Xiaomi’s current MIUI or HyperOS smartphones offer incredible flexibility in how you customize your look. Many iOS users, or those who are just looking to refresh their interface, often look for a way to turn their Android smartphone into an iPhone, not just replacing pictures, but a deep integration of controls, fonts and animations.
Fortunately, you don't have to be a programmer or root-rights to achieve striking similarities. Built-in tools combined with third-party launchers allow you to recreate the aesthetics of iOS 16 or even the more recent versions. The process requires care, but the result is worth it.
In this guide, we'll go through all the steps from installing a basic launcher to fine-tuning the control center, and you'll learn which apps are safe and which can harm the system. It's important to understand that a full copy of iOS is not possible at the kernel level, because they are different operating systems, but the visual part will be as close to the original as possible.
Device preparation and choice of tools
Before you start the transformation, you need to prepare the software base. Standard MIUI tools are good, but to simulate the iPhone quality will require specialized applications, primarily a launcher that completely replaces the desktop.
One of the most popular solutions is Launcher iOS 16 or its counterparts from proven developers like Cheetah Mobile. These applications do not just change icons, they implement the logic of menus, folders and search, typical for Apple products, such programs should only be downloaded from the official Google Play store to avoid malicious code.
Also, it's worth taking care of having free space in your memory. High-quality themes contain a lot of high-resolution graphics that can take up a significant amount of storage. Make sure you have a stable Internet connection to load resources initially.
Don't forget security. When installing third-party launchers, Android can issue warnings, which is a normal security response that requires your confirmation to allow permissions to be displayed on top of other windows.
Installation of the launcher and basic interface setting
After downloading the selected launcher, it must be activated.The Xiaomi system may try to get you back to the standard interface on the first run, so it's important to set priorities correctly.
Go to the system settings, find the Application section, and select the default App. From the Desktop or Launcher list, select the installed app with the iOS logo. Now, clicking the Home button will open a new interface.
☑️ Launcher setup
Next, you need to adjust the desktop grid. The original iPhone uses a 4x6 or 5x6 grid depending on the model. In the launcher settings, choose a similar option so that the icons stand up evenly and proportionally. Font size is also better reduced, since in iOS they look more sleek and small compared to standard Android fonts.
And if you focus on the dock at the bottom of the screen, that's where the main apps are located. Copy the Apple structure: on the left, phone, messages, browser and music, and that creates the right visual impression when you first look at the screen.
Customization of icons and fonts in MIUI
Even with the launcher installed, Xiaomi system icons can be out of style, and you can use the built-in Theme app to replace them. Search for themes, type in the “iOS” or “iPhone” query.
There are thousands of free options available in the MIUI theme store. Choose those that rank highly and are labeled as compatible with your version of Android. Once you apply the theme, all apps icons, including system ones (calculator, calendar, settings), will become round and minimalistic, like iOS.
| Parameter | Standard Android | Style of iOS | How to change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Icon shape | Rounded square | Circle/Rounded square | MIUI Topics/Luncher |
| Font system | Roboto / MiSans | San Francisco | Font applications |
| Notification centre | Swipe top down. | Swipe right top. | Launcher settings |
| Control panel | In the notification curtain | Separate curtain | Control Center Application |
To change the font at the system level, you will need to download a special font file from San Francisco, which can be done through the same Themes app by going to the profile and selecting the font category.
💡
Use the Hide Icons feature in the launcher settings to remove Xiaomi system applications that cannot be replaced with Apple analogs, while maintaining the cleanliness of the desktop.
Control and notification curtain
One of the most notable features of iOS is its split control center, which is that unlike Android, where everything is in the same curtain, notifications and switches are separated, and Xiaomi will need to install a separate application, such as iOS 16 Control Center, to implement this.
Once you install the application, you will be prompted to enable Accessibility, which is necessary so that the program can intercept swipes and display its interface over the system curtain. Follow the instructions on the screen to activate the service.
⚠️ Warning: Granting special features to third-party apps potentially reduces security. Only use proven high-rated apps and don't enter passwords from banking apps.
In the control center settings, you can flexibly adjust the appearance of brightness and volume sliders, and add or remove modules (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, flashlight).
You should also adjust the behavior of the notification curtain. The launcher often has the option "Swipe down for notifications." Turn it on so that the swipe in the center of the screen opens the list of messages, and the swipe in the upper right corner - the control center, mimicking the logic of Face ID devices.
Widgets, live wallpaper and screen lock
Visual style of iOS is unthinkable without widgets. MIUI has its own widgets, but they differ in design. iOS launchers usually offer a set of their own widgets: weather, watch, batteries, calendar. Add them to the desktop to fill the voids.
The lock screen is more complicated. Xiaomi's standard lock screen is very different from Apple. There are Lock Screen apps, but they may conflict with a fingerprint scanner or face unlock. Be prepared for the native unlock functionality to work less stable.
Should I put a full replacement lock screen?
Live wallpaper can be found in the Topics app. Look for abstract iridescent backgrounds characteristic of Apple presentations. Static wallpapers with characteristic color bubbles are also easy to find on the "iOS stock wallpaper."
Don't forget to set up the Battery widget. In iOS, it shows the percentages inside the icon. On Android, you can do this through the launcher widgets by choosing the display style "Inside" or "Text".
Typical problems and their solution
You may find that when you set up, the system aggressively kills the background processes of the launcher, which is standard behavior of the MIUI optimizer. In order for the control center and widgets to work steadily, you need to prevent the system from saving energy for these applications.
Go to Settings → Applications → All Apps. Find your launcher and the Control Center app. Go to Battery and select Unlimited. Also check the boxes against these apps from the AutoRun menu.
💡
The key to stable custom interface on Xiaomi is to turn off power saving for launcher and access services.
Another problem is desynchronizing icons, and after updating some apps, their icons can go back to standard, and the launcher settings often have an "Apply to All" or "Reset the icon cache" button that solves this problem.
If the launcher is running with jerks, try reducing the number of widgets on the desktop or animation transitions in the developer settings. Set the animation scale to 0.5x or 1x so that the interface feels more responsive, like in iOS.