Emoji like on iPhone on Xiaomi: how to install in 10 minutes (without root and with root)

Why Xiaomi Emojis Look Different Than They Do on iPhones – and How to Fix It

Have you ever noticed how ridiculous emojis look in correspondence between owners of Xiaomi and iPhone? 😂 With neat features, Xiaomi is becoming a blurry, aggressive yellow spot, with different font packages: Apple uses the proprietary Apple Color Emoji, and Xiaomi uses Google's standard Noto Color Emoji. The difference is evident even in instant messengers, where emoji are downloaded from servers (for example, in Telegram or WhatsApp).

But the good news is that you can replace your Xiaomi emoji with your iPhone in three ways, from simple (via apps) to complex (with root rights). In this article, we will analyze each method with the MIUI version (relevant to 14/15), the smartphone model and the potential risks. Importantly, some solutions require unlocking the bootloader or installing a custom recaveri, which we will also talk about.

Before you start, check:

• 📱 Xiaomi model: Older devices (like Redmi Note 8) may not have enough memory to install fonts.
• 🔄 Version. MIUI: Firmware below 12.5 does not support dynamic fonts.
• 🔒 Bootloader status: If it is blocked, root methods won’t work.

Method 1: Install emojis through applications (without root)

The safest and fastest method is to use third-party apps that replace the display of emojis in instant messengers.

The best applications for this task:

• 📲 Emoji Changer (Play Market) – Supports iOS 15/16 style, working MIUI 13+.
• 🎨 Textra SMS — flips emojis SMS, but requires installation as a default application.
• 🔄 ZFont 3 – allows you to install fonts with emoji, but you need permission to install from unknown sources.

The following is a step-by-step instruction for Emoji Changer:

1. Download the app from the Play Market.
2. Open it and select the iOS 16 Emoji package.
3. Click Apply and confirm permissions.
4. Reboot your smartphone.

Enable installation from unknown sources in Settings → Applications → Special Rights

Download APK-File from the official website (if not in the Play Market)

Check the space available (need ~50 MB)

Make a backup of chats (in case of failure)

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⚠️ Note: Apps like Emoji Changer may conflict with some messengers (like Viber).If the emojis appear as squares after installation, clear the messenger cache in Settings → Annexes → Application management.

Method 2: Replace font through Magisk (with root rights)

If you're ready for more radical measures, you can replace the system font with emojis through Magisk, a popular root rights management tool that will change emojis throughout the system, including menus and browsers, and is suitable for users with an unlocked bootloader and TWRP installed.

What you need:

• 🔓 Unlocked bootloader (instructions for Xiaomi here).
• 📱 Installed by Magisk (version 25)+).
• 💾 iFont or Emoji Replacer for Magisk.

Instructions:

1. Download iOS Emoji for Magisk with XDA Developers.
2. Open Magisk Manager, go to Modules → Install from storage.
3. Choose the downloaded one. ZIP-file and wait for installation.
4. Reset the device.

⚠️ Note: After installing the module, some system applications (such as Mi Browser) may give an error android.process.acore.Solution: clear the cache of the application Contacts and Phone.

Method 3: Manual editing of system files (for experienced)

For those who are not afraid to dig into system files, there is a way to replace emojis by direct editing /system/fonts/. This method requires root rights and backup, as incorrect actions can lead to bootloop (cyclical reboot).

What needs to be done:

1. Download the archive with the fonts AppleColorEmoji.ttf and AppleColorEmoji@2x.ttf (can be found on GitHub).
2. Use Root Explorer or Mixplorer with root access to go to /system/fonts/.
3. Create a backup of the original NotoColorEmoji.ttf files.
4. Replace them with Apple’s downloaded fonts.
5. Change the access rights to 644 (rw-r----).
6. Reset the device.

Critical detail: on some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi K50), the system partition is mounted in read-only mode. To rewire it, type in the terminal:

su


mount -o rw,remount /system

⚠️ Note: If the emoji appear as empty squares after the fonts are replaced, then the system does not support the.ttf format from Apple. In this case, try converting the font to.otf through online services like CloudConvert.

echo"SKIP_INITRAMFS=1" > /data/.magisk

This will prevent changes from being reset after a reboot.-->

Comparison of methods: which one to choose?

Each method has its pros and cons, and to make it easier to choose, we'll put them in a table:

For most users, the first method (via apps) is optimal, as it does not require root rights and is reversible, and if you want emojis to be displayed everywhere — including system notifications — you will have to unlock the bootloader and use Magisk.

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On devices with MIUI 15 and later, Apple emojis may not display correctly due to a modified font rendering mechanism, in which case only manual editing of the /system/etc/fonts.xml file (requires deep knowledge!) will help.

Frequent problems and their solutions

Even after a successful installation, emojis may not work as expected.

Problem 1: Emojis are displayed as black and white characters

Reason: Not all apps support color emojis, such as Mi Browser or some banking apps, emojis may appear monochrome.

Solution: Install an alternative browser (such as Chrome or Firefox) or use the web version of the messenger.

Problem 2: After the MIUI update, the emojis reset

Reason: System updates often overwrite fonts.

Solution: If you've used Magisk, re-apply the module. If you've replaced the fonts manually, repeat the procedure.

Problem 3: Some chat rooms look different

Reason: Messengers (like Telegram or VK) can upload their own emojis from servers.

Solution: In the messenger settings, disable the option "Use system emoji" (if any).

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If they show up curved after you install the emoji on WhatsApp, try clearing the app cache and data in Settings → Apps → WhatsApp → Memory. This will reset the local display settings.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions