Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and POCO smartphones often face visual dissonance when communicating with users of Apple technology. The standard set of emojis in Android looks different from iOS, which sometimes leads to misunderstanding or just annoying aesthetically. Fortunately, the modern ecosystem allows you to change this aspect without deep interference with system files.
There are several proven methods to replace the standard character set with an Apple Emoji. You can use third-party keyboards, install special fonts, or, for advanced users, get Root rights for full system integration. The choice of the particular method depends on your version of MIUI or HyperOS and your willingness to experiment.
In this article, we will take a look at all the current methods, assess their risks and effectiveness, learn which applications are safe to install and which can disrupt the work of messengers. Changing system fonts without superuser rights is possible only on global firmware with support for the font theme. Let's look at each option in detail.
Using the Gboard keyboard to change emojis
The easiest and safest way to get the desired characters is to install a third-party keyboard that emulates Apple's style. Google's Gboard is the de facto standard for many devices and offers flexible look and feel settings.You don't need to be a technician to perform this procedure.
The installation process starts with downloading the app from the official Google Play Store, and after installation, you need to activate the new keyboard in the system settings and select it as the default input method, which will only take a couple of minutes of your time.
Inside the keyboard settings, you should find the theme section, which is where you can switch to a style that mimics iOS. Some versions of the app have an embedded theme "Android 12" or "Material You", but an exact copy of the iPhone often requires you to choose a specific style or download an additional theme plugin.
- 📱 Download and install the official Gboard app from the Play Market.
- ⚙️ Activate the keyboard in the Settings menu → Additional settings → Language and input.
- 🎨 In Gboard settings, go to the “Theme” section and select an iOS-like style or download the “Emoji Kitchen” theme".
- 🔄 Switch to English (USA) to see the changes in the character set.
It is worth noting that this method changes the display of emoji only at the time of typing, which can remain in the messages already sent or in the system notifications, this restriction is due to the security policy of Android, which prohibits applications from changing system files.
⚠️ Warning: When installing third-party keyboards, read permissions carefully.The official Gboard is secure, but clones can collect your passwords.
Installation of fonts through the Topics app
The second method involves replacing the system font, which includes a set of characters. The MIUI shell and the new HyperOS have a built-in Theme app that allows you to change the visual style of the system. It's a deeper integration than just changing the keyboard.
You'll need to find the right font to start with. In the official Xiaomi theme store, you'll often find files with names like "iOS Font," "Apple Emoji" or "iPhone Style." Searching can take time, as popular themes are quickly removed by moderators.
Once you download the font file, you need to apply it. The system will ask you to restart the device to take effect. Once you turn on, you will see that the standard emoticons in all applications, including WhatsApp and Telegram, have acquired the appearance characteristic of the iPhone.
It is important to understand the difference between regional firmware versions. Global ROMs often have limited installation of third-party fonts; Chinese versions (China ROM) are more loyal to such modifications; if the theme store does not allow you to install the font, you may need to change the region in the settings.
☑️ Checking before installing font
Not all fonts are of the same quality. Some may contain errors in the encoding, which will cause the letters to appear instead of squares or question marks. Always check the display of the Russian alphabet before using.
Using zFont 3 for customization
If the built-in Themes app doesn’t find the right files, the dedicated zFont 3 app comes to the rescue.This is a powerful tool that automatically selects and installs compatible fonts for your Xiaomi device.
The way the app works is to emulate the typeface installation process, and it creates a virtual theme, embeds the desired emoji font file, and applies it through a standard mechanism, which bypasses some of the limitations of regional locks.
In the interface, select the "Emoji" tab and find the "Apple" or "iOS" option. The application will offer several versions of the font. Once selected, the download and installation process will begin, which may require several actions in the phone's settings menu.
- 📲 Launch zFont 3 and go to the "Emoji" tab".
- 🍎 Select the Apple style and click the Download button".
- 🛠 Click "Apply" and follow the instructions on the screen (usually this is the transition to the font settings).
- 💾 Save a backup of the theme if the app offers such an option.
The peculiarity of the method with zFont 3 is that it often requires manual font selection in the Settings menu. → Screen. → Font system after initial installation. Without this step, changes may not be displayed.
⚠️ Note: After installing the font through zFont 3, do not delete the application itself, as it can store temporary files necessary for the theme to work.
This is considered the “middle ground” between keyboard security and the depth of system changes. You get emojis in all applications, but you don’t risk locking up the bootloader or being denied warranties, since superuser rights are not required.