Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones often face the desire to change the standard look of emoticons to those used in the iOS operating system. The design difference between Android and iPhone is significant: the Cupertinos company uses more detailed and vivid images that have become a kind of standard in digital communication. Transferring these graphic elements to a device with a shell MIUI or HyperOS allows you to unify the appearance of messages in instant messengers, where the display depends on the system font library.
The replacement process is not a regular feature of Android, so it requires the use of third-party tools or deep configuration. There are methods that do not require obtaining super-user rights (root), which makes them available to a wide range of users. However, it is important to understand that any interference with system files carries certain risks. In this article, we will look at current ways to implement iOS emojis, from simple substitutions through the keyboard to installing system fonts.
Before taking action, you need to back up important data. Although the methods described below are considered relatively safe, unforeseen failures when replacing system resources can lead to unstable interface operation. Replacing the system file emoji.ttf is the only way to change emojis in all applications simultaneously, including SMS and system notifications.
Why Android and iPhone emojis look different
The visual difference between emojis across platforms is due to the use of different Unicode character sets and their graphical representation. Each operating system — whether Android, iOS or Windows — has its own font set that interprets Unicode code points into specific images. When you send a message, it's not the picture, but the symbol code, and the recipient's device displays it according to its internal library.
Apple is focusing on designing its emojis to make them more three-dimensional and gradient. At the same time, Google’s standard set (Noto Color Emoji) often looks flatter and minimalist, creating a situation where group chats, where users of different platforms are involved, some see a cheerful yellow emoji, while others see its less expressive counterpart. For Xiaomi users, who often communicate with iPhone owners, this can create visual dissonance.
Technically, the replacement is at the font rendering level, and the system accesses the font file when you render text, and if you replace the glyphs in this file with the corresponding files from iOS, the entire interface of the smartphone will change, not only for messengers, but also for system dialogues, calendars and notes.
⚠️ Note: Installing third-party system fonts may cause some rare characters or characters to be displayed incorrectly.Be sure to roll back changes via Recovery Mode or a pre-saved copy of the system before the procedure.
Preparation of Xiaomi smartphone for modification
Before you start the process of replacing graphics, you need to prepare the device, first of all, you need to gain access to the file system, which is closed by default for security reasons. Most methods involving replacing system fonts will require Root (superuser) rights. Without these rights, you can only change emoticons in individual applications, but not globally.
If you plan to use the system file replacement method, you will need a root-enabled file manager, such as Root Explorer or MT Manager. You will also need to download the AppleColorEmoji.ttf font file itself or its adapted version for Android. It is important to find a file that matches the version of your operating system to avoid encoding conflicts.
☑️ Checking the device's readiness
Don't forget to turn on the debugging. USB In the "Developers" menu, if the method you choose involves using a computer, this will allow you to use it. ADB-commands to fine-tune or restore the system in case of critical errors, it is also recommended to disable automatic system updates during work, so that updates do not overwrite the changed files.
Method 1: Global Replacement through System Font (Root)
This is the most effective way to do this, because it changes the appearance of the emoji throughout the system, and you need superuser rights to implement it, and the process is to replace the standard Android font file with an Apple file. Make sure you download the compatible font version before you start, as using the wrong file can lead to a bootloop.
First, you need to find a path to system fonts. It's usually located at /system/fonts/ or /system/font/. Find a file called NotoColorEmoji.ttf (or similar, depending on the version of MIUI) and back it up in a convenient location, such as internal memory. This is your safety file, which will allow you to return everything as it was.
cp /system/fonts/NotoColorEmoji.ttf /sdcard/backup_NotoColorEmoji.ttfOnce you have created a backup, copy the downloaded AppleColorEmoji.ttf file to the system folder and rename it to the original file name you reserved (e.g. NotoColorEmoji.ttf). They must match the rights of the rest of the files in that folder, usually rw-r.--r-- (644).
What to do if the phone goes into a bootloop?
Once you've done all the work, restart the device. If it's successful, you'll see new emojis in the menu, settings and messages. This method requires caution, but it's the most complete result, completely transforming the visual style of communication on the Xiaomi device.
Method 2: Using GBoard keyboard and third-party themes
For users who don’t want to gain Root rights or risk system stability, there is an alternative way: installing a third-party keyboard that emulates the style of iOS. A popular solution is to use modified versions of the GBoard keyboard or specialized apps from the Play Market.
One safe way to do this is to install a theme for a GBoard keyboard that mimics Apple's design. To do this, open the GBoard app, go to the Topics section and find an iOS-like option. While this won't change the emoticons themselves in messages (they'll remain Android system), the input bar will look like an iPhone, which will partially solve the visual similarity problem.
- 📱 Download and install the latest version of GBoard from Google Play.
- 🎨 Go to the keyboard settings and select the "Themes" section».
- 🍏 Find the theme “iOS” or “Apple Style” and apply it.
- ⌨️ Enable the “Floating Keyboard” option for more similarity to the input behavior on your iPhone.
There are also keyboard apps that offer their own emoji sets. When sending a message, the keyboard can send the emoji as an image (picture) rather than as a text symbol. This ensures that the recipient will see the exact emoji you chose, regardless of its device. However, such "pictures" may not scale along with the text and look foreign in some messengers.
Comparison of methods of installation of emojis
The choice of method depends on your technical skills and willingness to risk the stability of the smartphone. Below is a table that will help determine the best way to your situation. Each method has its advantages and disadvantages, which are worth weighing before starting the procedure.
| Method | The need for a Root | Coverage of changes | Risk to the system |
|---|---|---|---|
| Replacement of system font | Yes. | Full (everywhere) | High-pitched |
| Magisk modules | Yes. | Full (everywhere) | Medium. |
| third-party keyboard | No. | Just input. | Absent. |
| Themes of MIUI design | No. | Partial (icons) | Absent. |
Magisk is a middle ground for advanced users, and allows them to implement changes to the system without modifying the system partition directly (the system partition remains unchanged, and the changes are loaded dynamically when booted), which makes it easier to roll back: just remove the module in the Magisk app, and the phone will return to its original state.
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Use the Magisk module called "iOS Emoji Systemless" if you already have root access installed, which is the safest way to replace, as it does not directly affect the system partition /system.
Possible problems and solutions
You may encounter a number of difficulties in customization, and a common problem is that you have "squares" instead of emojis or some letters, which means that the set font does not have glyphs for certain Unicode codes, or the font file is corrupted, in which case you should immediately return the original font file from the backup.
Another problem is the incompatibility of Android versions. Fonts from iOS 15 can not work correctly on Android 10, and vice versa. Android graphics engine can improperly render complex gradients or shadows used by Apple. Visually, this can be expressed in the "soap" of the image or the displacement of the emoji relative to the line of text.
⚠️ Note: If some banking applications or system integrity games stop working after installing new emojis, you will need to hide root rights through Magisk (Zygisk) settings or temporarily remove the module from the emojis.
Also, consider that some apps, such as Viber or Telegram, may ignore system fonts and use their own emoji sets, in which case a global font replacement will not have an effect inside these apps. There are internal theme settings for them that need to be changed separately in the settings of the messenger itself.
FAQ: Frequently Asked Questions
Is it safe to change the system font to Xiaomi?
Will the emojis disappear after the MIUI update?
Can I install iPhone emojis without Root rights?
Why did emojis turn black and white?
To sum up, installing an iPhone emoji on Xiaomi is a great way to personalize your device. If you're an experienced user, a font replacement or Magisk module will do the best. If you value stability over visuals, limit yourself to thematic keyboards. In any case, always remember the importance of backing up before making changes to the system.