How to put an emoji from iPhone to Xiaomi: 3 working ways (without root)

Apple emojis have long been a design benchmark — their bright colors, smooth animations and versatile readability set them apart from standard Android sets. Xiaomi owners (including the Redmi Note 12, POCO F5 or Mi 13 models) often face the problem: native MIUI emojis look faded or don’t support the latest Unicode updates. Fortunately, you can install iPhone emojis on Xiaomi without root rights — and we’ll show you how to do it safely.

In this article you will find:

• 🔹 3 the method of installation (including the method for MIUI 14/15)
• 🔹 Comparison of risks of each option – from font reset to loss of warranty
• 🔹 Step-by-step instructions with screenshots and commands for ADB
• 🔹 Solving problems with “quadratics” instead of emojis in WhatsApp or Telegram

We warn you that not all methods are equally safe. For example, replacing system fonts with Magisk can lead to a bootloop if you do not follow the sequence of actions. But installing through applications like iFont or Emoji Changer works on 90% of Xiaomi devices without consequences. Next, we will analyze each method in detail – choose the one that fits your model and the version of MIUI.

1.Why are Xiaomi emojis different from iPhones?

The fact is that Apple and Google use different fonts to display emojis. On the iPhone, this is Apple's proprietary Color Emoji font, which is updated with iOS. Android (including Xiaomi) uses Noto Color Emoji by default, which is less detailed and often lags behind in support for new Unicode characters.

Key differences:

For example, emojis 🥹 ("Smiling face with tears on iPhone appeared in iOS 15.4, and many Xiaomi it was not before the release MIUI 14. Even after the upgrade, the design remains simplified, and this is true of popular symbols like this. 🫠 ("melting face” or 🫡 ("salute").

⚠️ Note: If you use Xiaomi with custom firmware (e.g. Pixel Experience), emojis can appear as Google Pixel – it’s not a bug, but a feature of firmware.

2. Method 1: Installation via iFont application (without root)

This is the easiest and most secure method, which works on 95% of Xiaomi devices (including Redmi 10, POCO X4 Pro, Mi 11 Lite). iFont replaces fonts at the user level without affecting system files. Minus: emoji will only appear in supported applications (for example, in Telegram or Viber, but not in WhatsApp).

Step-by-step:

1. Download iFont from Google Play.
2. Open the app and go to the Online → tab to find the iOS Emoji package (usually it is in the top).
3. Click Download, then Set. The system will prompt you to set the font as Overlay.
4. Go to Settings → Screen → Font and select the installed iOS Emoji package.
5. Reboot your smartphone.

If the emojis haven't changed:

• 🔄 Check what's in the Settings → Annexes → Application management → iFont All Rights Allowed.
• 🔄 Remove the app cache where emojis don’t show up (such as Messages or Gboard).
• 🔄 Try another emoji package in iFont (like iOS 16 Emoji).

Download iFont from the official store

Check the version of MIUI (Settings → About the phone)

Allow installation from unknown sources (Settings → Privacy)

Backup your current fonts (in iFont → Backup)

Restart the phone after installation-->

⚠️ Note: On some devices with MIUI 15 (e.g. Xiaomi) 13T) iFont may not work due to Google Play Services limitations, in which case use Method 2 (via Google Play Services) ADB).

Method 2: Replace fonts via ADB (semi-roots)

This method requires a computer connection and the use of ADB (Android Debug Bridge), but does not require full root access. It is suitable for devices where iFont does not work, and allows you to replace the system fonts globally.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with Windows/macOS/Linux
• 🔌 USB Type C C Cable (original)
• 📥 ADB Tools (download from Google website)
• 📄 Archive with iOS fonts (example link)

Instructions:

1. Turn on the phone Developer Mode: go to Settings → About Phone and 7 times click on the MIUI version.
2. Return to Settings → Additional → For developers and activate Debugging over USB.
3. Connect the phone to your computer and confirm the debugging permission.
4. Unpack ADB Tools and iOS fonts into one folder. Open the command prompt (cmd) in this folder.
5. Follow commands in order: adb devices (should display your device) adb shell su (if requested root, allow) mount -o rw,remount /system cp -r /sdcard/Download/iOS_Fonts/* /system/fonts/ (The path to fonts may be different) chmod 644 /system/fonts/* reboot

After the reboot, the emoji should change in all applications, including WhatsApp and SMS. If there are “squares” instead of emojis, then the fonts were installed incorrectly – repeat the steps or restore the backup.

💡

ADB-It's good for no-root devices, but it requires care. A command error can cause a system to crash. Always backup before changing system files!

Method 3: Installation via Magisk (for rooted devices)

If your Xiaomi has an unlocked bootloader and Magisk installed, you can use the font replacement modules, which is 100% compatible with all applications, but requires root rights and can void the warranty.

How to determine:

1. Install Magisk Manager and check the root access status.
2. Download the iOS Emoji Magisk Module (for example, from here).
3. Open Magisk, go to Modules → Install from storage.
4. Select the downloaded.zip file and wait for the installation.
5. Reset the device.

Advantages of the method:

• 🎨 Full font replacement, including emojis on WhatsApp, Instagram and system notifications.
• 🔄 Easy to roll back: just remove the module in Magisk.
• 📱 It works on all versions. MIUI, including MIUI 15.

⚠️ Note: On some firmware (e.g. HyperOS for Xiaomi 14), Magisk modules may conflict with Google Pay or banking apps. Use MagiskHide to mask root rights.

5. Problem Solving: Squares, glitches, return of standard emojis

If you see it after installation instead of emojis □ or ☐, The problem is in one of the three:

1. Font incompatibility – The downloaded emoji package does not support your version of Android.
2. Incorrect access rights – font files do not have 644 permission.
3. Application conflict – some messengers (e.g. VK) use their fonts.

How to fix it:

If none of these methods worked, check:

• 📱 Compatibility of your model with the chosen method (e.g, POCO F1 may require other teams ADB).
• 🔄 Version MIUI — on MIUI 12.5 and below some Magisk modules do not work.
• 🛠️ Updates for iFont or Magisk.

💡

If emojis are shown curves (such as too large or blurry), try clearing the cache of the Android System WebView app in the settings.

6. Comparison of methods: which one to choose?

To make the choice easier, we have compiled a table with the pros and cons of each method:

Selection recommendations:

• 📱 If you have Xiaomi guarantee → Use iFont.
• 🔧 If you need a global change without a root → ADB.
• 🛠️ If the phone is already rooted → Magisk.
• 🆘 If nothing works → check the version MIUI font compatibility.

7. Frequent Questions (FAQ)

8. Alternative methods: if nothing has worked

If none of these methods work, consider alternatives:

• 📲 Keyboards with custom emoji: Gboard or SwiftKey let you choose the style of emojis. In the keyboard settings, find the Emoji Style option and select iOS (if available).
• 🔄 Custom firmware: Installing Pixel Experience or LineageOS will automatically replace emojis with a Google variant (close to iOS in design).
• 🖼️ Stickers instead of emoji: Telegram or WhatsApp can add sticker packs in the style of iOS (for example, this set of stickers).

If you're willing to take drastic measures, consider buying an iPhone — but that's a whole other story, and for Xiaomi owners, our instructions should help you get the results you want without putting too much money into it.

💡

Before experimenting with fonts, always back up the data. In extreme cases, you can reset the phone to factory settings, but this will delete all user data!