisk required)

If your Xiaomi has an unlocked bootloader and Magisk installed, you can replace the system fonts with emoji files from Apple, which is more complicated, but provides a complete replacement in all applications, including system ones.

You'll need:

• 🔓 Unlocked bootloader (instructions for Xiaomi: link).
• 📦 Installed by Magisk (version 26)+).
• 💾 AppleColorEmoji.ttf and AppleColorEmoji font files@2x.ttf (You can download it here).
• 🛠️ Root access file manager (e.g. Solid Explorer or Solid Explorer) FX File Explorer).

Instructions:

1. Download the archive with Apple fonts and unpack it on your phone.
2. Open the root file manager and go to /system/fonts/ (or /system/product/fonts/ on newer versions of MIUI).
3. Back up your original NotoColorEmoji.ttf files (rename them to NotoColorEmoji.ttf.bak).
4. Copy the files of AppleColorEmoji.ttf and AppleColorEmoji@2x.ttf in the folder /system/fonts/.
5. Change the file access permissions to 644 (rw-r----).
6. Reboot the phone.

If after rebooting the emojis are displayed clumsy (for example, in the form of black squares), check:

• Correctness of file paths (on some firmwares, the font folder can be in /product/fonts/).
• Access rights (should be 644, owner – root)
• Integrity of downloaded files (re-download the archive if in doubt).

💡

Before replacing the fonts, make a full backup of the system through TWRP or MIUI Backup. If something goes wrong, you can recover the original files.

Method 3: Using the Magisk module (for power users)

If manual font replacement seems difficult, you can use the ready-made module for Magisk. One of the most reliable is the iOS Emoji Magisk Module, which automatically replaces emoji on all Android devices.

How to determine:

1. Download the module at the link: XDA Developers (choose the version for your Android).
2. Open Magisk Manager and go to the Modules section.
3. Click Install from Storage and select the downloaded.zip file.
4. After installation, restart the phone.

Advantages of this method:

• ✅ Automatic setting of access rights.
• ✅ Update support (module can be updated via Magisk).
• ✅ Compatible with most of the firmware MIUI.

Disadvantages:

• ❌ Requires Magisk and unlocked bootloader.
• ❌ May conflict with other font-changing modules.

Problems and Solutions: Why Have Smooths Changed?

Even if you followed the instructions, the emojis may remain the same.

If none of the methods worked, check:

• 📵 Android Version – on older versions (below 8.0), Emoji replacement may not be supported.
• 🔒 Root – without superuser rights, a complete replacement is impossible.
• 📱 Smartphone model – on some devices (for example, POCO M3) MIUI block the changes in /system.

💡

On devices with MIUI Global Stable, it is more difficult to replace system fonts because of the increased protection. If you are not ready to unlock the bootloader, use the method with applications (Method 1).

Comparison of methods: which one to choose?

To determine the best way, evaluate your skills and requirements:

Selection recommendations:

• 🆕 Beginners use Emoji Font 3 or iFont. It is safe and requires no technical knowledge.
• 🔧 Power users – if you already have Magisk, install a full replacement module.
• 🛠️ Enthusiasts – manual font replacement gives maximum control, but requires accuracy.

Bonus: how to return standard emoticons Xiaomi?

If you didn’t like the Apple emoji experiment, you can return the original icons in several ways:

For the application method (without root):

1. Open the Settings → Applications.
2. Find Emoji Font 3 (or another app you use).
3. Press Delete.
4. Clear the messenger cache where the emojis were changed.

For root methods:

1. If you used manual replacement: Delete AppleColorEmoji.ttf files from /system/fonts/. Return the original files (NotoColorEmoji.ttf.bak → rename NotoColorEmoji.ttf).
2. If you've used Magisk, open Magisk Manager. Go to Modules and delete the iOS Emoji Module. Reboot your phone.

⚠️ Note: If after returning the original fonts, some emojis are displayed incorrectly, clear the cache of the Android System WebView system application in the settings.

FAQ: Frequent questions about replacing emojis with Xiaomi