Many users of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco smartphones, having switched from iOS or just watched the Apple interface, are faced with the desire to change the standard set of emojis. The standard Android keyboard often looks simpler and less expressive than the rich iOS palette. Fortunately, the MIUI and HyperOS ecosystem provides quite flexible tools for personalization, allowing you to approximate the visual style of the device to the products of the Cupertinos company.
The process of replacing characters can range from simple installation of a third-party keyboard to deep interference with system files through Root rights. It is important to understand that replacing the system font affects the display of emoji in all applications at once, including Telegram, Viber and system notifications. At the same time, using third-party keyboards changes the appearance of emojis only at the time of typing, leaving their display in other people's messages dependent on the system font.
Before you start taking action, you need to assess the risks and choose the right method. Some methods require minimal effort and are safe, while others involve working with adb or a file manager with superuser rights. We will look at all the current options so that you can choose the best path for your smartphone model.
Replacement method through the MIUI Themes app
The easiest and safest way to change the look of emojis on Xiaomi devices is to use the built-in Themes app. Developers around the world are creating free designs that replace the Android system font with Apple's glyph font, which does not require advanced access rights and is fully reversible at any time.
To get started, open the standard Themes app on your smartphone. In the search box, type in queries like "iOS emoji," "iPhone font," or "Apple style." You'll be offered a variety of options, most of which are free. Pay attention to the theme ranking and the number of downloads to choose a stable product that won't cause errors in the display of text.
⚠️ Note: Some themes may change not only emojis, but also system icons or main text font. Carefully look at screenshots in the theme description before installation to avoid unwanted interface changes.
After selecting the appropriate theme, click Download and then Apply. The system will ask you to confirm the change in font and possibly other design elements. Agree and wait for the interface or device to reboot. Now your character set should visually match the style of iOS 16 or newer.
- 🍏 Open the "Themes" app on the main screen.
- 🔍 Type “iOS Emoji” into search and select a high-ranking theme.
- ⬇️ Click "Download" and wait until the process is over.
- ✅ Click "Apply" and confirm the replacement of the system font.
If you notice that some applications have lost text or some characters, the theme can be easily deleted. Go to the user profile in the Themes app, select the Topics section, and return the standard Classic or Default design.
Installing third-party keyboards with support for iOS style
An alternative approach is to install a third-party keyboard that emulates the design and character set of iPhones, ideal for those who don’t want to change the system font throughout the Android operating system, but want to see Apple emojis only when typing. A popular solution is the GO Keyboard app or specialized themes for Gboard.
Let's take a look at the GO Keyboard, because it provides the deepest customization options. Once you install an app from Google Play or GetApps, you need to activate it as the default input method. Follow the on-screen instructions to allow the necessary access to work properly.
Inside the app, go to Themes. Search for "iOS" or "iPhone." You'll find dozens of skins that change not only the key layout, but also the set of available emojis. Choose your favorite design and apply it. Now, when you type in WhatsApp or Direct, you'll see a familiar interface.
It’s worth noting that the recipient of your message will see the emoji as it is on their device. If you send the emoji “finger up” from the new iOS set to the old Android, the recipient may see the standard robotic version or square if their font does not support the new character code.
- 📲 Download. GO Keyboard or similar app from the store.
- ⚙️ Activate the keyboard in the language settings and input.
- 🎨 Go to the theme store inside the keyboard and find the style of iOS.
- 💬 Enjoy a new type of emoji when typing.
Some users prefer to combine methods: the system font is left standard for compatibility, and to communicate using a keyboard with iOS-style, a compromise option that allows you to maintain the nativeity of the system.
Use fonts through the developer menu and ADB
For more advanced users who want to have full control of the system without installing third-party launchers or keyboards, there is a method of replacing the font through ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which requires connecting the smartphone to the computer and having basic command-line knowledge, it allows you to embed the.ttf font file directly into the system folder if there is root, or use overlays.
The first step is to activate Developer Mode. Go to Settings → About Phone and press 7 times on "MIUI Version" or "OS Version." Then in the advanced settings, find "Developers" and turn on "Debugging on USB." Connect the phone to your PC with a cable.
Download the Apple Color Emoji.ttf font file from a trusted source. Put it at the root of the phone's internal memory. Using the ADB console on your computer, execute a command to copy the file to the system directory. Note that without Root rights, this method can only be limited to changing the font through shell-supported commands, but not directly replacing files.
adb push AppleColorEmoji.ttf /sdcard/
adb shell
su
mount -o rw,remount /system
cp /sdcard/AppleColorEmoji.ttf /system/fonts/
chmod 644 /system/fonts/AppleColorEmoji.ttf
reboot⚠️ Warning: Directly replacing system files without backing up can result in a "bootloop" (cyclic reboot).Make sure you have access to Recovery to restore the system in case of an error.
If you're not sure about your abilities, you'd better use automated scripts or applications like FontFix that do the same thing, but through a graphical interface with less risk of error, but even these often require Root rights for deep font integration.
Comparison of methods of installation of emojis
To make it easier for you to choose the right method, we have prepared a comparison table that will help you weigh the pros and cons of each method, taking into account your technical skills and the desired result.
| Method | Difficulty | I need a Root. | Impact on the system |
|---|---|---|---|
| Annex Topics | Low. | No. | Complete font replacement |
| third-party keyboard | Low. | No. | Only when you type in the text |
| ADB/Manual Replacement | Tall. | Preferably. | Deep System Integration |
| Magisk modules | Medium | Yes. | System, without changing the system partition |
As you can see from the table, for most users, the best option is to use the Themes app, which is a balance between security, simplicity and visual effect. Methods using ADB or Magisk should only be considered by enthusiasts who understand the risks and know how to resuscitate the device in the event of a failure.
Also, consider that after major updates to MIUI or HyperOS custom fonts may fly or work incorrectly, in which case you will have to reuse the topic or wait for the update of the theme from the author.
Why do the themes fly off after the firmware update?
Frequent problems and their solution
Users often face a number of common problems in customization, and understanding the causes of these problems will help quickly restore the device to work, and the most common issue is the appearance of “squares” instead of text or emojis in some applications.
This happens when the set font lacks glyphs for certain characters used by a particular application. For example, a banking app or messenger can use specific characters that are not in the Apple font. The solution is to roll back to the standard font or search for a more complete version of the theme.
Another problem is that you're out of sync, you send a smiley face that looks like a new iPhone, and the person you're talking to sees an old Android robot, and it's not a bug, it's a feature of Unicode. Emoji is code, and the image is written in the recipient's font, and you can't change it globally for all the devices in the world.
- ❌ Problem: Squares instead of letters. Solution: Change the subject to the standard one.
- 📉 Problem: Emojis don't change on Instagram Solution: App uses its own internal sets, nothing to do about it.
- 🔄 Problem: After the update, everything reset. Solution: Re-apply the theme in the Topics app".
If you use Magisk to install modules with emojis, make sure the module is compatible with your version of Android. Version conflicts often result in unstable system performance.
☑️ Diagnostics of font problems
Replacement of font for users with Root rights
For smartphone owners with an unlocked bootloader and Magisk or KSU installed, the most flexible way is open: You can use modules that replace the fonts.xml system file and the font files themselves on the fly, without modifying the system partition, which makes it easy to remove changes by simply removing the module.
A popular solution is the "Emoji Switcher" module, or Xiaomi analogs. Once the module is installed through the Magisk manager, it will suggest you choose the source of the emoji. Choose iOS and confirm the action. The device will reboot, and the new graphics will be applied globally.
The main advantage of this method is that it's very isolated, so if something goes wrong, you can go into Safe Mode or through the root-access file manager, delete the folder of the module, and the system will return to its original state, which is safer than writing directly to /system/fonts.
⚠️ Warning: Unlocking the bootloader and obtaining Root rights voids the device warranty, and it can also disrupt banking apps and Google Pay (although this is often done through Magisk Hide or Zygisk).
Using Zygisk hides root rights from highly secure applications, but there is always a risk of conflict with Android security updates that check the integrity of system files when installing system fonts.
💡
Before installing any modules or fonts, make a full backup of data via Mi Cloud or computer, and in case of a critical error, this will save your photos and contacts.
The impact of the Android version on the availability of new emojis
It's important to understand that just drawing a new emoji isn't enough. Each new emoji has its own unique code in a Unicode spreadsheet. If your version of Android (like Android 10 or 11) came out before Unicode approved it, the system simply doesn't know that it exists.
In this case, even replacing the font won’t help: instead of a picture, you’ll see an empty space or a question mark because the system can’t match the code to the glyph. New emojis (like faces with different emotions or new animals) require an update to the system’s database, which usually comes with an update to the Android version.
However, some themes and modules try to introduce support for new codes artificially, but this works unstable.The best way to access all modern emojis is to upgrade your smartphone to the latest available version of MIUI or HyperOS, based on the current Android 13/14.
Is it safe to download themes from unverified sources?
Can I take it all back if I don’t like it?
Why do emojis look different on Telegram than on the system?
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The safest and most effective way to get an emoji like an iPhone is to use free themes in the official Themes app. This does not require Root rights and is easily undoable.
To sum up, it is possible to turn Xiaomi emoticons into an exact copy of iOS. Choose a method that suits your level of training, from simple theme installation to complex system modifications.