How to install emoticons like on iPhone on Xiaomi Redmi Note 8: a complete guide with 5 working methods

Are you tired of the standard MIUI emojis on your Xiaomi Redmi Note 8 and dreaming of stylish emojis like the iPhone? You are not alone — thousands of Xiaomi users want to give their smartphone a more modern and aesthetic look. Fortunately, you can replace emojis with iPhone emojis in several ways, from simple applications to deep customization of the system.

In this article, we’ll look at 5 proven methods, including keyboard installation, Magisk modules, manual font copying, and even system file modification (for advanced users), and see if you’re right for root access, with or without warranty risk, or completely secure. And we’ll compare what iOS and MIUI emoji look like in popular instant messengers, and give you tips on how to avoid common bugs.

Why iPhone emojis look better: a comparison with MIUI

Before you change the emoji, let's understand how exactly iPhone emojis differ from the standard ones on the Redmi Note 8.

• 🎨 Design: Apple emojis are more detailed, with smooth gradients and realistic shadows. 😊 iOS has soft color transitions, while on iOS MIUI it looks flat.
• 🔄 Animation: In some instant messengers (for example, iMessage), iOS emojis support microanimations when sending.
• 📏 Uniformity: Apple emojis are equally displayed on all devices, whereas on Android their appearance depends on the OS version and shell.
• 🆕 Relevance: Apple is updating emoji design more often, adding new characters and modern styles (for example, masked emojis or gender-neutral options).

But there are downsides: some users say that iPhone emojis are too “cartoony” compared to more realistic options on Samsung or Google, and if you forward an iOS emoji to an Android user, they will see it in their own style (unless you use messengers like WhatsApp or Telegram, where emojis are downloaded from the server).

Importantly, on the Redmi Note 8 with MIUI 12.5+, the emojis are already partially unified with Google, but still very different from iOS. If you want iPhone emojis, you will have to install them manually.

Method 1: Install the keyboard with an iOS emoji (without root)

The easiest and safest way to do this is to use an alternative keyboard that supports iPhone emojis, which won't replace emojis throughout the system, but will allow you to send them in messengers.

The best applications for this task:

• 📱 Gboard (Google Keyboard) — has built-in iOS emojis in some themes. To activate them: Install Gboard from the Play Market. Open keyboard settings → Topics → Choose an iOS or Minimal iOS theme. Turn on the option to Show iOS-style emojis (if any).

Kika Keyboard

Settings → Emoji → Emoji Style → iOS 16/17

The app is paid, but there is a free trial version.

SwiftKey

iOS Emoji Pack

⚠️ Note: Keyboards only replace emojis when you type in text. In the messages received, emojis will be displayed in the style of your system (MIUI), Unless the messenger loads its own emoji (like in Telegram or WhatsApp).

Download the application from the official store|Open the keyboard settings in the system|Activate a new keyboard in the Language and input|Select the style of the iOS emoji in the application settings-->

If you need emojis to be displayed everywhere (in SMS, notifications, browser) – go to the following methods.

Method 2: Install font with iOS emoji via Magisk (with root)

This method is suitable for users with an unlocked bootloader and installed Magisk. It allows you to replace the system fonts emoji on iPhone, which will affect the display of emoji throughout the system.

Step-by-step:

1. Install the Magisk Font Pack module (e.g. iOS Emoji Font).
2. Download the module file (usually this one) ZIP-archive and save it in your phone memory.
3. Open Magisk Manager → Modules → Install from storage → select the downloaded file.
4. Reset the device.
5. After the reboot, check the emoji in any messenger or browser (for example, open Emojipedia).

Advantages of this method:

• 🔄 Replacement of emojis throughout the system (SMS, browser, applications).
• 🔒 No need to manually edit system files.
• 🔄 Easy to roll back (remove the module in Magisk).

⚠️ Note: Not all Magisk modules are compatible with MIUI 12/13 on the Redmi Note 8. Before installing, check the reviews on XDA Developers or 4PDA Some modules may cause a bootloop ( looped reboot) if they are not compatible with your version of Android.

If you don’t have root access but are ready for a more complex setup, the next way is for you.

Keyboard with iOS-emoji | Magisk module (requires root) | Manual font replacement | Firmware custom ROM | I don't know, I'll choose after reading-->

Method 3: Manually Replace Emoji Fonts (without root but with ADB)

This method does not require root, but requires a computer connection and the use of ADB (Android Debug Bridge).It is suitable for the Redmi Note 8 based on Android 9/10 with MIUI 11/12.

What you'll need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB and Fastboot.
• 📱 Included Debugging by USB on the phone (Settings) → The phone. → Version. MIUI (press 7 times) → Additionally. → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 📁 iOS font files (can be downloaded here).

Instructions:

1. Connect the phone to the computer and confirm access to debugging.
2. Download the font archive and unpack it. You need files: NotoColorEmoji.ttf EmojiCompat.ttf
3. Open the command line (or Terminal) Mac/Linux) and execute commands: adb push NotoColorEmoji.ttf /sdcard/ adb push EmojiCompat.ttf /sdcard/ adb shell su mount -o rw,remount /system cp /sdcard/NotoColorEmoji.ttf /system/fonts/ cp /sdcard/EmojiCompat.ttf /system/fonts/ chmod 644 /system/fonts/NotoColorEmoji.ttf chmod 644 /system/fonts/EmojiCompat.ttf reboot
4. After the reboot, check the emoji in the browser or messengers.

adb pull /system/fonts/NotoColorEmoji.ttf ~/backup/


adb pull /system/fonts/EmojiCompat.ttf ~/backup/

This will help restore them if something goes wrong.-->

This method does not work on all versions. MIUI. If the emojis have not changed after the reboot, then your firmware uses a different mechanism for rendering emojis (for example, via libemoji.so).

Method 4: Firmware custom ROM with emoji iOS

If you're ready for radical measures, you can install custom firmware that already has iOS emojis built in, a technique that's suitable for power users, as it requires unlocking the bootloader and completely flashing the phone.

The best firmware for Redmi Note 8 with support for iPhone emojis:

• 📱 Pixel Experience – firmware based on Android One with Google emojis, but there are modifications with iOS emojis.
• 🔄 Havoc OS — custom ROM with extensive customization options, including font replacement and emoji.
• 🎨 CrDroid – supports Magisk modules to replace emojis.
• 🆕 MIUI EU — European MIUI with patches where you can manually replace fonts.

How to flash custom ROM:

1. Unlock the bootloader through the Mi Unlock Tool (you will have to wait 7-15 days if the Mi Account is new).
2. Install TWRP Recovery for Redmi Note 8 (e.g., from here).
3. Download firmware (e.g. Pixel Experience) and GApps files (if you need Google services).
4. Download to TWRP, make Wipe → Advanced Wipe (select Dalvik, Cache, System, Data).
5. Install firmware and GApps, then restart.

⚠️ Attention: Custom-based firmware ROM It can also cause you to lose warranty and Mi Account issues (e.g., Find Device won't work). ROM The Redmi Note 8 is codenamed Ginkgo).

💡

Custom firmware gives you maximum customization freedom, but it requires technical skills. If you're a beginner, it's best to start with ways 1-3.

Method 5: Use of Emoji-enabled launcher applications

If you don't need a complete emoji replacement throughout the system, but only in the interface, you can use launchers that support interchangeable themes with their own emojis. This method does not require root and is safe for the system.

Best launchers for Redmi Note 8:

• 🏠 Nova Launcher – allows you to install icons and themes, including packages with iOS emoji. You need to download a separate package of icons (for example, iOS Emoji Icon Pack from the Play Market).
• 🎨 Lawnchair – launcher with support for Pixel-style, but there are modifications for iOS.
• 🔄 Apex Launcher – supports customization of icons and widgets.

How to set up:

1. Install a launcher from Play Market.
2. Download the emoji package (e.g. iOS Emoji Icons).
3. In the launcher settings, select Themes → Icons → Select a package.
4. Apply the changes and restart the launcher.

Limitation of this method: Emojis will only change in application icons and some interface elements, but not in messengers or the browser.

Comparison of methods: which one to choose?

To make it easier for you to determine, we have compiled a comparative table of all methods:

Selection recommendations:

• 🆕 If you're new. → Use the keyboard (method 1) or launcher (method 5).
• 🔧 If you have root → Try Magisk modules (method 2).
• 💻 If you are ready for experiments → try ADB-method 3).
• 🔄 If you want to be fully customized → customize ROM (4).

Frequent problems and their solutions

When replacing emoji with Redmi Note 8 users often face the following problems:

1. Emojis were unchanged after installing the Magisk module: Check if the module is activated in Magisk Manager. Delete the cache in Settings → Apps → All Apps → System interface → Clear the cache. Try another module (e.g. iOS 16 Emoji Magisk Module).
2. Phone does not turn on after changing fonts via ADB: Load to Fastboot (Power + Volume Down) and run the original fonts through fastboot flash. If it doesn't help, run the phone through the Mi Flash Tool.
3. Some apps display emojis differently: This is normal: WhatsApp, Telegram and VK use their own emojis that are independent of system ones. To unify the look, install themes with iOS emojis (if supported).
4. After the custom firmware ROM no network or camera: Make sure the firmware supports your model (ginkgo for Redmi Note 8). MIUI.

⚠️ Attention: Redmi Note 8 with MIUI 13+ hand-replacement ADB It might not work because of the altered rendering mechanism of the emoji, and then only the Magisk module or customization will help. ROM.