How to change the look of emojis on Xiaomi: a step-by-step guide

Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face the urge to personalize their device by making it look unique.One of the most visible interface elements is the emoji we use daily in messengers and social media. However, the standard character set can seem boring or visually different from what iPhone users or Samsung flagships see.

Changing the look of emojis isn't just a whim, it's a way to improve the visual perception of content in dialogues. Unfortunately, there's no single hidden button in the shell of MIUI or the new HyperOS that instantly changes the style of all emojis at the system level. The process requires understanding how the Android operating system handles fonts and graphic elements.

In this article, we will discuss in detail all available methods, from simple theme settings to more complex manipulation of system files, you will learn what risks exist with deep interference in the system and how to safely achieve the desired result without losing the warranty on the device.

⚠️ Warning: Any action related to changing system files or setting superuser rights is at your own risk. Always back up your data before experimenting.

Why emojis look different on different devices

The differences in emoji display are due to the fact that each smartphone manufacturer uses its own set of graphic characters. Google provides a basic library, but companies like Xiaomi, Samsung or Apple draw their own versions of the characters. When you send a emoji, it is not a picture that is sent, but a special code that the recipient device interprets according to its font.

Xiaomi smartphones have a default font that may differ from standard Android or iOS, which causes WhatsApp or Telegram to make your messages look different than on a friend’s phone, and understanding this mechanism is important to choosing the right replacement method.

There are several levels of influence on the display of graphics: the safest is the use of embedded themes; the deeper is the replacement of the system font; and the most difficult is the modification of the system partition, which requires root rights. The choice of method depends on your smartphone model and firmware version.

🎨 The standard set depends on the Android version and shell MIUI.
📱 Messenger apps can use their own emoji libraries, ignoring system.
🔄 System updates often bring new versions of Google emojis.

It’s important to note that some apps, such as Viber or Telegram, have built-in font and style settings that override system settings. So check the settings of the app itself before you replace it globally.

Change emojis through the MIUI theme store

The easiest and safest way to change the look of the interface, including some typing elements, is to use the official Themes app. The Xiaomi theme store has thousands of designs available, many of which include its own icon and font sets.

To start, open the Themes app on the home screen or in the Tools folder. In the search bar, type in a query related to emojis or a particular style, such as "iOS emoji" or "Samsung style." Note that not all themes change the graphical display of characters, some affect only the application icons.

When selecting a topic, carefully read the description and see the screenshots in the gallery. If the theme contains a modified font with new emojis, this will be indicated in the "Theme Content" section. After downloading the theme, click Apply. The system can suggest a reboot to correctly display all the elements.

📊 Which style of emoji do you like more?

Classic Android

Style of Apple iOS

Minimalism of Samsung

Bright 3D emojis

If the theme hasn't changed, the theme may only affect system notifications, so try to find a separate Font section in the theme store, and installing a new font is a more effective method of changing glyphs than simply changing wallpaper.

⚠️ Warning: Third-party themes from unofficial sources may contain display errors. Use only proven high-rated themes in the official store.

Use of the Emoji Switcher app

For those who want to get an iPhone or Samsung-style emoji without flashing their phone, there is a popular solution, the Emoji Switcher app, which allows you to replace the system emoji font with any other one that is available in the Google Fonts database or downloaded by the user.

The application requires certain conditions to work: first, you need a computer running Windows, macOS or Linux; second, the smartphone must have USB debugging mode on it; third, root rights are often required for full functionality, although basic replacement is possible without them through ADB.

The installation process begins with a download APK-an application file from the official website of the developer or a trusted repository. After installation, launch the program and follow the instructions on the screen.

☑️ Preparation for Emoji Switcher installation

Charge your phone to at least 50%Enable debugging over USBInstall ADB drivers on PCBackup important data

Done: 0 / 4

Once you select the set, it will ask you to connect the phone to the computer with a cable, and on the smartphone screen you will see a request for debugging permission, confirm it, then the application will automatically download the desired font and apply it, in some cases you will need to reboot the device.

Note that newer versions of Android (11, 12, 13 and above) have tightened the type change mechanism, and without root rights, the application may not work smoothly or require re-activation after each reboot, due to the security features of the system.

Replacement of system font manually

A more advanced method is to manually replace the font file responsible for the emoji, which is suitable for users who understand the structure of Android files and are not afraid to work with the file system. The main file we are interested in is usually called NotoColorEmoji.ttf or has a similar name depending on the version of the system.

First, you need to find the right typeface with the right emojis, which can be found on specialized forums or in GitHub repositories. The downloaded file must be in.ttf or.otf format. It is important that the font version matches the version of your operating system, otherwise there may be a malfunction in the display of text.

If you have root rights, you can use a file manager with access to the system partition, such as Root Explorer or Solid Explorer (with root plugin). Go to /system/fonts/. Find the original emoji file and rename it by adding.bak (such as NotoColorEmoji.ttf.bak) to be able to roll back.

cp /system/fonts/NotoColorEmoji.ttf /sdcard/NotoColorEmoji_backup.ttf

Then copy the new font file to the same folder and rename it exactly as the original. After you change the files, change the permissions for the new file to rw-r.--r-- (This is a critical step, without which the system cannot read the font and can go into a cyclic reboot.

Parameter	Owner (User)	Group (Group)	Others (Other)
Reading (Read)	✅ Yes.	✅ Yes.	✅ Yes.
Recording (Write)	✅ Yes.	❌ No.	❌ No.
Execution (Exec)	❌ No.	❌ No.	❌ No.
Number code	644

Once the rights change, be sure to restart the device.If the phone is switched on normally, check the emoji display in any app.If an error occurs or the phone doesn't boot, you'll have to restore the original file via Recovery Mode or TWRP.

What to do if the phone goes to the bootloop?

If the font has stopped turning on after you've changed, don't panic. load into Recovery mode (usually by pressing the volume button up and power). TWRP, connect your phone to your PC and copy the saved copy of the font back to /system/fonts/. If you have a stock recavator, you may need to reset or flash it over. MIUI The procedure for changing system files can vary significantly depending on the version of the shell. MIUI 11 or MIUI 12 The file system was more open, and many of the methods worked without much difficulty. MIUI 13, 14 And especially HyperOS, the company has stepped up security measures. /system It is often edited as read-only, even if root rights are available. This means that simply replacing a file through a file manager may not work, and in such cases, you need to use special modules for Magisk if the bootloader is unlocked. Bootloader unlocking is a separate procedure that requires waiting 7 days (168 hours) after you have attached your Mi Account. Only after unlocking can custom recaps and modules be installed that allow you to safely replace system resources, including emoji fonts, without modifying the system partition directly. 🔓 MIUI Global often has stricter restrictions than China. ROM. 🛡️ HyperOS uses enhanced system integrity protection. ⏳ Unlocking the bootloader is mandatory for the use of Magisk modules. Users who are not ready to unlock the bootloader and lose the warranty can rely only on methods without root rights, which, however, are less effective on new devices. In some cases, using virtual spaces or app clones helps, but it doesn’t change emojis throughout the system. ⚠️ Note: On devices with MediaTek processors, unlocking the bootloader may be difficult or impossible by official methods. If the system replacement seems too difficult or risky, you can consider an alternative way – the use of third-party keyboards. Apps like Gboard, Facemoji or Kika Keyboard have their own emoji sets that are displayed on top of the system at the time of text input. While this doesn’t change emojis in already sent messages or system notifications, it solves the visual perception problem for the user at the time of printing. Many such keyboards allow you to download additional emoji packages, including 3D, animated or stylized for other OSes. To install an alternative keyboard, download the application from Google Play, run it and follow the activation instructions. You will need to allow access to the clipboard and enable the keyboard in the language settings and input Settings → Additional settings → Language and input to other OSes. To install an alternative keyboard, download the application type, however, some of the featured on the setup does not affect the system with the built-in application. Frequently asked questions (FAQ) Is it safe to change the system font of an emoji? There are risks involved, and if you replace the font file with a font file that is incorrect or you set the wrong permissions, the system may stop booting. Always back up the original file and make sure you have access to Recovery mode for recovery. Do I need to unlock the uploader to change emojis? For methods that use Magisk modules or deep system modifications - yes, unlocking is mandatory. For methods through ADB without rooting or using store themes MIUI No unlocking is required, but the functionality will be limited. Why are the emojis squared after being replaced? This means that the new font does not have the code of the desired character, or the font file is corrupted, and the problem may be incorrect file access rights. Return the original font from the backup. Will this work on Android 13 or 14? On newer versions of Android, security mechanisms have been strengthened. A simple.ttf file replacement may not work without the use of specialized Magisk modules (such as the Emoji Switcher Magisk Module), which require an unlocked bootloader. 💡The most reliable way to get new emojis on Xiaomi is to wait for an official system update or use Magisk modules when unlocked bootloader.