Xiaomi smartphone owners often face a situation where the standard set of emojis no longer suits visually, which may be due to the desire to make the interface more unique or the need to correct the incorrect display of characters in messengers. In the MIUI ecosystem and the new HyperOS, the process of customizing the appearance of the system is deeply integrated, but has its own nuances.
Changing the emoji set on Xiaomi brand devices is directly dependent on the Android operating system version and regional firmware. Global versions often use Google's standard set, while Chinese builds may offer alternative options. Understanding the font architecture will help you safely change the look of the keyboard without losing data.
It should be noted that replacing system emojis is not just a change of picture, but a change of system font. So it is important to be careful when installing third-party components. Incorrectly selected file can lead to the fact that instead of having fun faces, you will get squares or “crazy jacks” in system notifications.
⚠️ Warning: Installing third-party fonts from unverified sources can cause the interface to work in an unstable way. Always back up important data before making deep changes to the system.
Mechanism of emoji in shells Xiaomi
The display of any characters, including color images of emotions, is based on special font files. In Android, this is the EmojiCompat file or system font that is loaded with the shell. On Redmi and Poco smartphones, this process is controlled by the theme that is active at the moment.
When you change the theme, the system loads a new set of graphics resources. However, not all themes change emojis. Many designers leave the standard set of Google, changing only the application icons. To replace the emoji requires a theme that has modified the emoji.ttf file or similar system resource.
There are two main ways to do this: use the built-in store one way or manually install it through the engineering menu and file managers. The first way is safer, but limited to the suggestions of the authors. The second way is complete control, but requires technical literacy and root rights in some cases.
- 🎨 Standard mechanism: Replacement through the “Themes” app, where the author has changed the graphic layer of the emoji.
- ⚙️ System level: font substitution in the Settings section → Screen. → Font that affects both text and symbols.
- 🔧 Advanced method: Using utilities like zFont 3 to install an emoji set without changing mainface.
Change emojis through the store themes MIUI and HyperOS
The easiest and safest way to change the visual style of an emoji is to use the regular Themes app. There are thousands of designs in the MIUI Theme Store catalog, and some of them include unique sets of emojis other than stock ones.
You don't have to download the whole theme to find the right design. Newer versions of the shell have a preview feature, so you can select a theme, click "Apply" and select "Emoji" or "Emoji" from the menu that opens if the author of the the theme has shared these elements.
But there's a caveat: many of the themes in the global firmware versions don't allow you to change the emojis separately, so you'll have to use the whole theme, which will change the look of all the icons. If you only want a new style of emoji, look for themes marked "Emoji" in the title or description.
☑️ Searching for a theme with new emojis
Some old themes may not work properly, causing some characters to disappear.Always check the date of the last theme update and compatibility with your version of Android.
Using the zFont 3 app to install emojis
The zFont 3 app is one of the most popular tools for customizing fonts and emojis on Android.It allows you to install emoji sets from iPhone (iOS), Samsung or Google on Xiaomi devices without having to obtain superuser rights.
The installation process requires care, as the algorithm may vary depending on the version of MIUI. The app automatically determines the model of your smartphone and suggests the appropriate installation method, most often it uses a mechanism to replace the system font through language or region settings.
Once you download the app, you have to select the "Emoji" tab and find the set you want, like installing iOS emojis on Android. After downloading the package, follow the instructions inside the app. It can offer several methods: through font settings, through changing the region or through ADB.
| Method of installation | Difficulty | I need a Root. | Risk of error |
|---|---|---|---|
| Through the font settings | Low. | No. | Minimum |
| Regional change (India/Indonesia) | Medium | No. | Medium. |
| Through ADB (computer) | Tall. | No. | High-pitched |
| Direct file replacement (Root) | Tall. | Yes. | critical |
⚠️ Note: When using methods that involve changing the region of the system, some local services (such as themes or browsers) may temporarily change the interface language or become unavailable.
Manual System File Replacement (for Advanced)
For users with unlocked bootloader and root rights, it opens up the possibility of direct replacement of system font files, which is the most effective method, but also the riskiest. Any error in editing the system partition can lead to a cyclic restart (bootloop).
You will need a file manager with access to root folders, such as Root Explorer or MT Manager. The source file of system emojis is usually located along the path /system/fonts/ or /system/fonts/Roboto/, however, the exact location depends on the Android version and the specific MIUI build.
Before replacing, make sure to make a copy of the original NotoColorEmoji.ttf file (or similar). If the new font doesn't work or causes errors, you can restore the system to work by returning the original. Don't neglect this step, even if you are sure of your actions.
cp /system/fonts/NotoColorEmoji.ttf /sdcard/backup_NotoColorEmoji.ttfAfter copying the substitute file to the system folder, you need to set the correct Permissions, which usually coincide with the rights of the rest of the files in this directory, most often it is rw-r.--r-- (After the rights change, a full reboot of the device is required.
What to do if the phone goes into a bootloop?
Configure the Gboard keyboard and third-party solutions
Often users confuse system emojis and emojis displayed inside the keyboard. Google's Gboard keyboard has its own character display library, which may differ from the system's. You can change the style of the emoji directly in the keyboard settings without affecting the rest of the system.
To do this, open Gboard settings, go to Settings and find Emoji Style, where you can choose whether the characters will look like Android, iOS or black and white, and this change will only affect the emoji selection panel when typing, but will not change their display in the messages received.
Third-party keyboards like Facemoji or Kika Keyboard offer even more customization options, allowing you to change not only the style, but also add animated ones. GIF-emoji, create your own combinations and use voice input with emotion recognition.
- 📱 Gboard: a reliable keyboard with the ability to choose the style of emoji (Android/iOS).
- 🎭 Facemoji: a huge library of stickers and the ability to create avatars-emoji.
- ⌨️ Kika: Theme support, keyboard resize and enhanced character set.
💡
If you have a new theme but the emojis on WhatsApp or Telegram remain the same, check the font settings inside the messenger itself. Some apps have their own text and character display settings that are prioritized over the system.
Possible problems and solutions
In the process of experimenting with emoji, users may encounter various artifacts, the most common problem is the appearance of empty squares instead of images, which means that the new font does not contain codes for certain characters or has a coding conflict.
Another common situation is desynchronization, where you send a smiley face and the recipient sees another character or square, because the recipient's device doesn't have the appropriate font installed or the Android version is too old to support new Unicode codes, in which case only a return to standard dialing can help.
If system notifications stop working after installing new emojis or icons become unreadable, you need to reset the theme settings urgently. Go to the Themes app, go to profile and select the standard Classic or Default theme. This will return all system fonts to factory state.
💡
Returning to a standard theme is a universal solution to 90% of the problems with displaying graphics in MIUI. Don’t be afraid to reset the topic if you notice strange behavior of the interface.