Smiley like on iPhone for Xiaomi: how to install an iOS emoji on Android in 2026

Why iPhone and Android Smiley Smileys Are Different – and How to Fix It on Xiaomi

Have you ever noticed that the same emoji on iPhone and Xiaomi look different? SF Symbols from 2018, and Google is Noto Color Emoji, which is integrated into Android. The difference is especially striking in messengers: where a friend on an iPhone has a smiling smiley with his eyes closed. 😊 It looks soft and round, and on your Redmi Note 12 it may appear angular or even distorted.

Android smartphone makers (including Xiaomi) rarely update system emoji fonts, so even on new devices like Xiaomi 14 or POCO F6, you can see outdated versions of emojis. Fortunately, there are ways to replace them with iPhones without root rights. In this article, we will discuss 3 working methods: through applications, changing the system font and using custom emoji keyboards.

⚠️ Note: Some methods require unlocking the bootloader or installing Magisk. If you're a beginner, start with the simplest method - installing a specialized keyboard (Section 3).

Comparison of emojis: iOS vs Xiaomi (MIUI 14/15)

Before you change the emoji, let's see how different the designs are. Below is a table with popular emojis compared to:

And you can see that the difference is not just in style, but also in emotional load. 😍 The iPhone is more exciting because of its big eyes and its brilliance, whereas Xiaomi might be more restrained. If you care about the accuracy of your emotions, replacing the emoji makes sense.

Method 1: Install keyboard with iOS emoji (no root)

The easiest way to do this is to use a keyboard that replaces the emoji display, and we tested 5 apps and selected the two most stable ones:

• 📱 Emoji Keyboard - iOS 17 Emojis (free, there's ads) Switches emojis right in the input field. Works on WhatsApp, Telegram, VK. Disadvantages: smileys are visible only to you - the recipient will see them in standard form.
• 🎨 Kika Emoji Keyboard (premium version without ads) Complete keyboard replacement with themes and support GIF. Emojis are displayed in the style of iOS 16/17, but requires default settings.

The following is a step-by-step guide for the Emoji Keyboard:

Download Emoji Keyboard from Google Play|

Open the app and select the iOS 17 Style theme |

Go to Settings → System → Language and input → Virtual keyboard |

Activate the Emoji Keyboard and set it to default |

In any messenger, click on the smiley – now they appear in the style of Apple (just for you).-->

⚠️ Note: If the keyboard does not appear after installation, check the permissions in Settings → Annexes → Application management → Emoji Keyboard → Additionally. → Permissions. Often access to the display over other windows is required.

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To make sure that the smileys are displayed to the recipient, use method 2 or 3. The keyboard is only suitable for personal viewing.

Method 2: Replacement of the system font emoji (requires Magisk)

This is a way of changing emojis at the system level, so they're visible to everyone you send them to.

• 🔓 Unlocked bootloader (Bootloader)
• 📱 Installed Magisk (route access)
• 🔄 Backup of data (risk of failure)

Steps to replace the font:

1. Download the archive with iOS fonts: https://forum.xda-developers.com/t/ios-emoji-font-for-android.4230447/ (select the version for your screen resolution: 1080p or 1440p).
2. Copy the NotoColorEmoji.ttf file to /system/fonts/ via Root Explorer or adb.
3. Change the access rights to 644 (rw-r----).
4. Reset the device.

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI (for example, Xiaomi 13T HyperOS can cause bootloop before experimenting, check for compatibility on the forum. XDA Developers or 4PDA for your model.

Method 3: Using the Magisk module (for advanced)

If you’re already familiar with Magisk, the most reliable way to install the iOS Emoji Font module is to automatically replace system emojis without manually copying files.

Instructions:

1. Install Magisk Manager (if not already installed).
2. Download the module: https://www.pling.com/p/1358246/ (select the version for your Android: 10/11/12/13).
3. In Magisk, go to Modules → Install from storage and select the downloaded file.
4. Reset the device.

Important: Magisk modules may conflict with some banking applications (Sberbank, Tinkoff).If payments stop working after installation, disable Magisk Hide or use an alternative method.

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For most Xiaomi users, the best option is an iOS emoji keyboard (method 1). It requires no root rights and is secure, although the emoji will only be visible to you.

Problems and Solutions: Why Emoji Hasn't Changed

Even after all the manipulations, the emojis can remain the same. Let's consider the typical causes and ways to eliminate them:

• 🔄 Messenger cache: In WhatsApp or Telegram, clear the cache in Settings → Sometimes apps save old versions of emojis.
• 📱 Update MIUI: After the firmware update, system fonts may reset.Repeat installing the Magisk module.
• 🚫 Blocking Magisk: Some Xiaomi firmware (e.g, MIUI Global) block changes to system files. Try switching to MIUI EU.
• 🔍 Wrong font: Make sure you download the font for your Android version. For example, Android 13 will not work with a file from Android 10.

If you used the method of replacing the font and smileys are displayed in squares (□), signifier:

1. The font file is corrupted - download it again.
2. Lack of permissions – check the permissions (chmod 644).
3. Conflict with another Magisk module – disable all modules and turn on one at a time.

Best Apps for Custom Emoji on Xiaomi (2026)

If you don’t want to be a slacker, here’s the top.-5 Apps that will add iOS emojis to your chats:

• 🏆 Textra SMS (with iOS-emoji support) Fully SMS-Messenger with the ability to choose the style of smileys.
• 🎭 Facetune Emoji Changer Allows you to replace emoji in real time (works on Instagram, Facebook.
• 📲 Emoji Changer — iOS 17 Lightweight app to swap emoji in the clipboard. minus: requires copying smileys manually.
• 🔄 SwiftKey Keyboard (with iOS package) Microsoft's popular keyboard with emoji themes.Tunes: SwiftKey → Registration → Emoji → iOS Style.
• 🌐 Emoji Font 3 System Font Replacement App (requires Magisk) Supports iOS 17, Samsung One UI Google emojis.

⚠️ Note: Apps like Emoji Switcher or iFont that promise to replace without root rights often contain adwar (intrusive advertising) or viruses.

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Before installing any emoji app, check its rating and the date of the last update. If the update was more than a year ago, there is a risk of incompatibility with MIUI 14/15.

FAQ: Frequent questions about iOS emojis on Xiaomi