Xiaomi’s MIUI-based smartphones offer users a wide range of customization options, including changing system fonts. However, not everyone knows where these fonts are stored and how to view or replace them. In this article, we’ll look at all the available ways, from standard settings to hidden features for power users.
It's important to understand that the layout of the options may vary slightly between the models (Redmi Note 12, POCO X5, Mi 11) and MIUI versions (13, 14, HyperOS), and we'll take these nuances into account and provide universal solutions. If you want to not just look at the fonts, but also install custom ones, you'll find detailed instructions here.
Before you make any changes, make sure your device is not locked by corporate policy (relevant to work phones).
Method 1: Standard MIUI settings (without root)
The easiest method is to use built-in personalization options, and it’s suitable for most devices on MIUI 12 and up, including HyperOS models.
Go to: Settings → Screen → Font
Here you'll see:
- 📱 Standard font – the default system variant (usually MiSans or Roboto)
- 🎨 Font style – pre-installed options (e.g., “Thin”, “Fat")
- ⚙️ Font size – adjustment of scale (from 80% to 130%)
- 🔍 Viewing a sample - demonstration of the current font on the example of text
Note that some regional firmware (e.g. Europe) may not have a font style option, due to licensing restrictions on some printing families.
Method 2: Application "Themes" (MIUI Themes)
The official MIUI Themes app allows you not only to change wallpaper and icons, but also to install new fonts, which works on all devices with an unlocked bootloader (even without root).
Instructions:
- Open the Themes app (icon with brush)
- Go to the Font tab (may be called "Fonts" in global firmware)
- Check out the available options – there are both free and paid packages available here.
- Click on your favorite font → Apply
After application, the system will suggest restarting the device. Some fonts from MIUI Themes may not display correctly in third-party applications (for example, in Telegram or Chrome) - this is a shell restriction, not an installation error.
Backup your current settings | Check the free space (fonts take 5-50 MB) | Connect to Wi-Fi (download can weigh up to 100 MB) | Close the background applications for proper installation-->
If you don't have the font in the directory, you can download the.ttf file manually and install it through the file manager, and that's in the next section.
Method 3: Install custom fonts through file manager
For advanced users who want to install a font downloaded from the Internet (for example, with Google Fonts or DaFont), this method is suitable. It requires minimal technical skills.
Procedure:
- Download the font in.ttf or.otf format to the device
- Open any file manager (e.g., Mi File Manager or Solid Explorer)
- Find the downloaded file and click on it → select Set up the font
- Confirm installation and restart the phone
Important nuances:
- ⚠️ Not all fonts support Cyrillic – check this before installing
- 📁 Fonts are installed in a folder /system/fonts/, But without root, access is limited.
- 🔄 After updating MIUI Custom fonts can be reset to standard
What to do if the font is not installed?
Method 4: View system fonts through ADB (for developers)
If you need to see all system fonts, including hidden ones, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which is suitable for diagnosing or creating custom firmware.
Instructions:
- Enable USB debugging in the developer settings
- Connect your phone to your PC and execute the command:
adb shell ls /system/fonts/You will see a list of all the installed fonts, for example:
| File name | Type of font | Appointment |
|---|---|---|
| MiSans-Regular.ttf | No serifs. | Primary system font |
| Roboto-Bold.ttf | No serifs. | Fatty version for headlines |
| NotoSansCJK-Regular.ttf | With serifs. | Support for Chinese/Japanese characters |
| DroidSansFallback.ttf | Universal. | Backup font for non-standard characters |
To copy the font to a PC for analysis, use:
adb pull /system/fonts/MiSans-Regular.ttf C:\fonts\💡
If ADB does not recognize the device, update the drivers via the Mi PC Suite or install Google USB Driver for Android.
Method 5: Using Magisk and the FontManager module (requires root)
For users with root rights, the most flexible method is the FontManager module for Magisk.
- 🔍 View all system and user fonts
- 🔄 Switch between them instantly without rebooting.
- 📁 Install fonts from any source (including ZIP-archive)
- 🛠️ Fixing Display Problems in Individual Applications
Installation:
- Install Magisk Manager and get root
- Download the FontManager module from the Magisk repository
- Restart the device and open the FontManager app
- In the System Fonts section you will see a full list of available fonts.
⚠️ Note: Some banking applications (Sberbank, Tinkoff) may block work on root devices. Before using this method, check compatibility with programs that are critical to you.
Solving font problems on Xiaomi
Sometimes, when you change the fonts, you get artifacts, like characters instead of letters, messaging in messengers, or crashes in apps, and here's how to fix it:
Problem 1: Instead of text, squares or hieroglyphs are displayed
- 🔹 Install a font with Unicode support (e.g. Noto Sans)
- 🔹 In the font settings, select the option marked "Full" or "Extended"
- 🔹 Reset the font to standard in Settings → Screen. → font → Drop it.
Problem 2: Apps are dyed after changing font
- 🔹 Clear the problem app's cache in Settings → Annexes
- 🔹 Reinstall the font through MIUI Themes (sometimes re-installation helps)
- 🔹 Use Safe Mode to Check for Conflicts
Problem 3: Font reset after MIUI update
- 🔹 Save a backup copy of the font in MIUI Themes → My subjects.
- 🔹 After updating, apply the font again (usually one click is enough)
- 🔹 For custom fonts, use Magisk – it saves settings between updates
💡
If you have a font problem after you update MIUI, try resetting your screen to the standard settings first, and 80 percent of the time, this resolves conflicts without additional action.