Can Xiaomi Redmi 8 be turned into an iPhone? Real-world features and limitations
Xiaomi Redmi 8 owners often wonder: how to transfer the design of iOS 14 to your Android smartphone without buying an iPhone? The answer is yes, but with reservations. Full iOS firmware on Redmi 8 is impossible to install: these are different operating systems with fundamentally different architecture. However, visually bringing the interface to iOS 14 is a feasible task.
The secret is the combination of special launchers, MIUI themes, icon packages and system settings. On the Redmi 8 (model M1908C3JG/M1908C3JH), this works especially well due to the flexibility of the MIUI 12/13/14 shell. But it is important to understand that you only get the look — the Android core and the limitations of MIUI will not go anywhere. For example, the control gestures, like on the iPhone, will not be completely repeated.
Before you start, check:
- 📱 Version. MIUI: Upgrade your smartphone to the latest stable firmware (at least) MIUI Older versions may not have some launcher functions.
- 🔋 Battery charge: the setup process will take 30 to 60 minutes, make sure it is at least 50% charge to avoid a sudden shutdown.
- 📲 Backup: Create a backup of important data through Settings → The phone. → Backup. Some launchers may reset desktop settings.
Step 1: Installing a launcher is the basis for simulating iOS 14
A launcher is an application that replaces the standard Android desktop. iOS 14 will suit:
| Launcher | Advantages | Deficiencies | Link (Google Play) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lawnchair 2 | Light, supports gestures, customizable icons | No built-in iOS themes, requires manual configuration | Download |
| iLauncher | Ready themes for iOS, dock-panel like on iPhone | Paid features, can slow down on weak devices | Download |
| XOS Launcher | Animations like in iOS, built-in widgets | Advertising in the free version, high battery consumption | Download |
We recommend starting with iLauncher, which is as close to iOS 14 as possible out of the box.
- Open the launcher and select the iOS 14 Style theme in the settings.
- Activate Hide App Labels for a clean view.
- Turn on Gesture Navigation, but keep in mind that full swipes, like on the iPhone, will not work due to the limitations of Android.
Install a launcher from Google Play|
Select the theme "iOS 14 Dark" or "iOS 14 Light" |
Hide App Labels (Hide App Labels) |
Set up a dock panel (4-5 icons, like on iPhone) |
Turn off the widgets MIUI (They'll conflict)-->
Important! On Redmi 8 with 4GB of RAM, launchers can slow down. If you notice lags, turn off animations in the launcher settings, or go to Lawnchair 2, which is less resource-intensive.
Step 2: Install the icon and widget package
Standard Android icons spoil the whole effect. To fully simulate iOS 14, you need:
- 🎨 Icon Pack: iOS 14 Icon Pack (author of Driftoid) or Elun Icon Pack. Installed through Google Play and applied in the launcher settings.
- 📊 Widgets: iWidgets or KWGT It's a weather widget with a rounded frame or an Apple-style notification panel.
- 🔄 Animations: Edge Lighting app will add a dynamic island effect (like on iPhone 14 Pro) when notified.
How to use icons:
- Download the icon pack (for example, iOS 14 Icon Pack).
- In the launcher settings (iLauncher → Themes → Icon Pack), select the package installed.
- For individual applications (such as WhatsApp or Telegram), icons can be manually changed through Long Press → Change the icon.
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If some icons haven’t changed, clear the launcher cache in your Android settings (Settings → Apps → iLauncher → Storage → Clear the cache).
⚠️ Warning: Some icon packages contain ads or require a purchase to unlock all icons. Check reviews on Google Play before installing - especially for Redmi 8, where unnecessary background processes eat up RAM.
Step 3: Set up system fonts and animations
The interface of iOS 14 is recognizable not only by the icons, but also by the San Francisco font and smooth animations. On Xiaomi Redmi 8, this can be reproduced:
Font:
- Download the San Francisco font (.ttf file) from Apple's developer site.
- Transfer the file to the Download folder on your phone.
- Set it through Settings → Additional → Font (in MIUI 12.5+).
Animations:
- Include Windows animation in Settings → Special Features → Animation (select 1x for smoothness).
- For a springy scrolling effect (like Safari), install Fluid Navigation Gestures from Google Play.
How to remove the inscription "MIUI" when downloading?
⚠️ Note: Change of system fonts to MIUI It can cause some applications to crash (e.g. Mi Fit or Xiaomi Community) If the text is displayed in characters after changing the font, return the standard font and restart the phone.
Step 4: Imitate Control Center and Notification Panels
One of the key differences between iOS and Android is the Control Center, which has quick access to settings, and can be played in two ways on Redmi 8:
Method 1: KWGT Widget
- Install KWGT Kustom Widget Maker and download the iOS 14 Control Center template from the community (e.g. Kustom Rocks).
- Add the widget to the home screen and set up shortcuts for Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, flashlight, etc.
Method 2: Control Center iOS 14
- Download Control Center iOS 14 from Superior Studio.
- Configure the swipe down from the top right corner (like on iPhone) in the app settings.
- Turn off the standard MIUI notification bar through Settings → Notifications → Notifications Panel → Panel Style → Minimalist.
Challenges and solutions:
- 🔊 Volume-change sound: In iOS, the volume slider appears on top. On Redmi 8, it can be done through the Volume Styles app.
- 🔋 Battery indicator: Install iOS 14's Battery Percentage to display Apple-style percentages.
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No solution is going to replace the native Control Center 100%, and widgets and apps are just imitating the look and feel, but they don't integrate as deeply into the system as they do on the iPhone.
Step 5: Replacing standard apps with iOS-like ones
Even with launcher and icons, standard MIUI apps (Gallery, Phone, Messages) give out Android.
| Standard annex | iOS alternative | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Telephone/Contacts | Simple Contacts (iOS style) | Download |
| Communications | Messages by Google + iOS theme | Download |
| gallery | QuickPic or Aves | Download Aves |
| browser | Safari Browser for Android | Download |
To make a full impact:
- 📞 In Simple Contacts, enable the display of favorites (like in iOS) and set the color scheme to gray.
- 💬 In Messages by Google, activate chat bubbles (in the theme settings, select iOS Style).
- 🌐 In Safari Browser, turn off the bottom tab bar – in iOS 14 it is located on top.
⚠️ Note: Replacement of standard applications with MIUI This may result in duplication of notifications (e.g, SMS You will be able to access both Messages and Messages by Google. To avoid this, turn off notifications for standard apps in Settings. → Notifications.
Step 6: Additional chips: gestures, sounds and wallpaper
The details make it more convincing to simulate iOS 14.
Gestures:
- 👆 Backtrack: iOS uses a swipe from right to left. On Redmi 8, enable Full-screen gestures in Settings → Display. → Full screen mode.
- 🔄 Switching apps: Install Fluid Navigation Gestures and set the swipe down the center of the screen to open multitasking.
Sounds:
- 🔔 Download iOS 14 Ringtones & Sounds and set the notification, alarm and call sounds from iOS.
- 🎵 B Settings → Sound and vibrations turn off system sounds MIUI (For example, the sound of lockdown).
Wallpaper:
- 🖼️ Download the iOS wallpaper 14 In high resolution (e.g. here). For Redmi 8 (permit 720×1520) Choose vertical options.
- 🔄 In the launcher settings, enable Parallax Effect (the effect of paralax when tilting the phone, as on the iPhone).
In addition:
- 🕒 Install iOS 14 Lock Screen to simulate a lock screen with a weather widget and notifications.
- 📱 For the dynamic island effect (like on iPhone 14 Pro) use DynamicSpot).
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To prevent wallpaper from shrinking or stretching, cut it to 720×1520 pixel resolution in any graphics editor (e.g. PhotoShop Express) before installation.