Why are iPhone emojis so popular among Android owners?
Apple emojis have long been the standard of quality among instant messenger users. Their main advantages are clear contours, bright colors and universal readability even on small screens. Owners of the Xiaomi Redmi 8 Pro often find that standard emojis MIUI look faded or incorrectly displayed in chat rooms with iPhone users. For example, the popular smiley βlaughing with tearsβ (π) on Android can seem distorted, while the Apple version retains details even when zooming.
Aside from aesthetics, there's a practical reason: many instant messengers (including WhatsApp and Telegram) automatically load emojis in the style of the recipient's operating system. If you send a message from Redmi 8 Pro to an iPhone user, your emojis will turn into Apple ones, but the reverse is not going to happen. The solution is to manually replace the emoji font on the device. It's important to understand that this doesn't require superuser rights (root), but it will require accuracy in choosing the method.
In this article, we will discuss three proven ways to install iPhone emojis on the Redmi 8 Pro, their pros and cons, and give recommendations for eliminating possible errors. All methods have been tested on MIUI 12.5 and Android 10, but will also be suitable for other versions of the firmware adjusted for the interface.
Method 1: Installation via Emoji Font 3 (without root)
The easiest and safest method is to use a dedicated Emoji Font 3 app from developer Hitanshu Dhawan, which replaces the system emoji font without having to unlock the bootloader or obtain root rights. The app works on most Xiaomi devices, including the Redmi 8 Pro, but requires pre-configuration.
Algorithm of action:
- π₯ Download Emoji Font 3 from Google Play (free version with ads).
- π§ Open the app and select the style of iOS 16.4 (the most current version of Appleβs emoji).
- π Press Apply and confirm the font setup. The system will request permission to change the system settings β agree.
- π± Reboot Redmi 8 Pro (a mandatory step!)
Once rebooted, emojis in WhatsApp, Telegram and standard messages will change to iPhone. Importantly, some system applications (such as calendar or notes) may not support the new font - this is a limitation of MIUI, not applications.
Free space on the device (minimum 50 MB)|Android version no lower than 9.0|Power saving mode is off|All messengers are closed.-->
β οΈ Warning: If the emojis are shown squares after installation, then the style you choose is not compatible with your version of MIUI. Try iOS 15.4 or iOS 14.5, which is more versatile.
Method 2: Manual font replacement via TWRP (for advanced)
This method involves unlocking the bootloader and installing a custom TWRP recavator, which is more complex than the first, but gives more control over the result, suitable for those who already have experience with firmware or are willing to take risks for stability.
Step-by-step:
- Unlock the bootloader on the Redmi 8 Pro through the official Mi Unlock tool (instructions on the Xiaomi website). This will take 7-14 days to wait for confirmation.
- Install TWRP for your model. Redmi 8 Pro (codename begonia) will fit the version from the official website.
- Download the archive with the font: π iOS Emoji Font from XDA (choose the version for Android 10). π Unpack the archive and find the NotoColorEmoji.ttf file (or similar).
Replace the font through TWRP
1. Go to TWRP β Advanced β File Manager.
2 Find the folder /system/fonts/.
3. Delete or rename the original font file (e.g., NotoColorEmoji.ttf.bak).
4. Copy the downloaded file into this folder.
5. Change the access rights to 644 (chmod 644).
6.Reboot.If the emojis have not changed after the reboot, check:
- π The correctness of the font file name (must match the original).
- π File access rights (644 β read for all, write for owner only).
- π App cache (clear the Android System WebView data in the settings).
What if the phone does not boot after replacing the font?
| Method | Difficulty | Required. root/TWRP | Compatibility | Risks. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Emoji Font 3 | β (easily) | β No. | 90% of applications | Minimum (resetting font) |
| Manual replacement via TWRP | βββ (middle-of-the-road) | β Yes. | 100% System Applications | High (bootloop risk) |
| Magisk module (see Method 3) | ββ (middle-of-the-road) | β Yes. Magisk) | 95% of applications | Medium (module conflicts) |
Method 3: Using a Magisk module (for root devices)
If your Redmi 8 Pro already has an unlocked bootloader and Magisk installed, the cleanest way is to use a pre-built module.This method guarantees stability and easy undoing of changes.
Instructions:
- π± Make sure that the device has Magisk installed (version 24.0 or later).
- π Download the iOS Emoji for Magisk module (authored by HuskyDG).
- π Move the.zip file to the phone's memory.
- π§ Open Magisk Manager, go to Modules β Install from Storage β select the downloaded file.
- π Reset the device.
Important: This module automatically reserves the original emoji font, so when you remove the module through Magisk, everything will return to the standard look without additional manipulation.
Advantages of the method:
- π Easy rollback of changes (remove the module is enough).
- π‘οΈ Minimum risk to the system (Magisk isolates changes).
- π Automatic updates of emojis when new versions of the module are released.
Application without root| Manual replacement via TWRP|Magisk module |Not yet decided-->
Comparison of iPhone and standard emojis on Redmi 8 Pro
To see if itβs worth the time to replace, compare the key differences between Appleβs emoji and Google/Xiaomiβs:
π The benefits of iOS emojis:
- π¨ Details: The faces of emojis have more elaborate features (e.g., the shadows under the eyes of π΄).
- π Colors: Brightness and saturation are higher, especially for gradient emojis (π, π¦).
- π₯ Uniformity: The same smiley will look the same for all iPhone users, whereas on Android, the display depends on the OS version and firmware.
π Disadvantages:
- π± Incomplete support: Some rare emojis (e.g., π§π½βπ€βπ§πΌ, a pair of different skin colors) may not be displayed correctly.
- π Updates: Apple updates the emoji once a year, and Google updates it more often. You'll have to manually monitor the relevance of the font.
Example of the difference on popular emojis:
| Smiley | Apple (iOS 16) | Google (Android 12) | Xiaomi (MIUI 12.5) |
|---|---|---|---|
| π (laughter with tears) | π‘ Yellow background, large tears | π Orange background, small tears | π Similar to Google, but less clear |
| π (Like) | βοΈ Rounded finger | βοΈ Finger with square nail | βοΈ Like Google, but with less smooth edges |
| π (pizza) | π Thick dough, uniform cheese | π Thin dough, uneven pieces | π Looks like Google, but with a less appetizing look |
π‘
Before you change the font, take screenshots of commonly used emojis as standard, so you can compare before and after and return the original if you don't like the new style.
Problem Solving: Emojis are displayed in squares or do not change
If you see empty squares (β‘) or question marks (οΏ½ instead of iPhone emojis, the problem lies in one of three factors:
π Reason 1: Font incompatibility
- π Solution: Try a different version of the emoji (e.g., choose iOS 15.4 instead of iOS 16.4).
- π§ For manual replacement: check that the font file has the correct name (e.g. NotoColorEmoji.ttf for MIUI).
π Reason 2: App cache
- π§Ή Clear the cache and data for: Android System WebView Google Play Services of your messenger (such as WhatsApp or Telegram).
- π Reboot the device after cleaning.
π Reason 3: Firmware limitations
- π± Some versions of MIUI (especially global ones) block the change of system fonts. Solution: Install Xiaomi.EU firmware (more open for modifications). Use Magisk module (Method 3) if the firmware supports Magisk.
β οΈ Warning: If you are using Emoji Font 3 and the emojis are reset after you update the app, reapply the font in the program settings. The developer sometimes resets the settings when updates.
How to Get Back Standard Emojis on Redmi 8 Pro
If iPhone emojis did not meet expectations or caused problems, you can return the original emoji in several ways depending on the installation method:
π For Emoji Font 3:
- Open the app β select Default (System) style β click Apply.
- Reset the device.
π§ For manual replacement via TWRP:
- Download to TWRP.
- Go to /system/fonts/ and delete the set font.
- Restore the original file from the backup (if you did) or download it from stock firmware for Redmi 8 Pro.
- Set permissions 644 for the file.
π‘οΈ For the Magisk module:
- Open the Magisk Manager β Modules.
- Find the iOS Emoji module and remove it (swipe left).
- Reset the device.
If the emojis are still not displayed correctly after the rollback, reset the cache to TWRP (Wipe β Advanced Wipe β Dalvik/ART Cache + Cache).
π‘
Before any manipulation of fonts, backup /system/fonts/ folder via TWRP. This will allow you to quickly recover the original files in case of an error.