How to make Xiaomi look like an iPhone: from the interface to the features

Have you ever wondered why the iPhone is so popular despite its closed ecosystem and high price tag? It's not just the brand that's connected to the user-friendly interface, smooth animation, long-term update support, and ecosystem of services. But what if we said that your Xiaomi on Android could be pretty much the same, without buying a new phone, without jailbreaking, and with all the pluses. MIUI.

In this article, we will understand how to get as close as possible to Redmi, Poco or Xiaomi. 13/14 You'll learn which launchers are better at imitating iOS, how to set up gestures, notifications, even an AirDrop analogue, and where Xiaomi will still be, and why it's not always a bad thing.

Spoiler: There's no complete copy of iOS on Android, but 90 percent of the user experience is achievable, and you don't have to be a tech guru, you just have to follow our instructions.

Why Xiaomi could replace iPhone (and where it loses)

Let’s start with the main thing: Xiaomi MIUI It's already out of the box closer to the iPhone than many other Android smartphones:

• 📱 Closed interface: MIUI, Like iOS, it doesn't allow you to change system elements freely (unlike naked Android), which is a plus for stability, but a minus for customization.
• 🔒 Update control: Xiaomi has long supported its flagships (up to the current level) 4 years 13/14), Like Apple, their iPhones.
• 🎨 Design: MIUI Copy many elements of iOS – from icons to animations (for example, the effect of “unfolding” applications when opening).
• 📲 Xiaomi has its own analogues AirDrop (Mi Share), Find My (Find Device) and even Apple Pay (Mi Pay, but only in China).

However, there are also significant differences that cannot be eliminated:

Xiaomi could replace the iPhone for functionality, but not for long-term stability. 2-3 You won't notice the difference if you hold a smartphone. 5+ In the years ahead, it’s better to consider iPhone or Google Pixel.

Step 1: Changing the launcher is the main key to “iPhone-likeness”

The first thing that catches your eye when comparing the iPhone and Xiaomi is the desktop: iOS doesn't have widgets on the home screen (they're hidden in a separate menu), there are no folders with apps, and the icons have a characteristic "rounded" design. MIUI You can use special launchers.

Best options:

• 🏆 Lawnchair 2 is a free launcher with iOS-style support, which allows you to hide the search bar, change the shape of the icons and remove the captions under them.
• 🎨 iLauncher is the most accurate copy of the iOS interface, including animations and gestures. ₽), But there's a trial.
• 🔧 Nova Launcher + iOS 17 Icon Pack. Nova is the most flexible launcher, and the icon pack will add an Apple look.The free version of Nova is limited, but for basic settings enough.

How to set up Lawnchair 2 for iOS:

Install Lawnchair 2 from Play Market|Go to the launcher settings (hold your finger on the desktop) → "Settings")|Insert "Hide the search bar"|Select the icon pack "iOS Glyphs" or similar|Remove signatures under icons ("Settings") → Icons → Signatures")|Disable widgets on the main screen|Set up a swipe up gesture to open the app menu (like in iOS)-->

⚠️ Note: Some scalings may be in conflict with MIUI. If after installation started lags or spontaneous reboots, try:

1. Disable battery optimization for launcher (Settings) → Annexes → Application management → Battery optimization). 2. Set the launcher as default (the first start will show a window with a choice). 3. If animations slow down, turn off "Smooth transitions" in the launcher settings.

Step 2: Gestures and animations – like in iPhone

One of the key differences of the iPhone is the navigation gestures. There are no back, home, and recent buttons on iOS, instead of swipes around the edges of the screen, which can be customized on Xiaomi, but with nuance.

Adjustment options:

1. Standard gestures MIUI: Go to Settings. → Display. → Full-screen gestures and select Swipe Side Mode. It's almost like iOS, but with one drawback: the swipe on the right opens the last app, rather than returning it back (like in iOS).
2. Fluid Navigation Gestures: Allows you to completely simulate iOS gestures, including: 👆 Swipe up to return to the main screen. 👆 Keeping Swipe Up for Multitasking. 👈 Swipe from right to left to go back.

Minus: Demands ADB-commands to unlock certain functions.

XDA-portable

On the forum XDA There are modified versions MIUI It's like iOS gestures, and it requires unlocking the bootloader and installing it through TWRP.

⚠️ Warning: If you use Fluid Navigation Gestures, turn off standard gestures MIUI, Otherwise they'll be in conflict:

Go to Settings. → Display. → Full-screen gestures → System navigation and select "Buttons".

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If gestures are not working smoothly, try increasing the sensitivity of swipes in the Fluid Navigation Gestures app settings (section "Edge Sensitivity").

Step 3: Icons, wallpaper and fonts – a visual copy of iOS

Even with the right launcher, Xiaomi won’t look like an iPhone unless you change the icons, wallpaper and fonts.

1.Icons:

• 🔍 How to apply: In the launcher settings (Lawnchair or Nova) select "Icons" → Pack icons" and specify the downloaded pack.

Wallpaper:

• 🌅 Official iOS wallpapers: You can download them on sites like iOS Wallpapers (choose the resolution for your Xiaomi, for example, 2400×1080 For the Redmi Note 12).
• 🖥️ Dynamic Wallpaper: There is a paralax effect in iOS (wallpaper moves slightly when the phone is tilted). 3D Parallax Background.

Fonts:

• 📜 San Francisco is the standard font for iOS. MIUI It can be installed through settings. → Display. → Font (if you have the option to “download fonts”) or using the iFont app.
• ⚠️ On some Xiaomi models (e.g. Poco) X3) changing the font requires unlocking the loader.

Step 4: Notifications, Control Panel, and Other “Little Things”

In iOS, notifications and control panel work differently than in the MIUI. Here's how to approach the Apple experience:

Notifications:

• 📱 In iOS, notifications are grouped by app and displayed as a stack. On Xiaomi, this can be repeated:
• 🛠️ For a full simulation, use the Notification History app (saves all notifications, like in iOS).

Control Center (Control Center):

• ⚙️ In iOS, the control panel opens with a swipe from the bottom up (on models with a home button) or a swipe from the right down (on new iPhones:
• ⚠️ Disadvantage: system switches (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth) in such an application do not always work stably.

Other trivia:

• 🔋 Battery percentages: In iOS, they always show up. On Xiaomi, turn them into Settings → Battery → Percentage of battery charge.
• 📶 Network indicator: In iOS it shows "4G"/"5G" No arrows. MIUI This can be changed through Activity Launcher (Stealthy Testing Setting) → Mobile network settings).
• 🕒 Lock screen clock: iOS is centered. On Xiaomi, install the iLauncher launcher, which changes the lock screen.

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The most difficult thing to simulate is the control center, because Android does not allow you to completely replace system elements.

Step 5: Ecosystem – AirDrop, iMessage and Other Chips

One of the main reasons for the popularity of the iPhone is the ecosystem: AirDrop, iMessage, Handoff, etc. Xiaomi has analogues, but they do not work so smoothly.

1. AirDrop → Mi Share / Nearby Share:

• 📤 Mi Share (built-in) MIUI) — It allows you to transfer files between Xiaomi devices over Wi-Fi Direct.Speed like AirDrop, but only works with other devices. Xiaomi/Redmi/Poco.
• 🤝 Nearby Share (from Google) is the equivalent of AirDrop for all Android devices. → Connected devices → Nearby Share.
• ⚠️ Both options are slower than AirDrop and require confirmation on both devices.

2. iMessage → Google Messages / Telegram:

• 💬 Google Messages with enabled RCS (Rich Communication Services is the closest iMessage to the world:
• 📱 To turn on RCS, Open Google Messages → Settings → Chat functions.
• 🔒 Alternative: Telegram or Signal – they encrypt messages, but are not integrated into the SMS.

3. Handoff / Continuity → Xiaomi Flow:

• 🖥️ Xiaomi Flow (formerly Mi) PC Suite allows you to synchronize notifications and files between your phone and your computer (Windows/Mac). You can download from the official website.
• 🔄 To fully replace Handoff (transferring calls, copying text between devices), you will have to use third-party solutions like Pushbullet or the other. KDE Connect.

4. Apple Pay → Mi Pay / Google Pay:

• 💳 Mi Pay is only available in China, so Google Pay is still available in Europe.
• ⚠️ On some Xiaomi models (e.g. Redmi Note 10), Google Pay does not support contactless payments due to lack of certification.

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If you want the closest iMessage analog to yours, try Beeper – it combines chats from different messengers (including iMessage if you have a Mac).

Step 6: Camera and Photos – How to Take Pictures Like on an iPhone

The iPhone camera is famous for its natural color reproduction and stable performance. Xiaomi cameras often recycle images, adding too much contrast and saturation.

1. Camera settings MIUI:

• 📸 Open the camera. → Settings (⚙️) → Color style and select "natural" or "original".
• 🔍 Turn off the AI camera and Scene Improvement – they add unnecessary processing.
• 📱 B Settings → Select the photo format HEIF (like the iPhone instead JPEG save space.

2. Apps for shooting like on the iPhone:

• 🎥 Filmic Pro – professional video app with manual settings (like Pro Mode on iPhone).
• 📷 Halide (iOS only) is the best Android analogue: Camera FV-5 or ProCam X.
• 🔄 For portrait mode, use Google Camera (GCam) – it handles background blur better than a standard camera. MIUI.

Photo processing:

• 🖌️ Snapseed or Lightroom – add iPhone style presets (search the iPhone 14 Pro Lightroom preset online").
• 🗃️ Google Photos is the best alternative to iCloud Photos. Enable Backup and Assistant for Automatic Sorting.

⚠️ Note: If you are using GCam, consider:

1. Not all Xiaomi camera modules are supported (for example, the Redmi Note 11 may not work telephoto lens). 2. RAW It takes up a lot of space but gives you more editing options. 3 Some versions of GCam contain viruses - download only from trusted sources (e.g. Celso Azevedo).

What you can never imitate (and why)

Despite the tricks, some things remain unique to the iPhone, and here’s what you won’t be able to replicate on Xiaomi:

• 🔄 Smoothness: iOS is optimized for Apple hardware, so even older iPhones run faster than Android flagships via Apple hardware 2-3 year-end.
• 🔒 Security: There is always a risk of viruses on Android, especially if you install apps from unknown sources.
• 📱 Mac integration: Functions like Universal Clipboard (copying between iPhone and Mac) or Sidecar (using iPad as a second monitor) are unparalleled on Android.
• 🎮 Games: Many mobile games (such as Genshin Impact or Call of Duty Mobile) are optimized for iOS and run smoother.
• 🕒 Long-term support: Even Xiaomi flagships get updates for a maximum of 4 years, while iPhones get updates for up to 7 years.

Also, keep in mind the social aspect: in some circles, the iPhone is considered more prestigious, and this can affect communication (for example, in iMessage, messages from Android are displayed in green, not blue).

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If you are critical to long-term support, maximum security or integration with the Mac, consider buying an iPhone. Otherwise, Xiaomi with the right settings will not yield in functionality.

FAQ: Frequent questions