Apple emojis have long become a design benchmark: their bright colors, drawn details and universal readability stand out against the background of standard Android emojis. Owners of Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite often face a problem: native emojis on the device look faded, and messengers (for example, WhatsApp or Telegram) are displayed differently than those of interlocutors with iPhone.
In this article, we will discuss three working methods for installing iOS emojis on the Mi A2 Lite (including Android 9/10 models), evaluate their pros and cons, and warn about possible risks. Importantly, the procedure requires care - improper actions can lead to malfunctioning messengers or system applications. If you are ready to experiment, read on!
Why are Xiaomi and iPhone emojis different?
The difference in emoji display is due to system fonts. Apple uses a proprietary font Apple Color Emoji, which is built into iOS and is not available on Android by default. Xiaomi, like other manufacturers, licenses fonts from Google (Noto Color Emoji) or creates its own variants (for example, MiuiEmoji for MIUI firmware).
On the Mi A2 Lite, the situation is complicated by the fact that the device runs on a “pure” Android One without a proprietary MIUI shell.
- 🔹 There is no built-in font change option in the settings (unlike Redmi or the other). POCO).
- 🔹 System emojis are updated only with the Android version (delays up to 1-2 years).
- 🔹 The messengers load their fonts, but in SMS System notifications are standard emojis.
On the Mi A2 Lite with Android 10 emoji correspond to the version of Noto Color Emoji 2019, while on the iPhone with iOS 16+, the Apple Color Emoji 15.0 font is used - the difference in design reaches 30-40%.
Method 1: Installation via Magisk (without full ROOT)
This method is suitable for users who already have Magisk installed (for example, to unlock the bootloader or system modifications), the advantage is that full root access is not required, Magisk Manager and iFont module are enough.
Step-by-step:
- Download the archive with iPhone emojis (for example, AppleColorEmoji.ttf and AppleColorEmoji@2x.ttf) from a trusted source (we recommend XDA Developers).
- Install the iFont module from Magisk (available in the module repository).
- Restart the device and open the iFont app.
- In the Local section, select the uploaded font files and apply them.
- Reboot the Mi A2 Lite once again – the emojis should be updated.
⚠️ Note: If after rebooting, emojis are displayed in squares, check that the font files have correct access rights (644). FX File Manager for fixing.
Pros of the method:
- 🔧 It does not require any deep changes in the system.
- 🔄 Easy to roll back (remove module in Magisk).
- 📱 It runs on Android 9-11 without loss of warranty (if Magisk is hidden).
Make a backup in Mi Cloud| Check Magisk (24.0+)| Download fonts from XDA Developers| Charge your phone at least 50% | Disable antivirus (may block installation)
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Method 2: Manual font replacement (ROOT required)
For power users who are ready to manually manipulate system files, the method involves replacing standard NotoColorEmoji.ttf fonts with files from Apple.
You'll need:
- 📱 Xiaomi Mi A2 Lite with unlocked bootloader and root rights.
- 🖥️ PC with installation ADB and Fastboot.
- 📁 Archive with iPhone fonts (be sure to check compatibility with your version of Android).
Instructions:
1. Connect your phone to your PC and activate debugging over USB (Settings → System → Developer).
2. In the command line, do:
adb shell
su
mount -o rw,remount /system
3 Copy the font files into the folder /system/fonts/:
cp /sdcard/Download/AppleColorEmoji.ttf /system/fonts/
chmod 644 /system/fonts/AppleColorEmoji.ttf
4. Reset the device.⚠️ Warning: Incorrectly replacing fonts can lead to bootloop (a looped reboot). /system through TWRP! What if the phone doesn't turn on after the fonts are replaced? A2 Lite stuck on logo after font replacement, go to TWRP Recovery, connect your phone to your PC and do: adb pull /system/fonts/ — Copy backup fonts back if TWRP No, you will need to reflash the device via Fastboot (instructions for the MIUI SU). Comparison of original and iPhone emojis on Mi A2 Lite: Standard (Noto)iPhone (Apple)Difference 😂Yellow, less detailed White with black eyes, shadows +30% 👍Flat, monotonous Volume, with gradient Realistic +40% 🎉Small confetti Large, with sequins Visibility +50% 🐶Schematically drawn by wool Detailed +60% Method 3: Use of add-ons (without use of add-ons) ROOT) If you don't want to risk the stability of the system, you can do with third-party applications, which don't change the system fonts, but replace the emoji in specific messengers.-3 supplant A2 Lite: Textra SMS — Emoji Switcher allows you to select the style of emoji (including iOS) in the chat settings. Emoji Switcher – works on top of the keyboard (eg Gboard), but requires manual selection of emojis. 3 — install fonts locally (without root, but with restrictions). Limitations of method: ❌ Emojis are changed only in the application (on WhatsApp or Telegram will remain standard). ❌ Possible bugs with display in notifications. ❌ Not all emojis are supported (like new emojis from iOS 16). via Magisk (without full emojis) ROOT)|Manual font replacement (c) ROOT)|Add-ons (no add-ons) ROOT)|Not yet. --> Problems and Solutions After Installation Even with Successful Font Replacement, Mi Users A2 Lite can get into trouble. Consider typical cases and how to fix them. Problem 1: WhatsApp or Viber emojis are shown in squares. Solution: These messengers use their own fonts. To force upload iPhone emojis: Clear the app's cache (Settings) → Annexes → WhatsApp → Memory. → Install the Emoji Replacer module for Magisk (replaces emoji at the system level). Problem. 2: After Android update, emojis reset.Solution: System updates overwrite files into /system/fonts/. To avoid loss: 🔄 Create a script in Magisk that will restore fonts after updating. 📥 Save a backup of fonts on Google Drive. --> Problem. 3: Some smileys (for example, 🧑🏽 or 🏳️🌈) Solution: This is due to the lack of Unicode support 14/15 In older versions of Android: 📲 Update Mi. A2 Lite to the latest available firmware (e.g. Android) 10 patched). 🔧 Use the EmojiKit module for Magisk, which adds support for new characters. Method comparison: which one to choose? The choice of method depends on your skills and goals. Below is a comparison table: Magisk (without the ROOT)Hand-substituted (ROOT)Add-ons Complexity Medium Low Stability High Medium (Bootloop Risk) High Coverage System (All Applications) System Only in Selected Applications Compatibility Android 9–11Android 8+Easy (remove module) Difficult (need backup) Easily (remove application) Security and risks: what you need to know Any changes to system files carry potential threats. A2 Lite is especially important to consider: ⚠️ Note: Android One devices (like Mi) A2 Lite) have a strict system integrity policy; incorrect modification of fonts can lead to: 🚫 Poose. OTA-Updates (the system will no longer receive updates over the air). 🔒 SafetyNet Block (Google Pay, Netflix will not work) HD, banking applications). 🔄 looped reboot (if font files are damaged). How to minimize risks: 🛡️ Use MagiskHide to disguise changes as SafetyNet. 📦 Always backup the section. /system through TWRP. 🔍 Check font files for viruses (e.g. VirusTotal); How to check system integrity after changes; Install SafetyNet Test from Google Play: 1. Activate MagiskHide in the Magisk settings. 2. Reset the device. 3. Repeat the check. If the problem persists, remove the font-related modules. FAQ: Frequent questions Can I put an emoji from iPhone to Mi A2 Lite without a ROOT Yes, but with limitations, applications like ZFont. 3 Emoji Switcher allows you to change emojis locally, but only in some messengers (for example, Telegram or Telegram). SMS). System emojis in notifications or browsers will remain standard. You need root or Magisk to replace them completely. Why do some emojis appear in black and white after you install iPhone emojis? This is due to the lack of support for Color Fonts in your version of Android. A2 Lite with Android 9 Some emojis may lose color.Solution: Update firmware to Android 10 (Install EmojiKit for Magisk, which adds color font support. How to return standard emojis if something goes wrong: 🔹 Magisk: Remove iFont module in Magisk Manager and reboot your phone. 🔹 Manual Replacement: Restore the original fonts from the backup through TWRP Or copy them back to the /system/fonts/. 🔹 Applications: Uninstall the program (e.g. ZFont) 3) If the phone doesn't turn on, run the stock firmware through Fastboot, and if the iPhone emojis are displayed on my people? No, the smileys only change on your device, and your interlocutors will see the emoji in the form that supports their phone: 🔹 If you're sending. 😊 wi A2 Lite (where the iPhone font stands), the iPhone user will see a standard for iOS emoji. 🔹 An Android user will see a Noto or Samsung-style emoji (depending on his device). Replacing fonts only affects your display of emojis, not how others see them (16/17) on Mi A2 Yes, but with reservations: 🔹 Apple Color Emoji Fonts 15.0 (iOS 16) compatible with Android 10+, but may not support all characters (e.g., new emojis from Unicode) 15). 🔹 On Mi. A2 Lite with Android 9 It is recommended to use fonts from iOS 13–14 stability. 🔹 Only download fonts from trusted sources (e.g, XDA Developers) to avoid viruses.