How to return the old font to Xiaomi after updating MIUI: all ways

Updating MIUI often brings not only new features, but also unexpected interface changes, such as changing the system font. Many users of Xiaomi, Redmi and Poco complain that after upgrading to MIUI 14/13/12, the text has become less readable, too thin or simply inconvenient. Fortunately, you can return a familiar font without complex manipulations - and even without the rights of a superuser (root).

In this article, we will discuss 5 proven ways to roll back changes, from standard MIUI settings to manually install fonts via ADB. Particular attention will be paid to Xiaomi 12/13/14, Redmi Note 11/12 and Poco F4/F5, where the problem is most common. If you have not found a solution for your version of the firmware, at the end of the article there is an FAQ with answers to typical questions.

Why did the font change after the MIUI update?

The change of font is part of Xiaomi’s policy of unifying design. MIUI 12.5, the company is actively implementing the Mi Sans (formerly Roboto or Noto Sans) brand font, optimized for the use of the same name. AMOLED-But not all users like these changes:

• 📉 Readability is deteriorating – the new font may seem too thin or blurred.
• 🔍 The intervals have changed, the distance between letters and lines has become uncomfortable.
• 🎨 Style inconsistency – some users are used to the classic Roboto or San Francisco.
• 📱 Scaling problems – on small screens (5.8”-6.2”), the new font looks sloppy.

It is important to understand that Xiaomi does not always provide the option of rollback through standard settings. For example, in MIUI 14 for the global version (Global ROM), the option of changing the font may be hidden, while in Chinese firmware (China ROM) it is available, due to licensing restrictions on some fonts in different regions.

⚠️ Note: If you use custom firmware (like LineageOS or Pixel Experience), the methods in this article may not work. In such cases, the font changes through the settings of the firmware itself or the font.ttf file in the folder. /system/fonts/.

Method 1: Standard MIUI settings (without root)

The easiest method is to take advantage of the built-in MIUI options, which is suitable for most MIUI 12-14 devices, but may not be available on some models with the Global ROM.

Instructions:

1. Open the Settings → Display.
2. Select the font style (or font style in English).
3. Scroll through the list and find the default option (Default) or Classic.
4. Apply the changes and restart the device.

If the font style item is not on the menu, try:

• 🔍 Use search by settings (magnifying glass icon at the top of the screen).
• 🌐 Switch to English interfaces – sometimes the option is hidden in localized versions.
• 📱 Check for updates MIUI — Additional settings may appear in new versions.

On some devices (such as the Xiaomi Mi 11 Ultra or Redmi K50 Pro), the font change option only appears after the developer mode is activated.

1. Go to Settings. → The phone.
2. 7 times click on the MIUI version.
3. Back to Settings → Additionally. → For developers.
4. Activate the developer mode switch.

Method 2: Install the font through MIUI Themes

If standard settings don't work, you can use the official MIUI Themes app, which works on most devices but requires an internet connection.

Step-by-step:

1. Open the Themes app (icon with brush).
2. Go to the Fonts section.
3. In the search bar, type the font name: Roboto is a classic Android font. Noto Sans is an alternative from Google. Mi Sans Classic is an old version of Xiaomi's signature font.

Apply

Confirm the change and wait for the reboot.

If the desired font is not in the catalog, try:

• 🔄 Update the theme base (button in upper right corner).
• 🌍 Change region in your Mi Account settings (e.g. India or China – there are more options).
• 📥 Download the font manually (about this in the following way).

⚠️ Note: Some fonts from the MIUI Themes may contain advertisements or paid items. Read reviews from other users before installing them!

Method 3: Manual installation of font through TTF-file

If previous methods have failed, you can install the font manually through the.ttf file, which takes a little more effort, but gives you complete control over the typography.

You'll need:

• 📱 Xiaomi Smartphone with Xiaomi MIUI 12+.
• 💻 Computer with Windows/Mac file manager on the phone (for example, MiXplorer).
• 📁 Font in.ttf format (you can download from sites like Google Fonts).

Instructions:

1. Download a font (e.g. Roboto-Regular.ttf) and save it to your phone’s memory (e.g. Download folder).
2. Install a file manager with access to system folders (such as MiXplorer or Solid Explorer).
3. Go to /system/fonts/ or (for newer MIUI versions): /product/fonts/
4. Find font files (usually MiSans-Regular.ttf, Roboto-Regular.ttf, etc.) and rename them by adding.bak at the end (e.g. MiSans-Regular.ttf.bak).
5. Copy your font into this folder and rename it according to the original name (e.g. Roboto-Regular.ttf).
6. Change the file access permissions to 644 (readable for all, written only for the owner).
7. Reset the device.

⚠️ Warning: Changing system files without root permissions can cause a boot failure.If the phone doesn't turn on after rebooting, try resetting via Recovery Mode (press Power). + Volume Up when switched on).

💡

Before replacing the fonts, back up the original files by copying them to your computer or the cloud, which will help you quickly restore the system in case of an error.

Method 4: Use ADB-commands without root)

If you don’t have superuser rights, but you do have access to USB debugging, you can change the font using ADB (Android Debug Bridge), which works on most Xiaomi devices with MIUI 12-14.

What you need:

• 🖥️ Computer with installed ADB-Drivers (you can download from the official Android website).
• 📱 Included debugging by USB on the phone (Settings) → For developers → Debugging by USB).
• 📁 Font in.ttf format, renamed custom.ttf.

Instructions:

1. Connect your phone to your computer via USB and allow debugging.
2. Open the command prompt (CMD on Windows or Terminal on Mac/Linux) and type: Adb devices Make sure your device appears in the list.
3. Copy the font to the system folder: adb push custom.ttf /sdcard/
4. Set the font as system: adb shell"su -c'mount -o rw,remount /system &&cp /sdcard/custom.ttf /system/fonts/Roboto-Regular.ttf &&chmod 644 /system/fonts/Roboto-Regular.ttf'" Note: If the su command doesn't work, skip it (but the font may not apply without root).
5. Reboot the device: adb reboot

If the font hasn’t changed after the reboot, try:

• 🔄 Repeat a command with a different file name (e.g., MiSans-Regular.ttf).
• 📂 Check that the file has been copied to the correct folder (/system/fonts/ or /product/fonts/).
• 🔧 Use Magisk to get temporary root access (if the device supports unlocking the bootloader).

Method 5: Using Magisk and FontManager

If you have root rights or an unlocked bootloader, the most reliable way is to install the FontManager module through Magisk, which allows you to change fonts without risking damage to system files.

Instructions:

1. Install Magisk (if not already installed).
2. Download the FontManager module (available on XDA Developers).
3. Copy the module file (.zip) into the phone’s memory.
4. Open Magisk, go to the Modules section and click Install from Storage.
5. Select the downloaded file and wait for the installation.
6. Reset the device.
7. After the reboot, open the FontManager app (will appear in the menu) and select the desired font.

Advantages of this method:

• 🔄 Easy rollback – you can return the original font in one click.
• 📁 Support for custom fonts – upload your.ttf files.
• 🛡️ Security – Changes are implemented through Magisk without affecting system files directly.

If the module is not working:

• 🔄 Update Magisk and FontManager to the latest versions.
• 📱 Check if you have a bootloader unlocked).
• 🛠️ Install an additional Riru module (required for some versions) MIUI).

💡

Magisk is the most reliable way to change the font, but it requires unlocking the bootloader. If you're not ready for this, try methods 1-3.

Frequent problems and their solutions

When changing fonts to Xiaomi, you may experience errors, and here are the most common ways to fix them:

If none of these things worked, maybe your Xiaomi model has unique limitations.

• 🔍 Find a solution in the forums (XDA Developers, 4PDA).
• 📧 Write in support of Xiaomi with the model and version MIUI.
• 🔄 Wait for the next update – sometimes font bugs are fixed in new firmware versions.

FAQ: Answers to Frequent Questions