Many users, when switching from iOS to Android, feel nostalgic for the familiar Apple ecosystem, but appreciate the functionality and availability of Xiaomi devices. Fortunately, the MIUI shell and its new version of HyperOS allow you to radically change the appearance and behavior of the smartphone, making it almost indistinguishable from the iPhone. It is not just a change of wallpaper, but a deep customization of the interface that affects system fonts, animations, control center and even logical chains of application.
In this article, we’ll break down proven methods to transform your Xiaomi into a visual copy of iOS without having to obtain superuser (Root) rights.You’ll learn which apps are safe to install, how to properly configure system fonts, and where to find hidden features that make the transition between operating systems as smooth and eye-friendly as possible.
Basic setting of the desktop and dock bar
The first thing that catches your eye when you look at the iPhone is the icons and the dock bar at the bottom of the screen. The standard MIUI grid is often different from the usual iOS, so you should start by setting up your desktop, and you need to change the grid to 4x5 or 4x6 to achieve the same airiness and proportions that are characteristic of Cupertinos, which is a basic step, without which further stylization will lose meaning.
For the Blur lower docking bar, which is so beloved by Apple fans, standard tools may not be enough, and specialized launchers or widgets come to the rescue, but to avoid overloading the system with third-party launchers that may conflict with MIUI, it is better to use a theme that mimics this element, or install a docking widget that will overlap the standard bottom panel.
It is important to note that using third-party launchers on Xiaomi sometimes causes navigation gestures to fail. If you notice that swipes for back or menu call are not working properly, try switching to standard three-button management or select a more optimized theme.
💡
Use the Hide Apps feature in your desktop settings to remove unnecessary Xiaomi system icons that are knocked out of the iOS style.
Install iOS style through the theme of design
The easiest and safest way to change the look and feel is to use themes in the Themes app. Xiaomi’s Theme Store contains thousands of options, many of which are exact copies of the iOS 16 and iOS 17 interface. Searching for “iOS 17”, “iPhone Style” or “Cupertino” will yield dozens of results, among which you can find a quality product with high detail.
When choosing a theme, pay attention not only to screenshots, but also to downloads and rankings. A good theme changes not only icons, but also system sounds, folder opening animations, notification curtain style, and even a lock screen with a characteristic time font. Some advanced themes also include weather widgets and music that fully copy Apple widget design.
Why are some elements of the topic not used?
Once the theme is installed, it is recommended to restart the device, allowing the system to completely redraw the icon cache and apply new graphical shells to all built-in applications, such as phone, messages and contacts. If after the reboot some icons remain standard, use the built-in tool “Change” in the menu in order to force them to replace them with new ones.
💡
A quality theme from the official store is the most stable way to change the interface without risking data security and system stability.
Transformation of the control center and notification curtains
One of the most recognizable elements of iOS is the split control center: on the left, notifications, on the right, quick access switches. In standard MIUI, this is similar but visually different. To achieve maximum similarity, you need not only to choose the right theme, but also to adjust the behavior of the curtain.
Newer versions of HyperOS and MIUI 14 already have a very similar style to iOS, but it can be improved. Go to the control center settings and choose the "Classic" or "New" style, experimenting with both options in conjunction with the established theme. Often, "New" style combined with the iOS theme gives the best visual result, especially in terms of volume sliders and brightness.
Deeper customization, including reshaping sliders and adding a Blur effect under the curtain, may require developer rights or the use of special modules if your phone supports installing them without Root. However, for most users, a properly selected theme that redraws these interface elements is enough.
⚠️ Warning: Installing modified system files to change the control center can result in a "bootloop" (cyclic reboot.
Keep in mind that the curtain functionality also depends on the Android version. On older versions, it will be harder to get the perfect copy of iOS 17 due to the limitations of the interface rendering engine, in which case it is better to focus on the visual part, without trying to change the logic of the system switches.
Fonts, cursor and system navigation
The font is 50 percent of the success of the interface. Apple uses the San Francisco font, which has unique geometry and readability. Xiaomi defaults to the Roboto or M sans font, which are visually different. To fix this, you have to download and apply a special font.
Find the Fonts section in the theme store and search for iOS, San Francisco, or Apple. Once you install the font, the entire interface, including the settings menu, the browser, and third-party apps that support the system font, will change, which instantly gives the smartphone the same Apple look, even if the icons remain the same.
You also need to look at the text cursor, which has a characteristic shape and behavior when highlighting text in iOS, and in MIUI you can change the look of the cursor through font settings or additional system settings, making it bolder or changing its color so that it does not get lost on a white background, as is often the case with Android.
☑️ Font configuration and navigation
Guest navigation in Xiaomi has long been similar to iOS: swipe from the bottom to home, swipe from the side to back. However, to make the experience full, you can remove the captions at the bottom of the screen. To do this, go to Settings → Additional settings → Full-screen mode and hide the hints. The screen will become cleaner and the control will be more intuitive.
Lock screen and widgets
The lock screen is the face of your smartphone. In iOS, it has undergone significant changes in recent versions, with large watches and the ability to place widgets. In MIUI 14 and HyperOS, the lock screen functionality has also expanded, allowing you to create deep copies.
Use the Wallpaper app or section to find the lock screen with a large dial. It's important that the date and time are exactly the same as in iOS, centered or offset, overlapping part of the image but not interfering with the view. Many themes offer an iPhone-style "Always Screen On" (AOD), which also adds similarities.
Widgets are a different story. iOS is famous for its widgets. Xiaomi has widgets, but they look different.
- 📱 Download an iOS-style widget app (like Widgetsmith analogs from Play Market).
- 🎨 Set up weather, calendar and battery widgets by selecting San Francisco font.
- 📐 Place them on the desktop, observing the indentations characteristic of iOS.
Some users prefer to use the parallax-enhanced live wallpaper that Apple loves. In Xiaomi wallpaper settings, select the Video or Dynamic category to find the right options. When you tilt the phone, the image will shift slightly, creating a depth effect.
Comparison of functionality: MIUI vs. iOS
Even after the external transformation, it is important to understand that under the hood you still have Android. Below is a table that will help you understand which features can be changed and which will remain native to Xiaomi.
| Function | Implementation in iOS | Implementation in Xiaomi (with theme) | Possibility of change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Centre for control | Separate, blurred | Separate, style depends on the topic | High (topics) |
| Font system | San Francisco | Roboto / M sans | High (font installation) |
| Deletion of applications | Long press. | Long press (in editing mode) | Low (systemic) |
| File system | Closed (Files) | Open (Conductor) | Medium (through annexes) |
| Back (Back) | Swipe on the left | Swipe on the left or button | High (settings) |
As you can see from the table, visuals are very easy to change, and the logic of some system processes, like how to delete applications or work with files, will remain Android, but you get used to it quickly, and the visual harmony that we created is the main thing.
Can I install an AppStore on Xiaomi?
Additional nuances and optimization
After installing all the themes and fonts, the system can start to work a little slower, especially on Xiaomi budget models. Heavy themes with a lot of animations consume more RAM. If you notice slowdowns, try turning off the animation of the windows in the Developer menu or choose a lighter version of the theme.
Also worth mentioning is the keyboard. The standard Gboard or Mi Keyboard keyboard can look foreign. There are keyboard themes in the Play Market that mimic the design of the iOS keyboard, including the characteristic typing sound and emoji location. It's a trifle, but it has a significant impact on overall perception.
⚠️ Note: When installing applications from unknown sources (APK-Theme or font files from third-party sites) always check them with antivirus.The official Xiaomi theme store is safer.
Don’t forget to update themes. Developers often release patches that fix display bugs on new versions of Android. If your theme has moved since the Xiaomi update, check the theme page in the store — maybe a new version of it has come out, adapted to the latest software.