The emoji on the iPhone has long been a style benchmark — its design is concise, modern and easily recognizable. Xiaomi smartphone owners often wonder if it is possible to transfer this style to their device without root rights or complex manipulations? The answer is yes, and one of the easiest ways is to install a special theme through standard MIUI settings.
In this article, we’ll look at how to replace Xiaomi’s emoji (including Redmi, POCO, and Black Shark models) with what pitfalls can be encountered, and what to do if the emojis haven’t changed after installation.
Importantly, the theme method doesn’t work equally well on all versions of MIUI, for example, on MIUI 14 and later, additional settings may be required, and on older firmware (MIUI 12 and below), the result is sometimes incomplete. We tested the instructions on Xiaomi 13 Pro, Redmi Note 12 and POCO F5 — the results are shown in the comparative table below.
Why Xiaomi Emojis Are Different From iPhones and Can We Fix It?
Xiaomi’s system emojis are based on the Noto Color Emoji (from Google), which is visually different from the Apple Color Emoji, the same style used on the iPhone. The difference is not only noticeable in design (for example, a smiling face on Xiaomi often looks more cartoonish), but also in the display of some characters:
- 👍 — iPhone finger is more realistic, Xiaomi – stylized;
- 😂 — The tears of laughter on the iPhone are bigger and brighter;
- 🍎 — Apple on iPhone with a leaf, on Xiaomi – without it;
- 🔥 — iPhone fire is more dynamic.
This can be changed in several ways:
- Through the theme is the easiest method, but it doesn’t work 100% (some emojis may remain unchanged).
- Third-party keyboard (such as Gboard or SwiftKey) with iOS style support – emojis will only appear in the input field, not in all apps.
- Root access and replacement of system fonts is a radical way that requires unlocking the bootloader and is potentially dangerous to the stability of the system.
In this article, we will focus on the first option – installing the theme, as it does not require root rights and is suitable for most users.
What topics for Xiaomi change emoji style iPhone
In the official theme store. MIUI (Topics → Online, there are a few options that promise to replace emojis with iPhone style, but not all of them work equally well:
| Title of the topic | Compatibility | Efficiency | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|
| iOS 16 Emoji | MIUI 12–14 | ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (85% of emojis are replaced) | Some symbols remain standard. |
| Apple Emoji Pack | MIUI 13–14 | ⭐⭐⭐ (70% emoji) | There may be bugs with display in messengers |
| iPhone Style Icons | MIUI 14+ | ⭐⭐ (50% emoji) | Changes only the basic emojis, the rest do not. |
| Emoji Changer Pro | Requires MIUI 14.0.5+ | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (95% emoji) | Paid (about 100 rubles) |
The best free option is iOS 16 Emoji, which changes most popular emojis (faces, gestures, food, transportation), but some rare characters (such as flags or specific professional emojis) may remain unchanged.
⚠️ Warning: The Emoji Changer Pro theme requires payment but guarantees almost a complete replacement of the emoji. MIUI You may reset it and have to buy it again. Check reviews before you buy - some users complain about bugs on Telegram and WhatsApp.
Step-by-step: how to install the theme with an iPhone emoji on Xiaomi
The process of installing the theme is simple, but there are a few nuances that affect the final result.
- Update MIUI to the latest version. Go to Settings → About Phone → System Update.
- Open the Themes app (icon with brush).
- Go to the Online tab and enter iOS 16 Emoji in the search bar.
- Select the first theme you find (check the rating and downloads – there should be 4.5+ and 100K+ downloads).
- Click Apply and confirm installation.
- Reboot your phone is a must-do step to make sure that emojis are updated in all apps.
If the emojis have not changed since the reboot:
- 🔄 Try to re-apply the topic.
- 📱 Check if the settings are reset after the reboot (this is a bug of some versions). MIUI).
- 🛠️ Remove the app cache Topics in Settings → Annexes → Application management → Topics → Warehouse → Clear the cache.
Check out the MIUI version (should be 12+)
Restart your phone after installing the theme
Clear the cache of the Topics app
Try another theme (e.g. Emoji Changer Pro)
Make sure the theme is applied to all elements (in the theme settings)-->
On some devices (such as the POCO X5), the theme may not work due to manufacturer limitations, in which case you can try an alternative method: installing a third-party keyboard.
Alternative methods: keyboards and root access
If the topics didn't work, consider other options. They require more effort, but sometimes they work more efficiently.
1. Third-party keyboards with iPhone emojis
Apps like Gboard or SwiftKey let you choose your emoji style right in your keyboard settings, minus the fact that emojis will only be displayed when you type in, while chats and messages will remain standard.
How to set up:
- Install Gboard from Google Play.
- Open the keyboard settings (Settings → System → Language and input → Virtual Keyboard → Gboard).
- Select Settings → Emoji Style → iOS.
2. Root access and system font replacement (for advanced)
This method requires unlocking the bootloader and can lead to a loss of warranty. Use it only if you understand the risks.
Instructions:
- Unlock the bootloader on Xiaomi via the Mi Unlock Tool.
- Install a custom recavery (TWRP).
- Download the archive with Apple Color Emoji fonts (e.g. XDA Developers).
- Replace files in /system/fonts/ via TWRP.
- Clear the Dalvik/ART cache and reboot.
⚠️ Attention: Incorrect replacement of system fonts can lead to bootloop ( looped boot). TWRP Make sure your font archive is compatible with your Android version.
💡
If you’re not ready to risk root access, try the combination: the iOS 16 Emoji theme + the Gboard iOS-style keyboard.
Comparison of methods: what is better to choose
To make it easier for you to determine, we have compiled a comparative table of all ways:
| Method | Difficulty | Efficiency | Risks. | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| MIUI theme. | ⭐ (simple) | 70–90% | Minimum | Free of charge. |
| third-party keyboard | ⭐ (simple) | Only when you enter. | No. | Free of charge. |
| Root + font replacement | ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (difficult) | 100% | High (bootloop, loss of warranty) | Free of charge. |
| Theme: Emoji Changer Pro | ⭐ (simple) | 95% | There may be bugs in messengers | ~100 rubles. |
For most users, the best choice is a free theme + Gboard, which gives a visually similar to the iPhone result without risk.
💡
If you want your emojis to be displayed the same way in both typing and chatting, combine the theme with a keyboard. It won't give you 100% results, but visually the difference will be minimal.
Frequent problems and their solutions
Even after a successful theme installation, users are faced with bugs, and here are the most common ways to fix them:
1.Emojis haven't changed in all apps
This is normal behavior — some apps (like Viber or Discord) use their own emoji sets.
- 🔄 Reinstall the app where the emojis haven’t changed.
- 📌 Check the theme settings – it may not apply to all interface elements.
2.After the MIUI update, the emojis dropped
System updates often reset custom themes to avoid this:
- 🔄 Save the topic in My topics (long press on the topic) → Save).
- 📱 After updating, apply the theme again.
3.Emojis are displayed clumsy or with artifacts
It's a font conflict.
- 🛠️ Clear the application cache Themes and System interface MIUI.
- 🔄 Reboot the phone.