How to install emoticons like on iPhone on Xiaomi: the complete guide

Why change standard emojis to Xiaomi?

Xiaomi users often encounter the fact that standard emoticons in the MIUI Apple has traditionally placed a great deal of emphasis on the design of its icons β€” they are more rounded, detailed and universally recognizable. POCO) It may seem simplified or outdated, especially on older versions. MIUI.

Fortunately, you can replace emojis with iPhone without root rights – just install a special application or change the system font. In this article, we will analyze all the working methods, including the nuances for different Xiaomi models (from Redmi Note 10 to Xiaomi 13 Ultra), and also tell you how to avoid typical mistakes when replacing emojis.

It is important to understand that changing system fonts or installing third-party keyboards can affect the performance of the device. However, with the right approach, the risks are minimal - the main thing is to follow the instructions and check the compatibility of the software with your version. MIUI.

Method 1: Install the keyboard with an iOS emoji

The easiest and safest method is to use a third-party keyboard that supports Apple’s emoji style, which has the advantage of not interfering with system files and even working on devices without root rights.

The best applications for this task:

  • πŸ“± Gboard (Google Keyboard) – has a built-in emoji style change option (including iOS-like ones).
  • 🎨 SwiftKey – supports Apple-style emoji themes, but requires manual customization.
  • πŸ”„ Emoji Keyboard β€” Cute Emoticons, GIF β€” Specialized keyboard with a large selection of styles.
  • 🍎 iFont (Emoji Changer) – allows you to replace system emoji without root (does not work on all versions) MIUI).

To install the emoji as on the iPhone via Gboard:

  1. Download Gboard from Google Play.
  2. Open the app and go to Settings β†’ Topics β†’ Emoji.
  3. Choose the style of iOS or Apple (if available).
  4. Activate the keyboard in the system settings: Settings β†’ Additionally. β†’ Language and input β†’ Current keyboard.

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If there is no option to change emojis in Gboard, try updating the app or clearing its cache in Xiaomi settings.

Note that some keyboards (like SwiftKey) can only display iOS-style emojis inside the app itself, not in messengers. To check how the emojis look like in the recipient, send a test message to Telegram or WhatsApp.

Method 2: Replace system font without root rights

If the keyboard doesn't work, you can replace the system font that displays the emoji, which works on most Xiaomi devices. MIUI 12 and newer, but requires caution – wrong actions can lead to interface failures.

To replace the font, you will need:

  • πŸ“² iFont (Emoji Changer) from Google Play.
  • πŸ–₯️ Font from Apple emoji (can be downloaded from the app or from the DaFont website).
  • βš™οΈ Installation from unknown sources in security settings.

Step-by-step:

  1. Install iFont and open it.
  2. Go to Emoji and select iOS 16 Emoji (or the current version).
  3. Click Set and confirm the replacement.
  4. Restart the device – the emojis should be updated.

Make a backup copy of the data

Check out the MIUI version (should be 12+)

Charge your phone at least 50%

Disable the antivirus (can block the installation)

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Important nuance: on some Xiaomi devices (for example, on the other hand, POCO F3 or Redmi K50) After replacing the font, some system icons may disappear. In this case, return the standard font through Settings. β†’ Screen. β†’ font.

What to do if the emojis have not changed?
If the emojis remain the same after installing the font, try: 1. Clear the cache of the Android System WebView app in the settings. 2. Remove updates for Google Play Services (temporarily). 3. Reinstall the keyboard or the application to change the font.

Method 3: Manually changing emojis through ADB (advanced)

For users ready for more complex manipulations, there is a method of replacing emojis through the ADB (Android Debug Bridge: This method requires connecting your phone to a PC and basic command line knowledge, but it gives a more stable result than apps.

What you need:

  • πŸ’» Computer with installed ADB Tools.
  • πŸ“± Included debugging by USB on Xiaomi (Settings) β†’ The phone. β†’ Version. MIUI β†’ 7 times to unlock the developer menu, then Settings β†’ Additionally. β†’ For developers β†’ Debugging by USB).
  • πŸ“ Apple emoji font file (e.g. NotoColorEmoji.ttf with replaced characters).

Instructions:

  1. Connect your phone to your PC and check the connection with the command: adb devices (the name of your device should be displayed).
  2. Download the modified font (for example, from here) and place it in the folder with ADB.
  3. Follow the commands in turn: adb shell su mount -o rw,remount /system cp /sdcard/Download/NotoColorEmoji.ttf /system/fonts/ chmod 644 /system/fonts/NotoColorEmoji.ttf reboot

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This method requires an unlocked bootloader or root rights. On devices with a locked bootloader (most Xiaomi default), it won’t work!

Warning: misuse ADB If you're not sure what you're doing, you might want to use the first or second method.

Installation of the keyboard

Replacement of font through iFont

Manual modification via ADB

I'm not gonna change anything.-->

Comparison of emoji: iOS vs Xiaomi (MIUI)

Before you change your emoji, you should understand the difference between the styles of Apple and Xiaomi.

CharacteristicsEmoji iOS (Apple)Xiaomi Emoji (MIUI)
Design styleFlat, with clear contours and gradientsMore rounded, with simplified details
Color paletteBright, rich.Muffled, closer to Material Design
Animation.Supported by iMessageStatic (without animation)
CompatibilityIt is only displayed correctly on the iPhone.Universal for all Android devices
UpdatesRegular (once in a row) 1-2 year-end)Depends on the version. MIUI

Interestingly, some emojis on Xiaomi may look different than on other Android devices. πŸ˜‚ on MIUI The 14 has a more elongated face than on standard Android 13.This is because Xiaomi sometimes modifies standard emojis from Google.

If you’re in contact with iPhone users, consider that:

  • πŸ‘ Your iOS-style emojis will be displayed correctly.
  • πŸ‘Ž But if you send a message with a smiley face in style MIUI, On an iPhone, it may look different, πŸ€” Xiaomi and iPhone have different facial expressions).

Problems and Solutions in Replacing Emojis

Even with proper installation, there can be difficulties, and let's look at the most common ones and how to eliminate them:

1.Emojis unchanged after font installation

⚠️ Note: If you used iFont but the emojis remain the same, check if the keyboard is blocked (for example, SwiftKey can ignore system fonts). MIUI.

2. some system icons have disappeared

It's because of a font conflict.

  • Return the standard font to Settings β†’ Screen. β†’ font.
  • Use the keyboard with an iOS emoji instead of replacing the system font.

3.Messenger displays emojis incorrectly

On WhatsApp, Viber or Telegram, emoji can be downloaded from their servers, ignoring the system servers.

  • πŸ“Œ In Telegram: Go to Settings β†’ chat β†’ Text size and emoji β†’ Systemic emojis.
  • πŸ“Œ WhatsApp: Change the chat theme to the standard (emoji will pull from the system).

4.After the reboot, the emojis dropped

This is a typical problem for devices with MIUI 13 and newer, where the system can reset custom fonts.Solution:

  • Install the FontFix app from Google Play – it blocks font reset.
  • Or use the Magisk Module (requires a root) for permanent replacement.

The best apps for emoji in the style of iOS on Xiaomi

If you don’t want to mess with manual settings, here’s the top-5 applications that will allow you to use emojis like on the iPhone without complex manipulations:

AnnexFeaturesConsReference
iFont (Emoji Changer)Changes system emoji without root, large font libraryNot working. MIUI 14+ free-of-setGoogle Play
Emoji SwitcherAllows you to switch between emoji styles (iOS, Samsung, Google)Requires a rut for full-time workGoogle Play
Z Font 3 (Emoji Changer)Supports iOS 16 emoji+, simple interfaceAdvertising in the free versionGoogle Play
Kika Emoji KeyboardKeyboard with iOS emoji and gifsIt takes up a lot of memory.Google Play
Textra SMSMessenger with support for iOS emoji in chat roomsDoes not change emojis in other applicationsGoogle Play

For Xiaomi devices with MIUI 14 and later recommend Z Font 3 is one of the few apps that work correctly with the latest firmware versions. MIUI 12, iFont will do, too.

Tip: Before installing any application, check the reviews of Xiaomi users - some programs may conflict with the user. MIUI.

How to bring back standard emojis to Xiaomi

If you have decided to return to the original emoji after the experiments, it is simple to do it:

For keyboards (Gboard, SwiftKey, etc.):

  1. Open the keyboard settings.
  2. Find the Emoji or Themes section.
  3. Choose a standard style (usually called Default or Android).

For replaced fonts:

  1. Go to Settings β†’ Screen β†’ Font.
  2. Select a standard font (for example, MIUI Regular).
  3. Reset the device.

If the emojis are lost after the update MIUI:

  • Clear the cache of the Android System WebView app.
  • Remove updates to Google Play Services (temporarily).
  • Reinstall the keyboard or application to change the font.

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If after returning standard emojis, some emojis are displayed with squares, reset the keyboard settings to factory ones.

On root-right devices, you may need to delete the font file via Root Explorer to completely reset:

Delete the file /system/fonts/NotoColorEmoji.ttf


Reboot the phone.

FAQ: Frequent questions about replacing emoji with Xiaomi

❓ Can you put emoji like on an iPhone without root rights?
Yes, it is enough to install a keyboard that supports iOS style (such as Gboard or SwiftKey) or use the iFont app to replace the font. ADB.
❓ Will the iOS emoji be displayed in my interlocutors?
No, the style of the emoji depends on the device of the recipient. If you send a message with an iOS-style emoji, it will appear as standard on an Android device, and on an iPhone it will appear as Apple-style.
❓ Why did some icons disappear after the font replacement? MIUI?
This is due to a conflict between the user font and system resources: To return the icons, roll back the font to the standard in the screen settings or use the keyboard instead of replacing the system files.
❓ Does this method work for POCO redmi?
All of the methods described are suitable for devices. POCO And Redmi, because they work on the same firmware. MIUI. Exception: models with a heavily stripped-down version of the system (e.g, POCO C-series, where there may be restrictions.
❓ How to Upgrade Emoji to the Latest iOS Version?
To get an emoji from iOS 17 or later, download the current font from sites like DaFont or other websites. XDA Developers and install it via iFont.Please note that new emojis may not appear in older versions of messengers.