Xiaomi smartphones are not just pictures for communication, but part of the corporate style of the MIUI firmware. Depending on the version of the system, the model of the phone and the region, they can look different from classic yellow circles to flat animated icons. In this article, we will analyze which emojis are used in Xiaomi in 2026, how they differ from the iPhone or standard Android, and whether they can be changed without root rights.
If you’ve recently switched from iOS to Xiaomi, or just updated your firmware, you might have noticed that the familiar emojis have suddenly changed their design. This is not a bug, but a feature of MIUI: the company regularly updates the emoji set to adapt to trends or technical requirements. For example, in MIUI 14 and later emoji, the default style is Google Noto Color Emoji, but with minor modifications from Xiaomi — this applies to skin tones, animations and details like shadows or contours.
Xiaomi emoji: what do you think of MIUI 14/15?
The basic set of emojis on Xiaomi depends on the version of MIUI and the firmware region. In most cases, smartphones use one of three options:
- 📱 Google Noto Color Emoji is a flat design with bright colors (similar to the emoji in Android 12)+). Used in global firmware Xiaomi and Redmi.
- 🎨 Mi Emoji (obsolete) – round yellow emojis with black contours (as in iOS before 2017) found on older versions MIUI (11th).
- 🌍 Regional modifications – for example, in Chinese firmware, some emojis are replaced by localized versions (for example, in Chinese firmware, 🍜 instead 🍝 noodle).
To see the current style of emoji on your Xiaomi, open any messaging app (like Messages or Telegram) and type in the ":" symbol. If the emoji looks flat and colored, you have Google Noto. If round and yellow, it's Mi Emoji (maybe the firmware is outdated).
In MIUI 15 (2026), Xiaomi added support for animated emojis in some applications (for example, Mi Video or Mi Community). However, in the standard Gboard or Mi Keyboard keyboard, they are displayed statically, and animations are only enabled when sent through messengers that support it (for example, WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger).
Comparison of Xiaomi emoji with iOS and Samsung
If you're used to emojis on iPhone or Samsung, then emojis on Xiaomi may seem unusual.
| smiley face | Xiaomi (MIUI 14/15) | iOS (Apple) | Samsung One UI |
|---|---|---|---|
| 😂 | Flat face with open mouth and tears (yellow background) | Round face with closed eyes and big tears | Flat, but with darker contours |
| 👍 | Hand with shadow, fingers slightly curved | Hand without shadows, fingers straight | A volumetric hand. |
| 🍕 | Pizza with evenly distributed ingredients | Pizza with a "hole" in cheese on the right | Pizza with a darker crust |
| 🐶 | Dog with a short muzzle and black nose | Dog with an elongated muzzle and pink nose | A dog with realistic shadows |
It's important to understand that the recipient will see the emoji in the style of their operating system. 😎 From your Xiaomi to your iPhone, your interlocutor will see the version from Apple, not Xiaomi. This applies to all messengers except Telegram (there the emoji are displayed the same on all devices).
⚠️ Note: In some versions MIUI emojis in India or China may be censored, 🔫 (the gun is replaced by a water gun, and 🩸 (blood, a red drop with no realistic details, and it's due to local laws.
Where to find hidden and animated emojis
Besides the standard set, Xiaomi has hidden emojis and animations that don’t show up in a regular keyboard.
- 🎬 Mi Video: When sending reactions to videos, animated emojis appear in the Mi Video app (e.g., animated emojis, 👍 flash-flame").
- 💬 Mi Community: In the official Xiaomi community, some emojis support getting stuck animation.
- 🎮 Game mode: c Settings → Special facilities → The game turbo mode is a set of game emojis (for example, 🎮🔥).
- 📱 Topics MIUI: In some themes from the Mi Theme Store, emojis are replaced with custom ones (for example, in the theme "Dark Mode Pro", emojis have dark contours).
To enable animated emojis on WhatsApp or Facebook Messenger, you need to:
- Update the application to the latest version.
- Make sure that the keyboard settings (Language and input → Gboard/Mi Keyboard → Settings) include the option “Show MIUI style emoji”.
- Send a message with an emoji – the animation will only appear in the recipient (you will have it static).
How to bring back old emojis to Xiaomi?
How to change the style of emoji without root rights
If you don’t like how Xiaomi emojis look, there are a few ways to change them without getting root access:
- Install an alternative keyboard: 🔹 Gboard (from Google) – allows you to choose the style of emoji in the settings (Settings) → Preferences → Emoji style). 🔹 SwiftKey (from Microsoft) – supports several emoji themes, including iOS style.
Use MIUI themes
Some of the themes from the Mi Theme Store change not only the wallpaper, but also the emoji, such as the "iOS Style" theme, replacing emojis with round ones (like the one on the iPhone).
Settings → Topics → Search → “iOS” → ApplyMessaging with custom emojis
In Telegram or Discord, you can install your own sets of emojis through stickers or plugins.
Install Gboard or SwiftKey| Go to the keyboard settings |Select emoji style (iOS/Android)|Reboot phone-->
⚠️ Note: If you use the Mi Keyboard (a standard Xiaomi keyboard), you can’t change the style of the emoji without third-party apps.
Why Xiaomi Emojis Are Shown as Squares
Sometimes instead of emojis on Xiaomi appear empty squares (□) It's happening for a number of reasons:
- 📵 Outdated firmware: in MIUI No new emoji support is available for the 12th version (e.g., no new emoji support, 🫠 or 🩷).
- 📱 Font failure: If system fonts are damaged (for example, after a failed update), emojis may not show up.
- 🌐 Regional restrictions: In some countries (e.g. China), some emojis are blocked at the firmware level.
- 🔄 Application conflict: if you use a third-party keyboard but haven’t updated it in a long time.
To fix the problem:
- Update your firmware to the latest version (Settings → About Phone → Update MIUI).
- Clear the system font cache: Settings → Applications → Application Management → Three dots (menu) → Show all processes → Android System WebView → Storage → Clear the cache
- Reinstall the keyboard (such as Gboard).
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If the squares only appear in one messenger (like WhatsApp), try clearing the cache or reinstall it. Often the problem lies not in the system, but in the application itself.
Emoji in MIUI for children: safe mode
Xiaomi has a “Children Mode” feature (Settings → Special Features → Children’s Mode) that restricts access to certain apps and content, and in this mode, some of the emoji is hidden or replaced with “children’s” versions:
- 🔪 Knives, pistols and other dangerous objects are replaced with harmless symbols (for example, in the case of a gun, 🔪 → 🥄).
- 💋 Kissing and romantic emojis are hidden from the list.
- 🎭 Emoji with alcohol (🍷) cigarette (🚬) juice-substitute (🧃) lollipop (🍭).
To disable this function:
- Go to Settings → Special Opportunities → Children’s Mode.
- Enter parental control (if installed).
- Turn off the "Emoji Filtration" option.
⚠️ Note: In Xiaomi’s Chinese firmware, emoji filtering is enabled by default and does not turn off without changing the region.
The future of emoji on Xiaomi: what to expect in 2026
According to leaks and official announcements, Xiaomi plans the following changes to the emoji in MIUI 16 (expected in 2026):
- 🎨 3D-Emoji: part of the emoji will be voluminous (similar to Apple in iOS 17).
- 👤 Customization: the ability to change skin color, hairstyles and accessories for emojis with people (for example, 👩🏽💻).
- 🤖 AI generation: in Mi AI will be a function of creating unique emojis according to the text description.
- 🌍 Localization: New Regional Emojis for India, Latin America and the Middle East.
Xiaomi is also expected to add support for Live Emoji (animated emojis that replicate the user's facial expressions through the front camera), but this feature will only be available on flagship models (such as the Xiaomi 15 Pro).
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If you are interested in the relevance of emoji, watch for updates MIUI through settings → The phone. → System updates: New emojis (e.g., emojis, 🫨 or 🍵) They only appear after installing fresh firmware.