Modern Xiaomi smartphones, which run on the shell of MIUI or HyperOS, are set by default to make the text as readable as possible for a wide range of users. However, for many owners, especially those who are used to dense layout or have high resolution vision, the standard letter size can seem excessively large, taking up excess space on the screen. This is not just a matter of aesthetics, but also functionality: a reduced font allows you to display more information in the news feed, messenger messages and web pages without the need for constant scrolling.
The process of resizing characters on Redmi and POCO devices does not require superuser rights or third-party launchers. System settings provide flexible tools for fine-tuning the interface. It is important to understand that changing the setting affects not only the system menu, but also most supported applications, making the interface more compact and informative.
In this article, we will take a closer look at all the ways you can reduce text, from standard sliders in the settings menu to hidden features for advanced users. We will also look at the difference between font size and screen scale, as these concepts are often confused, although they affect the display of content in different ways.
⚠️ Attention: With a large reduction in the scale or font size, some interface elements in poorly optimized applications may overlap or become unreadable. Always check the performance of key applications after making changes.
Standard font size settings in MIUI
The easiest and safest way to change letter size is to use the built-in functionality of the operating system. Xiaomi has a special slider that adjusts the size of characters in the system menus and supported applications. This method does not affect the scaling of the interface as a whole, changing only the typography, which allows you to maintain the usual structure of buttons and icons.
To get started, you need to go to the main settings menu of your device, find the section responsible for the appearance and personalization. Depending on the firmware version (MIUI 12, 13, 14 or HyperOS), the names of the items may differ slightly, but the logic remains the same. You need to find the option option or immediately go to the screen settings.
The algorithm of actions is as follows:
- 📱 Open the settings on your smartphone.
- 👁️ Go to the Screen (or Display) section).
- 🔤 Find the text size or font size item.
- 📉 Move the slider to the left until you achieve the desired result.
Note that when you move the slider, you apply real-time changes, and you can see that the text in the settings header and in the examples below decreases, and you can find the optimal value at which the text is readable but takes up less space. Once you set it up, just go back to the home screen, and the settings are saved automatically.
Difference between font size and screen size
Many users have wondered why, after the font has been reduced in the settings, some elements, such as buttons in Telegram or cards in Yandex, have remained the same size.The fact is that in Android there are two independent parameters: font size and screen element size (scale).
If standard text reduction isn't enough, you can use the zoom function to make the interface more "dense" by mimicking the behavior of high-resolution tablets or smartphones, but it's important to follow the measure: too much zoom can make buttons too small to be easily pressed with your finger.
To access these settings, follow the following steps:
- 🛠️ Go to Settings. → Additionally.
- 📏 Select the Size of Screen Elements (in some versions Scale).
- 🔍 Move the slider downward (usually left or downward).
Unlike font customization, zooming may require rebooting some apps to properly display content.It’s also worth noting that this parameter affects pixel density (DPI), which can be useful for running games or apps that aren’t adapted to the big screens of modern Xiaomi.
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If you zoom in, check the keyboard. On some models, the keyboard may become too narrow, and you'll have to adjust the size separately in the keyboard app.
Using Developer Mode to Accurately Set Up
For users who want to get maximum control over the display of information, there is a developer mode. It is a hidden menu designed to debug applications, but contain useful features for customizing the interface. In particular, you can manually set the minimum screen width in pixels, which is more powerful than a standard slider of scale.
To activate this mode, you need to find the About Phone section in the settings and quickly click on MIUI Version or OS Version several times (usually 7-10). Once the message "You became a developer" appears, a new section Additional → For developers will appear in the settings menu.
In the developer menu, find Minimum Width (or Smallest Width) where the default value varies depending on the model, such as 360 or 392 dp. Reducing this number increases all elements and increasing it decreases. Be careful not to set too high values at once, as the interface may become unusable, and you will have to reset the settings.
☑️ Checking before change DPI
⚠️ Note: Changing the Minimum Width setting in developer mode may cause widgets to display incorrectly and some applications to be incompatible. Write down the original value before making changes!
Comparison of methods of changing the display of text
To make it easier for you to choose the right method, we have prepared a comparison table that will help you understand which tool is best to use depending on your goals: whether you want to just make the text a little smaller or completely redesign the interface for maximum content per inch.
| Parameter | Type size | Screen size | Developer Mode (DPI) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Impact on text | Direct and basic | Proportional | Proportional (strong) |
| Impact on icons | No. | There is. | There (significant) |
| Security | Tall. | Tall. | Medium (requires caution) |
| Difficulty setting up | Low. | Low. | Tall. |
As you can see from the table, for most users, a combination of standard font size settings and easy screen zooming is the best option. Developer mode should only be used if standard tools are severely lacking or you are testing the interface.
What to do if the interface becomes unreadable?
Features of settings in browser applications and readers
It is worth mentioning that system settings do not always fully control the display of text in third-party applications. Many modern browsers (Chrome, Yandex.Browser, Opera) and book reading applications have their own zoom settings, this is done so that the user can comfortably read a specific site or document, regardless of the general settings of the phone.
For example, in Google Chrome on Android, you can zoom in separately, and you can go to your browser settings, select the Special Opportunities section, and find the Text Scale slider, and you can zoom in on the web without touching the rest of the interface, and you can do that in MI Browser and other popular apps.
For e-books (.txt,.fb2,.epub), typography settings are usually in the reader's menu, where you can not only reduce the size of the font, but also change the line spacing, fields and even the font itself to a narrower one (for example, Roboto Condensed), which visually reduces the space occupied by the text without loss of readability.
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System font settings are basic, but for the perfect result, you often need to customize more inside the specific applications you use most often.
Possible problems and solutions
When text size or scale is reduced to extremes, users may encounter display artifacts, text may bump into pictures, buttons may crop, and in some cases, the application interface may simply go, especially for older versions of applications that don't use responsive layout.
If you notice that after settings, some important application stopped working correctly, try the following steps:
- 🔄 Reset the scale settings to the original state.
- 🗑️ Clear the problem app's cache through Settings → Annexes.
- 📱 Update the app to the latest version via Google Play or GetApps.
Also, consider that on low-resolution (HD+) screens, excessive font reduction can cause letters to become fuzzy or “loose” due to insufficient pixel density. On flagship models with AMOLED and high resolution (FHD+, 2K), this problem is rare, since the margin of screen detail is large.