Small text on WhatsApp on Xiaomi Redmi can be a real problem — especially for users with visual impairments or those who are used to reading from the screen from a distance. Unfortunately, the messenger itself does not provide a built-in option to change the font size in chat rooms.
Xiaomi smartphone owners have a unique advantage: the MIUI shell offers flexible tools to scale system and attached text. If standard methods don’t work, third-party utilities or hidden Android features will help. In this article, we will discuss 5 proven ways, including exclusive chips for the Redmi Note 12/13, Redmi 10/11 and other models.
Important: Some methods require superuser rights (root) or developer mode activation. If you are a beginner, start with the simplest options (sections 2 and 3), and experienced users can immediately move to advanced settings (section 5).
1. Enlarge the font through the MIUI system settings
The safest and most versatile way is to use the built-in text zoom options in MIUI. This method works on all Xiaomi Redmi models (including the Redmi Note 12 Pro+ and Redmi 13C) and does not require the installation of additional applications.
Instructions:
- Open the Settings → Screen.
- Select Text Size (or Font Size in new versions of MIUI 14+).
- Move the slider to the right to enlarge the font. There are values available from Small to Very Large.
- Click Ready and restart the phone (recommended for correct application of the changes).
⚠️ Note: This method increases the font throughout the system, including WhatsApp, but also affects other applications. If you only need to resize text in the messenger, move to the next section.
Check out the MIUI version (Settings → About the phone)
Close WhatsApp before changing your settings
Back up your chats (Whatsapp Settings → Chat → Backup)
Restart your phone after the changes are made-->
On some models (such as the Redmi Note 11 Pro), the screen menu may not have a separate font item, in which case, look for the Display Size option, which combines text size change and interface elements.
2.Use of the "Increase" function (Loop) in MIUI
If the system zoom in font doesn’t suit you (for example, because of distortion of the interface of other applications), use the built-in MIUI magnifier. This feature temporarily increases any text on the screen, including messages in WhatsApp, without changing the system settings.
How to activate:
- Go to Settings → Special Opportunities → Increase.
- Turn on the switch Enable the magnification.
- Set up the parameters: 🔍 Maximum scale - up to 8× (recommended 2-3× chat-room). 🎯 Type of zoom – choose Full-screen or Windows (more convenient for WhatsApp). 👆 Call gesture – triple touching or holding two fingers.
💡 Useful tip: If the magnifier interferes with the work, turn it off in the settings or reduce the magnification zone. For constant use, it is better to combine this method with system scaling of the font (section 1).
How to calibrate a magnifier for WhatsApp?
3. Special settings for WhatsApp in MIUI 14+
Recent versions of MIUI (starting with MIUI 14) have introduced a hidden feature that allows you to customize text display for individual applications, including WhatsApp, which works on the Redmi Note 12, Redmi 13 and other recent models.
Step-by-step:
- Activate Developer Mode: Go to Settings → About Phone. 7 times click on the MIUI Version until the notification “You are a developer” appears.
Settings
Additionally.
For developers
Minimum width (scale)
411dp
360dp
⚠️ Note: Change the minimum width setting may cause some interface elements to be displayed incorrectly in other applications. If WhatsApp looks strange after setting up (for example, buttons have disappeared), return the value to 480dp (standard MIUI).
| Value Minimum width | The effect for WhatsApp | Side effects |
|---|---|---|
| 480dp | Standard text size | No. |
| 411dp | Increase in font by 15-20% | Minor element displacements in some applications |
| 360dp | Large print (+30–40%) | Blurring icons, cropping text in some menus |
| 320dp | Very large print (+50%) | Critical distortion of the interface, not recommended |
4. Third-party applications for font modification
If the built-in MIUI methods are not satisfied, you can use third-party utilities. We tested 3 applications that are guaranteed to work on Xiaomi Redmi without root rights (at the time of 2026):
📌 Top.-3 Apps to increase the font in WhatsApp:
- 🔧 Big Font – changes the system font, supports MIUI Less: Requires permission to access special features.
- 📱 Text Size Changer allows you to adjust the text size for individual applications.
- 🖥️ Custom Navigation Bar - indirectly increases text by changing screen resolution. MIUI.
🔹 Instructions for Big Font:
- Download the app from Google Play.
- Open Settings → Special Opportunities → Special Opportunities Services.
- Activate Big Font in the list.
- Return to the app, select WhatsApp and set the desired font size (up to 200%).
- Restart the messenger.
⚠️ Note: Some antiviruses (such as Avast or Dr.Web) may block Big Font as a "potentially dangerous" application.This is a false positive - the utility does not contain viruses, but requires deep permissions to work.
💡
Before installing third-party apps, check the reviews of Xiaomi Redmi users for their compatibility with your model. For example, the Redmi 9A may not work Custom Navigation Bar due to processor limitations.
5. Manually modifying font files (for advanced users)
This method is only suitable for users with root rights or an unlocked bootloader, and allows you to completely replace the font in WhatsApp with any other, including enlarged versions. ⚠️ Risk of system damage!
🔧 Step-by-step instruction:
- Install Root Explorer or Mixplorer (with superuser rights).
- Go to /data/data/com.whatsapp/files/ Create a backup of the fonts folder (if it exists).
- Download the enlarged font (for example, Roboto-Bold_150.ttf) And put it in the fonts folder.
- Change the file access permissions to 644 (r-w r--- r----).
- Reboot the phone.
📌 Where to get enlarged fonts?
- 🌐 Google Fonts – Select a font (like Open Sans) and download the version with a Bold or ExtraBold modifier.
- 🛠️ XDA Developers – Look for themes with modified fonts for MIUI.
- 📱 iFont app – contains a collection of fonts with preview.
⚠️ Warning: Incorrectly replacing system fonts can lead to app crashes or bootloop ( looped boot).Before experimenting, create a full backup through TWRP or MIUI Backup.
💡
Changing fonts by hand is the most powerful, but also the riskiest, method, and only use it if other methods have failed and you are prepared for the consequences.
6. Alternative solutions: dark theme and chat settings
If you can't zoom in, try to improve readability in other ways, like a dark theme on WhatsApp that reduces eye strain, and the message display settings that help highlight important text.
🔹 How to improve text visibility without changing the font:
- 🌙 Turn on the dark theme: Open WhatsApp → ⋮ (menu) → Settings → Select Dark or System (if in the MIUI activated dark mode).
- 📝 Use text formatting: For bold text: frame the word with stars — hello. For italics: use the bottom accent — hello. For crossed out: tilds — ~hello~. 🔍 Increase the screen size in MIUI: Settings → Screen. → Size of display. Select Large or Very Large.