You dream of designing an iPhone, but you have a Xiaomi Redmi? Don't rush to sell a smartphone — modern Android devices allow you to radically change the interface, bringing it closer to the Apple ecosystem. This article is not about "fake iPhone", but about customization to your preferences: from visual themes to system gestures.
We'll look at legal transformations (no root rights or the risk of bricking), compare functionality, and warn you of pitfalls. For example, did you know that even with a perfect theme, Redmi won't be able to replicate iMessage or AirDrop? But it's possible to copy the animations of switching apps or the notification center.
Important: article is relevant for Redmi Note 12/13, Redmi 10/11, POCO X5 and other models MIUI 14/15 (Android 12-14). In older versions, some functions may not be available.
Why do users want to make Redmi like an iPhone?
The reasons are not just aesthetics: In a 2026 survey, 38 percent of Xiaomi owners have tried to “iPhone” their smartphones at least once.
- 🎨 Minimalist design: no widgets on the desktop, clean icons, uniformity of animations.
- 👆 Convenient gestures: swipe up to return to the main screen, swipe right/left to switch applications.
- 🔒 Privacy Control: It’s easier to manage permissions for apps on iOS (e.g., accessing geolocation “once»).
- 📱 Status symbol: For some iPhones, it is associated with premium (despite the fact that Redmi often surpasses iPhones in hardware»).
However, there is a downside: after the transformation, you can lose chips. MIUI, such as:
- 🔄 Dual applications (cloning messengers for two accounts).
- 📊 Advanced battery settings (restricting background activity for individual applications).
- 🎮 Turbo mode (optimizing performance in games).
⚠️ Note: Completely imitating iOS on Android is technically impossible. For example, you won't be able to migrate Face ID Apple Pay, because it's hardware and software limitations, and it's a visual and a partially functional copy.
Step 1: Installation of the launcher – the basis of transformation
A launcher is a program that replaces the standard interface. MIUI. Implementing iOS will be suitable:
| Launcher | Pluses | Cons | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lawnchair 2 | Support for iOS gestures, adaptive icons, light weight | No complete simulation of Control Center | Free of charge. |
| iOS 17 Launcher | An exact copy of the icons and animations of iOS 17, built-in AssistiveTouch | Advertising in the free version, slows down on weak smartphones | Free of charge / $4.99 |
| Snow Launcher | Dynamic Island mode, support for dark theme as in iOS | Plugins are purchased separately | Free of charge / $2.99–$9.99 |
Recommendation: For the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ And the newer one is Lawnchair. 2 (optimized for Android 13/14). For older models (Redmi) 9A) choose iOS 17 Launcher – less demanding on resources.
How to determine:
- Download the launcher from Google Play (links above).
- Open the application and allow access to Settings → Annexes → Default launcher.
- In the launcher settings, select the iOS Style theme or iPhone Layout.
- Activate gestures: swipe up for home, swipe left/right for switching apps.
Install a launcher from Google Play|
Select the iOS theme in the settings|
Set up gestures (swipe up) = home)|
Disable widgets on the main screen|
Hide the search bar (like in iOS)-->
Problem: After installing the launcher, the Control Panel may disappear MIUI (The curtain on top:
- Go to Settings → Lock screen.
- Select Control Panel Style → Old Style (This Will Bring Back the Classic Android Curtain).
Step 2: Replacement of icons and wallpaper – visual component
Even with the launcher, the app icons will be out of style, and the icon packs will help fix this.
- 📱 iOS 17 Icon Pack – exact copy of the icons from the iPhone 15 (including Dynamic Island for status bar).
- 🎨 Elite iOS – more than 5000 icons in the style of iOS, supports adaptive icons.
- 🖼️ iO 14 — iPhone design lovers 12/13 (less-rounded icons).
How to apply:
- Download the icon pack from Google Play.
- Open the launcher settings → Icons → Pick a pack.
- For missing icons, use the masking option (apply the style to all apps).
Wallpaper for complete similarity:
- 🌌 Dynamic iOS 17 Wallpaper: Download from Zedge or WallpapersCraft (search for “iOS 17 Live Wallpaper” tag»).
- 📱 Apple logo wallpaper: Avoid – it infringes copyright (may block Google account).
💡
To make the icons look as natural as possible, turn on the option to Remove signatures (as in iOS) in the launcher settings.
Pitfall: Some icon packs can be reset after an app update. The solution is to use Icon Changer (an icon fixing app).
Step 3: Set up gestures and animations
Gestures are the key difference between iOS and Android. MIUI There are built-in settings, but they're limited:
- Turn off the navigation panel MIUI: Settings → Display. → Full screen mode → Gesture navigation (iPhone type) Select the swipe up option (like iOS 13)+).
- Configure Return to Home Screen: In Launcher, activate: Settings → Gestures → Swipe up. = Home.
- Add an animation to the closing of applications: Install Animations for MIUI (demand ADB): adb shell settings put global window_animation_scale 0.5 adb shell settings put global transition_animation_scale 0.5 This will speed up animations to the level of iOS.
Critical detail: the swipe right gesture to go back in iOS works differently than in the MIUI. In Android, this gesture conflicts with the AssistiveTouch call or the sidebar. Solution - disable the sidebar in Settings → Additionally. → Sidebar.
How do you pull back your gestures if something goes wrong?
Step 4: Notification Center and Control Panel
In iOS, the notification curtain and Control Center are separated: swipe on the top right is notification, swipe on the top left is control panel. MIUI There is one default curtain, but it can be fixed:
- Install Control Center iOS 17: The app adds a separate control panel with iOS icons (Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, flashlight, etc.). 🔧 Set up shortcuts: Settings → Control panel → Edit the elements. 🎨 Choose the iOS 17 Dark Style for a Dark Theme.
Disable duplicate elements MIUI:
Go to Settings. → Notifications → Status panel and hide unnecessary switches (e.g. Driving Mode).
Control Center iOS 17 does not work some functions MIUI, for example:
- 🔋 Quick switching of battery profiles (Economies/Balance/Performance).
- 📶 Manual switching of networks 4G/5G.
⚠️ Warning: Control Center emulator apps may conflict with system curtains. If the notification bar stops opening after installation, clear the System app cache UI: Settings → Annexes → Application management → Systemic → System UI → Clear the cache
Step 5: System sounds, keyboard and fonts
The details create a holistic image. iOS is unique.
- 🔔 Lock/unlock sounds.
- ⌨️ Keyboard with bubble effect».
- 📜 Font San Francisco.
How to transfer to Redmi:
- Download iOS Sounds for Android and set sounds through Settings → Sound. → Notification sounds. Popular sets: 🎵 iPhone 15 Lock/Unlock 📳 iMessage Sent/Received
Keyboard:
Install Gboard and select the iOS Dark or iOS Light theme in the settings.
Activate the keyboard sound. → iOS and Tactile Feedback.
Fonts:
Download the San Francisco font (.ttf file) and install via Settings → Display. → font → Local font.
💡
The San Francisco font may not display correctly in some applications (e.g. Telegram), in which case return the system font for individual applications via App Settings (requires root).
Problem: iOS sounds may sound quieter than system sounds MIUI. Solution – Increase media volume through Settings → Sound. → Media volume.
Step 6: Emulating iOS chips that aren’t in Android
Some iOS features are unique, but there are alternatives for them:
| The iOS chip | Alternative for Redmi | Limitations |
|---|---|---|
| Dynamic Island | DynamicSpot (shows notifications in the camera area) | It doesn’t work on all models, it eats up the charge. |
| AirDrop | Nearby Share (built into Android) or Snapdrop | Slower transfers files, no integration with Mac |
| iMessage | Google Messages with Google Messages RCS WhatsApp | No encryption like iMessage, no message effects |
| Face ID | Unlocking the face in Settings → Screen locking | Less safe, only works in good lighting |
Tip: Dynamic Island on Redmi Note 12 Pro+ (With a camera cutout, use DynamicSpot + Edge Lighting (set up in Settings) → Screen. → Edge Lighting).
💡
No Android app can completely replace iMessage or AirDrop because of the closed Apple ecosystem.
What Cannot Be Changed: System and Hardware Limitations
Even with maximum customization, there are differences:
- 🔧 Hardware integration: 📱 Taptic Engine (vibration in iPhone) is more accurate than the vibrator in Redmi. 🎤 iPhone microphones are better at suppressing noise (important for calls).
- 🛡️ Security: 🔐 In iOS applications are more isolated (sandbox). 📱 Face ID iPhones are used 3D-scanner, and in Redmi — 2D-camera.
- ⚡ Productivity: 📊 Chips. A16 Bionic is optimized for iOS, while Snapdragon in Redmi runs on Android. 🔋 iPhone longer battery with similar capacity (due to software optimization).
Bottom line: Redmi can be made visually similar to the iPhone, but functionally it will remain an Android smartphone.
⚠️ Warning: If you plan to sell Redmi after the transformation, return the standard launcher and theme. Customers may consider the modified interface a sign of a “crooked” firmware or viruses.