Xiaomi smartphone owners often face the desire to change the familiar interface MIUI or HyperOS to something more minimalistic and recognizable. the aesthetic of the iOS operating system from Apple has long been the benchmark of convenience, and smooth animations and strict icons are admired by Android users.
Fortunately, the Android ecosystem, and in particular the shell from Xiaomi, allows you to implement design elements of competitors without losing warranty or complex reprogramming. The theme system is a process available to anyone who is willing to spend a little time setting up.
In this article, we’ll take a look at how to turn your Android smartphone into a visual copy of your iPhone using only official themes, verified apps from the Google Play store, and built-in system features.
Basic interface configuration through the Themes app
The first step to transforming the system is to move away from the standard design elements, with Xiaomi smartphones being pre-installed with the Themes app, which is where the main toolkit for changing the look of the system is located.
You don't have to look for third-party downloaders if you just want to change icons and wallpaper. When searching for an app, type in queries like "iOS 17," "iPhone style," or "Apple UI." Official themes often contain not only graphic elements, but also notification sounds, ringtones, and even system fonts that mimic the original ones.
After selecting the appropriate theme, click "Download" and then "Apply." The system will suggest choosing which components to change: screen blocker, system interface, icons or font. For maximum similarity with the iPhone, it is recommended to activate all items.
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If the standard theme doesn’t apply fully, go to Settings → Lock screen and manually select the style that matches the set theme.
However, standard themes often only change icons, leaving system menus and notification curtains in the native MIUI style.
Installation of iOS widgets and live wallpaper
One of the main features of iOS is interactive widgets on the desktop. Android has them, but they look different. To get that Apple look, download the Widgetsmith app or its counterparts available in the Play Market, such as iWidgets.
These apps allow you to create calendar, weather, watch and Apple-style widgets, and once you put the widget on your desktop, you can manually adjust its size and style, and it's important to keep the grid grid in order to make the composition look organic.
- 🍏 Download the iOS-style widget app from a verified source.
- 🍏 Select the widget template (watch, weather, batteries) and adjust its size.
- 🍏 Place widgets on the main screen, observing symmetry.
- 🍏 Install live parallax wallpaper to simulate a dynamic island (on supported models).
Don't forget the wallpaper. Find the original. HD-Wallpapers for iOS 16 or iOS 17, which usually have abstract blurry shapes that are perfectly matched with widgets, can be replaced with a "live wallpaper" that responds to a device's press or tilt.
Setting up the control center and notification curtain
The most notable difference between iOS and Android is the separation of the notification curtain and the control center. In Xiaomi, this feature is implemented natively, but requires the correct activation. Go to Settings → Notifications and Status bar → Control Center.
You have to switch mode to iOS Version, and then the swipe on the top right will open the panel with brightness, sound and buttons of communication modules, like on the iPhone, and the swipe on the left or top in the center will open the notification list.
What to do if the style is not applied?
For even more detail, you can use the iOS Control Center app, which allows you to completely replace the standard Xiaomi curtain with a copy from iOS 15/16/17. The application requests special permissions through ADB or built-in accessibility features, which allows you to redraw system elements.
It’s important to understand that third-party control center apps can consume more battery than native solutions. Xiaomi’s native iOS style feature in settings is the most energy-efficient way to change the curtain.
Replacement of fonts and system sounds
The font plays a key role in how we perceive the interface. Apple uses the San Francisco font, which is clear and readable. In the Xiaomi theme store, there are often ports of this font.
To install, go to the Topics → Profile → Fonts. Search for “San Francisco” or “iOS Font.” Once you download and use the font, the entire text interface of the system, including the settings menu and browser, will change.
The soundtrack must also match. The melody "Marimba" or "Reflection" is a classic. You can download ringtones in.mp3 or.m4r and set them through Settings → Sound and vibration → Call melody.
| Element | Xiaomi Standard | Apple Style (Purpose) | Replacement method |
|---|---|---|---|
| Font system | Mi Sans / Roboto | San Francisco | Tham's shop |
| The ringing melody | MIUI Tune | Marimba / Reflection | File manager |
| Application icons | Divergent. | Rounded squares | Topics/Luncher |
| Screen locking | Your style | Large watch + Date | Topics / Always On |
| Centre for control | It's a curtain. | Split panel. | System settings |
| Password entry | Digital keyboard | Round buttons | Depends on the topic. |
Using third-party launchers for complete similarity
If the built-in theme features aren’t enough, third-party launchers come to the rescue. iOS Launcher 17 is a popular app that completely replaces the desktop, dock bar, and app menu.
Once the launcher is installed, the system will suggest you set up access rights, allow home screen change and storage access, and you can set up the launcher's mesh size, indentations, and even animated opening of applications in detail.
However, the use of heavy launchers has its drawbacks.They can conflict with Xiaomi's navigation gestures or cause delays when folding applications. HyperOS and newer versions of MIUI aggressively optimize background processes, so the launcher can be offloaded from memory.
☑️ Checking the launcher settings
To work smoothly, lock the launcher into memory. Open a list of running applications, find a launcher, press the lock or select "Secure" to prevent it from being accidentally shut down by the system.
Customization of gestures and animations
The iPhone experience is not just a picture, but also a user interface. iOS is famous for its smooth animations. Xiaomi can try to improve this setting.
Go to Settings → Advanced Settings → Developer. If the developer menu is hidden, click 7 times on the MIUI version in the About Phone section. Find Windows Animation, Transition Animation and Duration of Animation.
Set the values to 0.5x or 1x. This will make the interface more responsive, though less "tight" than the original. Some users prefer to leave 1x for maximum smoothness, but reduce the duration.
⚠️ Warning: Changing the settings in the Developer Menu may cause some applications to work in an unstable way. If you notice a failure, return the default values.
You also need to adjust your gestures. In iOS, swipe from the bottom up returns to the home screen, swipe with a pause in the middle opens up multitasking. In Xiaomi, these gestures work similarly by default, but the sensitivity of the edges of the screen can be adjusted in the gesture settings.
Compatibility issues and optimization tips
Turning Android into iOS is always a compromise.Some Xiaomi system features, such as a sidebar or floating windows, may look alien in a new shell.
Notifications in Android are grouped differently than in iOS. Even if you change the topic, the structure of the notification list will remain Android. It is difficult to accept this, but the habit is developed in a couple of days.
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A full copy of iOS on Xiaomi is not possible at the core level of the system, but the visual similarity can be brought up to 95% using themes and launchers.
Update themes and launchers regularly. Developers often release bug fixes after Android or MIUI updates.