How to put the original font on Xiaomi Redmi: 3 proven ways

Introduction: Why standard MIUI fonts don't suit users

Xiaomi Redmi smartphones are famous for their value for money, but even the most advanced models of the Redmi Note 12 or Redmi K60 series suffer from one typical drawback: boring system fonts. The headsets built into MIUI (for example, MiSans or Roboto) look dull against the background of custom solutions from Samsung or Google Pixel. Users complain about the lack of individuality: the interface of one Redmi 10 is visually indistinguishable from another, despite different wallpapers or themes.

Fortunately, replacing the font with Xiaomi is a real task, and it does not always require root rights. Depending on the version of MIUI (12, 13 or 14) and the smartphone model (Redmi 9A, Note 11 Pro+, K50, etc.), several methods are available, from simple installation through Themes to manually mounting files via ADB or TWRP. The main thing is to understand the risks: improper installation can lead to a failure of system applications or “drop out” of the launcher, especially on devices with a locked bootloader.

In this guide, we'll take a look at all the current ways, including the nuances for different versions of firmware, how to safely test fonts, where to download verified.ttf files, and what to do if, after replacing, text in messengers is displayed in characters. Let's start with the simplest method, through the built-in Theme app.

Method 1: Install the font through the “Themes” application (without root)

The safest and most official method is to use the built-in MIUI theme store.It works on all Xiaomi Redmi devices (including the Redmi A2, Note 12 Pro and POCO X5) and does not require technical skills. However, this method has limitations: the choice of fonts is modest, and many headsets are paid or available only to users from China.

To install a new font:

• 📱 Open the Themes app (icon with brush on the home screen).
• 🔍 Go to the Fonts section (tab in the bottom menu).
• 👆 Scroll through the list and select your favorite headset. Free options are usually marked with a green label. FREE.
• 📥 Click Download, then Apply. The system will automatically replace the font in all menus and apps.

If the desired font is not in the directory, you can try to import it manually through the.mtz file (MIUI theme).

1. Download the theme file with a font from sites like zhuti.xiaomi.com (use a VPN if the site is unavailable).
2. Transfer the file to the phone’s memory (for example, to the Downloads folder).
3. In the Topics app, click on the profile icon → My Themes → Import and select the downloaded file.

⚠️ Note: Some fonts from third-party themes may not support Cyrillic. Before using, check the reviews of other users or test the headset in the Notes app by entering the text in Russian.

Backup the current theme (Settings → Additional → Backup)

Check the vacant space (need ~50-100 MB)

Connect to Wi-Fi (theme files can weigh up to 30MB)

Shut down. VPN (Some fonts are blocked by geo-restrictions)-->

Method 2: Manual font replacement via ADB (for advanced users)

If the built-in themes don’t work and root rights don’t, you can use ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which works on most Xiaomi Redmi devices with MIUI 12-14, but requires USB debugging and drivers on your PC, the advantage is the ability to install any typeface in.ttf format, including premium headsets like SF Pro (from Apple) or Product Sans (from Google).

Step-by-step:

1. Activate USB debugging: Go to Settings → About Phone. Click 7 times on MIUI to turn on Developer Mode. Go back to Settings → Additional → For Developers and turn on USB Debugging.
2. Connect your phone to your PC: Install ADB Tools on your computer. Connect Redmi over USB, select File Transfer Mode. In the command line (Windows) or terminal (Mac/Linux), type: Adb devices If the device is displayed, move on.

Download and prepare the font:

• Find the.ttf file (for example, on Google Fonts).
• Rename it MiSans.ttf (to replace the system) or custom.ttf (to test).
• Place the file in the platform-tools folder (where ADB is installed).
• Replace the font with commands: adb push MiSans.ttf /sdcard/ adb shell su mount -o rw,remount /system cp /sdcard/MiSans.ttf /system/fonts/ chmod 644 /system/fonts/MiSans.ttf reboot ⚠️ Note: On some models (Redmi) 9T, Note 10S) folder /system This may require a temporary root through Magisk or TWRP.

After the reboot, the font will change in all system applications, if the text is displayed incorrectly (in squares or characters), then the font does not support Cyrillic.

adb shell


su




mount -o rw,remount /system




rm /system/fonts/MiSans.ttf




reboot

Method 3: Install the font via TWRP (for devices with unlocked bootloader)

If your Xiaomi Redmi has an unlocked bootloader and custom recovery (TWRP) installed, you can replace fonts directly through the file manager.This method is suitable for enthusiasts who are already familiar with smartphone firmware. The advantage is the ability to edit system files without the risk of bricking, since TWRP allows you to restore the backup.

Instructions:

• 📴 Download the archive with fonts in.zip format (for example, FontPack for the MIUI). Popular sources: XDA Developers or 4PDA.
• 💾 Transfer the archive to the phone memory.
• 🔧 Boot in. TWRP (clamp down the Power + Volume Up when switched on).
• 📂 Go to Advanced. → File Manager and find the folder /system/fonts/.
• 🔄 Replace the files MiSans.ttf, Roboto-Regular.ttf, etc. with your own (from the archive).
• 🔙 Back to the main menu TWRP and select Reboot System.

If the phone is stuck on the Redmi logo after the reboot, it means that the font is not compatible with your version of MIUI.

1. Back up to TWRP.
2. Restore the backup of /system/fonts/ (if you did it in advance).
3. Or download the original fonts for your model from the MIUI ROM website and replace the damaged files with them.

💡

Before replacing fonts in TWRP, back up /system/fonts/ via the Backup option in the main menu, which will take 2-3 minutes, but save the clock for system recovery.

Where to download high-quality fonts for Xiaomi Redmi

Not all fonts are suitable for MIUI. To avoid problems with displaying text, download the headsets from proven sources:

For Xiaomi Redmi devices, it is better to choose fonts marked MIUI-compatible or Android 12/13. Avoid files with the.otf extension - they may not display correctly in the system menu. Optimal format:.ttf or.zip (for installation via the system menu). TWRP).

Before downloading, check:

• 📌 Support for Cyrillic (if you need a Russian layout).
• 📏 File size: fonts that are too small (less than 100 KB) can be broken».
• 🔍 Reviews of other users (especially on forums such as: 4PDA).

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even if installed correctly, fonts on Xiaomi Redmi can not work correctly, and here are the most common errors and ways to fix them:

1.The text is displayed in hieroglyphs or squares

Reason: The font does not support Cyrillic or UTF-8 encoding.

Decision:

• Download the font version marked Cyrillic or Extended.
• Use Samsung system fonts (like One UI Sans) – they usually support all languages.

2 Fonted only in the menu, not in the applications

Reason: Apps (like WhatsApp or Telegram) use their headsets.

Decision:

• Install the Font Changer module in Magisk (requires root).
• Use apps like iFont (from Google Play), which force the fonts to be replaced in all programs.

3.After the font change, the phone stopped loading

Reason: A system file or incompatible font version is damaged.

Decision:

• Download to Fastboot (press Power + Volume Down) and run the original firmware through the Mi Flash Tool.
• If you have TWRP, restore the backup of /system/fonts/.

⚠️ Note: On devices with a locked boot loader (Redmi) 12C, Note 11 from official sales) Incorrect replacement of fonts can lead to hard brick (inability to recover without a service center).Before experimenting, check the status of the bootloader with the command: fastboot oem device-info If Device unlocked: false, the risk is high.

How to return the standard font to Xiaomi Redmi

If the experiment with fonts failed, you can return the original headset in several ways:

1. Through the Themes app: Open Themes → Fonts. Select Default or MiSans. Click Apply.

Through ADB:

adb shell


su




mount -o rw,remount /system




rm /system/fonts/MiSans.ttf




cp /system/fonts/MiSans.ttf.bak /system/fonts/MiSans.ttf




reboot

(The original file must be backed up first.)

Through setting reset:

• Go to Settings → About the phone → Reset settings.
• Select Reset all settings (app data will be saved).

💡

Before you run through the Mi Flash Tool, be sure to unlock the bootloader (if it is locked), otherwise the phone will turn into a "brick".

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions