Smartphone owners often face a situation where standard interface settings do not match individual preferences. In particular, the question of how to reduce the font on Xiaomi becomes relevant for users who are used to a compact and dense layout, or for those who just want to see more information on the screen. Standard sliders in the settings menu offer a limited range, which may not be enough for advanced users.
MIUI and its successor HyperOS provide powerful customization tools, but they can be hidden deep enough. Changing text size affects not only the readability of messages, but also the overall appearance of the desktop, application menus and system windows. In this article, we will examine all the available methods, from standard methods to using advanced features through special applications.
Before we start to make a big difference, it's worth noting that over-smalling the font can cause some interface elements to become unreadable or "go" -- visual ergonomics is an important parameter that can't be ignored even in the pursuit of minimalism. Next, we'll look at step-by-step action algorithms for different use cases.
Basic setting of text size in the smartphone menu
The easiest and safest way to change the display settings is to use the built-in tools, which is suitable for 90% of users who need a standard sizing gradation, and first you need to open the main menu and find the gear icon that indicates the settings section.
In the list of options that opens, you should scroll down to Additional Settings (or Advanced Settings), which hides the key parameters of interface personalization. In some versions of firmware, this section may be called simply “Special Features”, but the logic remains the same.
When you go to the Size of Text, you get a slider scale, and you move it to the left, you reduce the size of the characters in real time, and you can choose from five standard presets, which balances readability and screen capacity.
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If the slider hit the left-hand limit, and the font still seems large, standard methods do not solve the problem – you will need to change the density of the DPI.
It is important to understand that changing this setting affects the system font used in menus, SMS, contacts and most standard applications, but some third-party programs, such as messengers or browsers, may use their own zoom settings that override the system.
Changing the pixel density (DPI) for advanced users
If standard reduction isn't enough, a change in pixel density known as DPI (Dots Per Inch) helps, which determines how many dots are displayed per inch of the screen. By increasing the DPI value, you force the system to compress the image, making all the elements, including text, significantly smaller.
To access this feature, you need to activate the developer mode. Go to Settings → About Phone and quickly press 7 times on the MIUI Version (or OS Version). Once the message “You became a developer” appears, you can move to advanced settings.
In the Additional Settings → For developers, you need to find the Minimum Width (or Smallest Width) item, which displays the current value, such as 360 or 392 dp. Write this number down before making changes so you can return to the original settings in case of an error.
⚠️ Note: Do not set extremely high values DPI (for example, above 600-700 This can cause the interface to become unreadable, and some control buttons to disappear from the visible area, and it will be possible to return everything back only through resetting the settings.
The best way to start is to increase the current value by 20-40 units. For example, if it costs 360, try setting 390 or 400. This will give a noticeable effect of reducing the font, but will preserve the usability of the system. Once you enter a new value, the screen can blink, which is a normal reaction of redrawing the interface.
☑️ Checking before change DPI
Use the Mi Settings application for advanced management
For those who want to access hidden features without manually editing system files, Mi Settings (formerly known as SetEdit) is a great solution, which allows you to edit the database of Android settings, including options hidden from the average user.
After installing the application from a verified source (e.g. Google Play or Google Play). 4PDA) You need to run it and give the permissions you need. font_scale. It is responsible for the global scale of fonts in the system.
The default value is usually 1.0. By lowering this ratio (e.g., to 0.85 or 0.75), you will achieve proportional reduction in text in all supported applications. It is more flexible than the standard slider, since it allows you to set fractional values.
It is worth noting that Mi Settings requires caution when using it. Changing unfamiliar parameters can lead to unstable system operation. Always change only one parameter at a time and check the result before moving to the next one.
Where to download the secure version of SetEdit?
Comparison of font change methods on Xiaomi
To make it easier for you to choose the right method, we have prepared a comparison table that will help you assess the risks and effectiveness of each method depending on your goals and level of training.
| Method | Difficulty | Security | Efficiency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard slider | Low. | Tall. | Medium |
| Change to DPI | Medium | Medium | Tall. |
| Mi Settings appendix | Tall. | Low/Mediocre | Maximum |
| Font editor (themes) | Medium | Tall. | Visually |
As you can see from the table, standard methods are the safest, but they have limited results. DPIs and third-party snails are the lot of enthusiasts who are willing to risk stability for the sake of a perfect picture. The choice depends on how critical it is for you to maintain factory warranties and stability.
Also worth mentioning is the subject of fonts. In the Themes app, you can find and install third-party fonts that are naturally narrower in outline, which doesn't reduce the size of the letters directly, but visually the text becomes more compact and denser, which solves the problem of lack of space on the line.
Scaling settings in the browser and applications
Often, users don't want to shrink the font across the system, but only when surfing the Internet or reading documents, and in this case, the system settings may be redundant. Let's look at how to optimize the display in popular applications.
In Google Chrome or the built-in Mi Browser, you need to go to the menu (three dots) and select Settings. Find the Specials section or Scaling text. Here you can set a forced page scale, for example, 75% or 80%, which will make web pages more informative.
In the Telegram app, settings are located along the Settings → Chats → Text Size. The messenger allows you to independently adjust the font size without affecting the rest of the system. Similar settings are present in WhatsApp (Chats section) and many book readers.
Full-screen mode deserves special attention. In some applications, activation of full-screen mode automatically adjusts the display of elements, hiding the status bar and navigation bar, which visually frees up space for content.
Solving problems with the “go” layout after the changes
After drastically reducing the font or changing the DPI, you may encounter artifacts: overlapping text, missing buttons, or incorrectly displaying the keyboard. This is a normal Android reaction to non-standard settings.
The first thing you need to do is check the virtual keyboard, and if the buttons are too small or have moved off the screen, try temporarily switching to gesture control or changing the way you type. At the very least, connect a physical keyboard or mouse via USB-OTG for navigation.
If the interface is completely unreadable and you can’t get to the menu to roll back the changes, resetting your settings via Recovery will help. To do this, turn off your phone and press the button combination (usually Volume Up + Power). In the recovery menu, select Wipe Data (this will delete all data!) or try to find Safe Mode if your version of Recovery allows it.
⚠️ Note: Recovery (Wipe Data) will completely delete all your photos, contacts and applications. Use this method only as a last resort when other ways to restore access to settings are impossible.
To avoid such situations, always back up before changing system settings. Xiaomi makes it easy to create backups to the cloud or to your computer through the Mi PC Suite app or standard Explorer.
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The golden rule of Android modification is to change only one setting at a time and always know the path to rollback (original value).