How to update emojis on Xiaomi: from MIUI 12 to HyperOS

Xiaomi smartphones don't get as much emoji updates as users would like. If you notice that the emojis on your Redmi Note 12 or POCO X5 look outdated compared to your friends' iPhones, it's no coincidence. The manufacturer ties the emoji design to the MIUI or HyperOS firmware version, and global updates come out every 1-2 years. But the good news is that you can replace the emoji yourself, even without superuser rights.

Many people mistakenly think that to change emojis, you must install custom firmware or get root access. In fact, most modern Xiaomi devices support replacing emojis through standard settings or third-party applications without risking losing warranty. The main thing is to choose the appropriate method and follow the instructions. In this article, we will analyze all the current methods, including the nuances for different versions of the software.

If you’re using a HyperOS device (e.g. Xiaomi 14 or Redmi K70), some of the methods may not work because of the system architecture, and for these cases, we’ve prepared separate recommendations. Also note that some emoji replacement apps require Android 10+, so owners of older models (Redmi 8, POCO F1) will have to use alternative solutions.

Why do Xiaomi emojis look different?

The design of the emoji on Xiaomi smartphones is determined by two factors: the Android version and the shell. MIUI/HyperOS. The manufacturer does not follow the standards of Apple or Google, and uses their own developments. MIUI 14 Visually closer to the style of Samsung than iOS, and in HyperOS they became more minimalistic, but lost some animations.

Here are the key differences:

• 🔹 MIUI 12-13: emojis with thick contours, bright colors and cartoon style, 😂 or 🙏) It looks unusual compared to other platforms.
• 🔹 MIUI 14: Animated emojis added (only work in Xiaomi’s standard keyboard), but the design remains largely the same.
• 🔹 HyperOS: a completely redesigned style, flatter, softer shadows, removed some "childish" elements, but there were problems with the display in the messengers.

Interesting fact: if you send a Xiaomi smartphone emoji to an iPhone user, they will see the Apple version of the character, not the one you display. This is because messengers (such as WhatsApp or Telegram) replace the graphics of emoji on the server side, except for SMS messages or small chats, where emoji are transmitted “as is”.

⚠️ Note: On HyperOS devices (e.g. Xiaomi) 13T or POCO F6) manually replacing emoji fonts can cause system applications to malfunction.Before experimenting, back up through Settings → Memory. → Backup.

Method 1: Update via MIUI/HyperOS (official method)

The safest, but also the most limited, way is to wait for a firmware update. Xiaomi usually updates emojis along with major MIUI releases (e.g., when switching from 13 to 14), but this process can take months, especially for low-end models (Redmi 10A, POCO M5).

To check the availability of the update:

1. Open Settings → About the phone → System update.
2. Click on the three dots in the top right corner and select Update Service Pack (if available).
3. If you find an update, download it and install it. Importantly, connect to Wi-Fi and charge your phone at least 50 percent.

Once the update is installed, the emojis will change automatically. To see the differences, open the Xiaomi keyboard (not Gboard!) and compare the before and after characters. 😊 into MIUI 14 has more rounded eyes than in MIUI 12.

If there are no updates but you want to get new emojis right now, move on to the following ways: The official method is only suitable for patient users or those who are afraid of losing the warranty.

Method 2: Replace emojis through third-party apps (without root)

For users who don't want to wait for Xiaomi to update, there's an alternative: emoji replacement apps, which are type swapping and don't require super-user rights.

• 📱 Emoji Font Changer (from ZFont) – supports Android 8.0+, There is a free version with a limited set of styles.
• 🎨 iFont – allows you to install custom fonts, including emojis from Apple, Google or Samsung.
• 🔄 Emoji Switcher is a simple tool for switching between standard and alternative sets.

Let’s look at the example of ZFont:

1. Download the app from Google Play or from the official website zfont.app.
2. Open ZFont and select the Emoji section.
3. Scroll through the list and select your favorite style (like iOS 16 Emoji or Twitter Emoji).
4. Click Apply and confirm installation. The app will ask permission to install fonts, you'll agree.
5. Reboot your phone. Once turned on, the emojis will change in all apps except WhatsApp (it uses its own emoji).

Download the application from official source | Make a backup of data | Charge the phone at least 30% | Disable VPN (can block the loading of fonts) |Reboot the device after installation-->

Note that some emoji styles may not be displayed correctly in messengers. For example, animated emojis from MIUI 14 will turn into static ones if you choose the iOS style, and there may be problems with display on Instagram or VK, where emojis are replaced by a server.

⚠️ Note: Apps like ZFont or iFont may conflict with HyperOS on new devices (Xiaomi 14 Pro, POCO F6 If artifacts appear in the interface (squares instead of letters) after installing the fonts, return the standard font through Settings. → Screen. → Font and reboot the phone.

Method 3: Manual update via Magisk (for advanced)

If you're ready to experiment and your phone has a bootloader unlocked, you can install emojis using Magisk, which is a great way to do it, but requires technical skills, and is suitable for Android 10+ devices, including the Redmi Note 11, POCO X4 Pro, and other custom firmware models.

You'll need:

• 🔓 Unlocked bootloader (instructions for Xiaomi: official website).
• 📱 Installed by Magisk (version 25.0)+).
• 💾 Module with emojis (for example, iOS Emoji Magisk Module or Google Emoji Replacer).

Step-by-step:

1. Download the module for Magisk (for example, with XDA Developers).
2. Open Magisk Manager and go to the Modules section.
3. Click Install from Storage and select the downloaded.zip file.
4. Confirm the installation and restart the phone.
5. After turning on, check the emojis in the keyboard. If they haven't changed, clear the cache of the Android System WebView app in the settings.

The advantage of this method is the stability and complete replacement of emojis in all applications, including WhatsApp and Telegram.

• 🚨 SafetyNet issues may occur (some banking applications may stop working).
• 🔄 After updating MIUI/HyperOS The module can fly – you will have to install again.
• 🛠️ On devices with HyperOS (Xiaomi 13 Ultra, POCO F5) Additional selinux configuration is required.

Method 4: Use of alternative keyboards

If you don’t like the design of Xiaomi’s emojis, but don’t want to risk the stability of the system, the easiest way out is to change the keyboard. Many alternative keyboards (like Gboard or SwiftKey) use their own emoji sets, which are updated more often than the system.

How it works:

• 📲 Install a keyboard from Google Play (like Google’s Gboard).
• 🔧 Activate it in the settings: Settings → System system → Language and input → Virtual keyboard.
• 🎨 Select the emoji style in the keyboard settings (in Gboard this is done through Settings). → Topics → Smiley faces).

Advantages of the method:

• ✅ No need to root or modify the system.
• ✅ Emojis are automatically updated with the app.
• ✅ You can switch between styles (e.g. Google, Twitter, Samsung).

However, there are also disadvantages:

• ❌ In some messengers (for example, Viber), emojis will still be replaced by system ones.
• ❌ Animated emojis from MIUI 14 won't work.
• ❌ The emoji design may be different from what the recipients see (e.g., you send an iOS-style emoji and they display a Google version).

💡

If you talk to iPhone users often, select the style of iOS emojis in Gboard, so your messages will look familiar to them, without distortion.

Comparison of methods: which one to choose?

To make it easier for you to determine, we have compiled a table with the pros and cons of each method:

For most users, the best solution is a combination of methods:

• 📱 Use Gboard for everyday communication (quick and safe).
• 🔄 Periodically check for updates MIUI/HyperOS system-change.
• 🛠️ If you really want an iOS-style emoji, try ZFont (but be prepared for bugs).

💡

On HyperOS devices (such as the Xiaomi 14 or Redmi K70), alternative keyboards are the most reliable way, and the type-change methods are unstable due to the system’s changed architecture.

Frequent problems and their solutions

When updating emojis on Xiaomi, users encounter common mistakes, and we have collected the most common ways to correct them:

Problem 1: After installing fonts through ZFont, some applications display squares instead of emojis.

Decision:

• Clear the app cache where the problem occurs (such as Telegram or VK).
• Reinstall the font by choosing a different style (for example, instead of iOS 16, try Google Noto).
• If nothing helps, return the standard font in the ZFont settings.

Problem 2: HyperOS has stopped working on the standard keyboard animations after replacing the emoji.

Decision:

• Animations are tied to Xiaomi system emojis, so when they are replaced, they disappear. You can only return animations by rolling back the changes.
• Use the Gboard keyboard – it has its own animated emojis (e.g., Gboard, 🎉 or 💃).

Problem 3: After the MIUI update, the emojis reset to standard.

Decision:

• If you used Magisk, reinstall the module with emojis.
• For ZFont, simply reapply the style you choose.
• Check if the keyboard setting has fallen off (sometimes after the update is reset to the standard one).

Problem 4: WhatsApp or Instagram doesn’t display emojis like they do on a keyboard.

Decision:

• These apps are replacing emojis on the server side, and you can't change that, because the recipient will always see "their" emojis.
• If you want your emojis to look the same, use the style as close as possible to the standard for the recipient platform (for example, iOS for communicating with iPhone users).

⚠️ Note: On Xiaomi devices with MediaTek processors (e.g. Redmi) 12C or POCO M6 Pro) manual font replacement can result in bootloop (locked loading).Be sure that your model has validated feedback on the compatibility of the chosen method before experimenting.

FAQ: Answers to popular questions