Owners of Xiaomi TVs (Mi TV 4/5, Mi TV Q1/Q2, Mi Box) sometimes face the need to disable or reset the custom font to standard. This may be necessary after a failed custom font installation, a system failure when text is displayed in characters, or simply to return to factory settings. Unlike smartphones, where changing the font is a standard feature, on Xiaomi TVs this process has its own nuances.
In this article, we’ll look at all the possible ways to turn off the font, from simply resetting through the settings menu to manually deleting font files via ADB (for power users), and how to avoid the typical errors that can lead to a device “bricking” and what to do if the TV stops displaying text correctly after the changes.
Why you might need to turn off font on Xiaomi TV
The system font on Xiaomi TVs is not just an aesthetic element, but a part of the firmware responsible for displaying all text elements of the interface.
- 🔄 Failed firmware update: after an automatic or manual update, the font may be reset to an unreadable version (for example, Chinese characters on European models).
- 🎨 Install custom font: through third-party applications (e.g. iFont) or manually copy.ttf files to system folders.
- 🛠️ System failure: After resetting settings or cleaning the cache, fonts may not display correctly.
- 🌍 Regional settings: when changing the interface language to unaccompanied (for example, Arabic or Thai), Cyrillic support may disappear.
If you see squares, or cracosabras, or characters on the screen instead of the text you're used to, the problem is the typefaces, and in most cases, you can fix it without flashing it, but it's important to be careful not to make it worse.
Method 1: Reset the font through standard settings
The safest method is to return the factory font settings through the TV menu, which works on all models with MIUI TV firmware (including PatchWall):
- Open the settings (cog in the top menu).
- Go to Device → About TV (or System → About System on New Versions).
- Find Reset font settings or Restore default fonts (on some models it is hidden – see spoiler below).
- Confirm the action. The TV will reboot, and the font will return to the standard.
If the item "Reset font" is not in the menu
Restriction: Resetting through the menu only works if the problem is caused by a software failure, not damage to system files. If the font does not recover, you will have to use ADB or manual file replacement.
Method 2: Manual reset via ADB (for advanced users)
If a standard reset doesn’t work, you can remove custom fonts via Android Debug Bridge (ADB).This method requires connecting the TV to your computer and basic command line knowledge.
What you need:
- 💻 Computer installed ADB and Fastboot.
- 🔌 USB-cable (for Mi Box) or enabled debugging over Wi-Fi (for TVs).
- ⚙️ Included option Debugging by USB in the developer settings (Settings) → On TV. → Click 7 times on "Version" MIUI TV").
Step-by-step:
- Connect the TV to your PC and check the connection with the command: Adb devices should appear with a serial number.
- Remove custom fonts (if installed in /data/fonts): adb shell su rm -rf /data/fonts/* reboot
- If the fonts were replaced in the system partition (less commonly), use: adb shell su mount -o rw, remount /system rm -rf /system/fonts/custom mount -o ro, remount /system reboot
☑️ Preparation for ADB-team
⚠️ Note: Delete system files through ADB It can cause the TV to crash if you delete the wrong data. Never follow the rm commands. -rf /system without specifying a specific folder - it will erase the entire firmware!
Method 3: Update firmware to restore fonts
If the fonts are tracked after a failed update or reset, the surest way to get them back is to reinstall the firmware, which can be done in two ways on Xiaomi TVs:
| Method | Advantages | Deficiencies | Time. |
|---|---|---|---|
| OTA-renewal (over air) | Without data loss, simplicity | Not always available if the system is damaged | 10-20 minutes |
| Handheld firmware via USB | It works even in case of failure, full version control | Requires file download, possible data loss | 30-40 minutes |
| Fastboot firmware | Restores the system from scratch | It's hard for beginners to erase all data. | 40-60 minutes |
How to update via USB:
- Download the latest firmware for your model from the official Xiaomi website (file with the extension.zip).
- Copy it to a flash drive formatted in FAT32.
- Insert the flash drive into the TV and go to Settings → About TV → System Update → Update via USB.
- Select the downloaded file and wait for the process to be completed (the TV will reboot several times).
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If the fonts are still incorrect after the update, try resetting to factory settings (Settings → Reset and Reset → Reset all settings). This will delete all user data, but return the system to its original state.
Method 4: Change regional settings to display text correctly
Sometimes the font problem is not because of damage, but because of mismatching language packages, for example, if you have installed firmware for the Chinese market and you use a TV in Russia, the Cyrillic alphabet may not be displayed correctly.
- Go to Settings → Language and Region.
- Set the region on Russia (or your country).
- In the Language section, select Russian (Russia) or English (United States) (if Cyrillic is not supported).
- Reboot the TV.
If the text is still displayed in characters after the region change, try:
- 🔄 Install another language (e.g. English) and then return Russian.
- 📥 Update language packages through Settings → Additionally. → Language updates (if there is such a clause).
- 🛠️ Reset the PatchWall application settings (Settings) → Annexes → PatchWall → Clear the data).
What to do if nothing helps: radical measures
If all of the above methods fail, there are two options:
- Fastboot Flash: Completely erases all data and installs a clean system. Requires unlocking the bootloader (on some models) and knowledge of fastboot commands. For specific model instructions, look for 4PDA or XDA Developers forums.
- Contact the service center: If the TV is warranty or you are not confident in your abilities, it is better to take it to the authorized service Xiaomi.
⚠️ Note: Fastboot flashing on Xiaomi TVs may block access to certain features (e.g. Netflix in the app). 4K), If you use unofficial firmware, always check that the firmware file is compatible with your model!
How to avoid font problems in the future
In order not to face the need to reset fonts, follow these recommendations:
- 🚫 Don’t install custom fonts through unverified sources. If you really need to, only use.ttf files from trusted developers.
- 🔄 Update your firmware regularly, but not through beta. Stable releases are tested for font compatibility.
- 📥 Before resetting or updating, back up the settings through Settings → Resetting and remediation → Backup.
- 🛡️ Do not change system files manually (e.g., via Root Explorer) unless you understand the implications.
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On Xiaomi’s PatchWall firmware TVs, fonts are stored in two places: /system/fonts (system) and /data/fonts (custom) and you can only delete files from /data/fonts – it’s safe.