Owners of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones often face a situation where standard text display settings seem excessively large. This may be due to the high resolution screen of modern devices or individual preferences of the user, accustomed to the compact arrangement of interface elements. SMS) or third-party messengers like Telegram and Viber directly depends on the system parameters of scale.
Changing text size not only affects the convenience of reading correspondence, but also the overall ergonomics of the device. Too large letters occupy the useful area of the screen, forcing the user to constantly scroll through dialogue, which reduces the productivity of the gadget. The Android operating system, which runs the shell MIUI or HyperOS, provides flexible tools to fine-tune the visual presentation of information.
In this article, we will take a look at all the ways to reduce fonts, from basic menu settings to hidden engineering options, and learn to distinguish between font size and display size, which is the key to achieving the desired result without losing image quality.
Differences between font size and display size
Before making changes to the system, you need to clearly understand the difference between two main parameters that are often confused even by experienced users: the font size is solely responsible for the dimensions of letter characters and numbers in text blocks. Changing this parameter will not affect application icons, indentations between interface elements or button size.
By contrast, display size (or screen scale) affects all interface elements at once, reducing not only text, but also icons, widgets, input fields and navigation elements, allowing more information to fit on a single screen, making the interface denser and more informative, which is especially true for devices with a diagonal of 6 inches or more.
⚠️ Warning: Excessively reducing the display size can make text unreadable and controls too small to be comfortably pressed with a finger.
To change these settings, the MIUI shell has a single control center. Go to Settings, then select Screen and then Text and Font Size, and here you will see two sliders, independent of each other, allowing you to combine settings to achieve the perfect balance.
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Use the Classic mode in the font menu if the standard options seem too large or small.
Basic font setting through the screen menu
The safest and most recommended way to resize text in messages is to use a regular settings menu, which does not require superuser rights (Root) and does not violate the device warranty.
Open the Settings app on your smartphone. At the top of the screen, search for "Font" or "Size." The system automatically prompts you to go to the corresponding menu. Alternative path: Settings → Screen → Text and font size.
In the window that opens, you'll see a slider that adjusts the size of the font. Move it to the left to reduce the characters. Note that some versions of HyperOS have the "Size of Interface Elements" feature, which also affects the perception of text in applications.
☑️ Setting up the text display
Once set up, you should open the Messages app and check how the dialogs have changed. If the text has become too small, return the slider a step back. It is important to find the middle ground where the text is easy to read but the maximum number of lines is placed on the screen.
Using Developer Mode to Accurately Set Up
For users who don’t have enough standard sliders, there is a possibility of a deeper customization through the developer menu, where you can change the minimum screen width (DPI), which will globally affect the scaling of all elements, including the font in messages.
To activate the developer menu, go to Settings → About the phone. Find the line "Version." MIUI» or "Version" OS» And press it fast. 7-10 The system will notify you that the developer mode has been activated.
Then go back to the main settings menu, select Additional → For developers. Scroll down to the Drawing or Interface section. Find the Smallest width option. The standard value is usually around 360-390 dp.
| Parameter | Standard value | Recommended for reduction | Impact on the system |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minimum width (DPI) | 390 dp | 320 - 340 dp | Reduces all interface elements |
| Scale of animation | 1x | 0.5x | Accelerates interface response |
| Pixel density | Depends on the screen. | Don't change. | Affects the clarity of the schedule |
⚠️ Note: Do not set the minimum width below 300 dp. This can lead to incorrect display of the interface and the inability to control the smartphone without resetting the settings.
Changing the DPI value requires rebooting the device or at least restarting the interface. Be careful: if you set the value too small, the buttons can become microscopic, and it will be extremely difficult to get it back.
How to return the default DPI settings?
Set up the font in specific applications
It's important to understand that the system font settings don't work in all applications the same way. Some programs, especially instant messengers, have their own internal text display settings that are prioritized over the system ones. For example, on Telegram or WhatsApp, you can change the font size regardless of the rest of the system.
Let’s take a look at the popular messaging apps:
- 📱 Telegram: Go to Settings → chat → Message font size. There's a separate slider available here that ignores system settings. MIUI.
If you have changed the system font but the size remains the same in a particular application, look for the internal settings within the app itself. This is a common practice for cross-platform messengers seeking a uniform look across devices.
For some applications that don't have their own font settings, you can try Read Mode or custom design themes that force text stylization to change, but this is not guaranteed and depends on the Android version.
Use of themes and third-party fonts
The MIUI and HyperOS shells are famous for their flexibility in customization. Themes' official theme store allows you to install not only wallpaper and icons, but also system fonts. Some of them initially have more compact character design.
To install a new font, open the Themes app. Go to the Font tab. There are both free and paid options available in the directory. Look for fonts marked "Compact", "Small" or just visually rate the preview.
After downloading and applying the font, the changes will take effect immediately, and it is worth noting that some custom fonts may not properly display Cyrillic or special characters, so check for Russian localization in the description before installing.
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Third-party fonts from the Theme store are the most aesthetic way to change the look of text, but they can affect readability in the long run.
There are also third-party launchers that completely replace the system interface. By installing, for example, Nova Launcher or Microsoft Launcher, you get detailed control over the screen grid and font size on the desktop, although the settings may remain the same in the applications themselves.
Addressing common problems
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where, after updating the system or installing an application, the font settings are reset or behave unpredictably.
If you notice the artifacts of the display, try the following steps:
- 🔄 Reboot: A banal but effective method: Reboot your smartphone so that the system re-draws the interface with the new parameters.
- 🗑️ Cache Clearing: Go to Settings → Annexes → All apps, find the problem app (or “Messages”), select Memory → Clear the cache.
- 🔙 Reset font settings: In the Text and Font Size menu, click the Reset button (usually the circular arrow icon) to return factory values.
In rare cases, the problem may be a specific firmware update. If the font became unreadable after the MIUI update, it is worth checking the forums for similar complaints from other users of your model.
⚠️ Warning: Do not use third-party apps from the Play Market with names like “Font Changer” that require root rights unless you are sure of their security.
Also, on AMOLED screens, the use of some very thin fonts can lead to a “color fringe” effect on the letter boundaries, in which case it is better to stay within the system zoom options.
Why does the font not change in some menus?
The Effect of Screen Resolution on Text Perception
The physical characteristics of your Xiaomi screen are not the least of the factors: on high-resolution displays (FullHD+, 2K, 4K), even the standard font can seem small due to high pixel density (PPI).
Paradoxically, on low-resolution (HD+) screens, font reduction can cause letters to become “square” and unreadable due to a lack of pixels to render the smoothing. Owners of budget Redmi models with 720p screens should be careful with zooming.
The best solution for these screens is not to resize the font, change the theme to dark. Dark background visually compresses light letters, making them less intrusive, which subjectively reduces the perceived size of the text.
To sum up, font size management in Xiaomi is a balance between system settings, app-specific capabilities, and display physical characteristics. Experiment with sliders carefully, writing down the original values so you can always return to a comfortable state.