Previous articleDisappeared font on Xiaomi Redmi Note 8: how to return text to the screen in 10 minutes

You turned on the Xiaomi Redmi Note 8, and instead of the usual letters on the screen — emptiness, characters or squares? The problem with fonts on Xiaomi smartphones is more common than you think: the fault of system files, failed updates MIUI or experiments with custom themes. The good news is that in 90% of cases, text can be returned without visiting the service center.

In this article, we will look at 5 proven ways to restore fonts, from simple (reboot and reset display settings) to radical (flashboot flashing). Special attention will be paid to the reasons for the problem: why the font disappears after the MIUI update, how fonts are related to regional settings, and why a simple change of language sometimes helps. All instructions are adapted specifically for the Redmi Note 8 (the ginkgo model) and checked on current versions of MIUI 12-14.

If you see not a void on the screen, but unreadable characters (for example, Chinese characters instead of Russian text), the problem lies in the encoding of fonts, which we will also consider separately.

1. Why the font on Xiaomi Redmi Note is missing 8: top-up-5 cause

Before you restore the text, it is important to understand what was the trigger of the problem. On the Redmi Note 8, fonts most often disappear for the following reasons:

• 🔄 Failed update MIUI. Versions 12.5-14 sometimes break system fonts due to conflict with user settings.
• 🎨 Install custom themes. Themes from the Mi Theme Store may contain broken fonts or conflict with system files /system/fonts/.
• ⚙️ Factory reset. If the reset occurred on an unstable firmware, the system may forget the paths to the fonts.
• 🌍 Change of region/language: when switching to Chinese or Indian region MIUI loads alternative fonts that may not appear correctly.
• 🛠️ Manual deletion of system files. Deletion of folders in /system/fonts/ via Root Explorer or ADB This leads to complete loss of text.

In a separate case, physical damage to the screen, if not only the font but also part of the graphics (e.g., app icons) are lost after falling or getting moisture, the problem may be damage to the display plume or matrix, in which case the software methods will not help, you need repairs.

⚠️ Note: If you installed applications like iFont or FontFix before the font disappeared, the problem is almost certainly root rights. These programs change the system fonts at the kernel level, and their incorrect operation can lead to a broken display of text.

Method 1: Reset and reset display settings

Start with the simplest, software-based reboot. On the Redmi Note 8, this is done by holding the power button for a long time (10-15 seconds) until the vibration. If the font doesn't appear after the reboot, move on to resetting the screen settings:

1. Open the Settings → Display.
2. Scroll down and select Additional settings.
3. Tap Reset the display settings and confirm the action.

This method works if the problem is caused by text scaling conflict or incorrect color palette settings (for example, Reading mode or Dark Theme with broken styles).

Make sure the battery is more than 30% charged.

Turn off Bluetooth and Wi-Fi (they can interfere with reset)

Remember the current brightness and color settings

Do not interrupt the process until it is completed.

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If the reset didn’t help, try changing the font size manually:

1. Go to Settings → Display → Text Size.
2. Set the slider on Medium or Small.
3. Reboot the phone.

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI 13+ Resetting the display can cause the screen to flicker temporarily. This is normal - wait for the automatic reboot (it takes up to 2 minutes).

Method 2: Changing the language and region of the system

One of the most effective methods is to force the interface language to change, because MIUI stores fonts in separate folders for each region, so if the font files for your language are corrupted, the system can pull them from another region.

Instructions:

1. Open Settings → Additional → Language and input.
2. Select the Language and set English (USA) or Chinese (simplified).
3. Confirm the change and wait for the reboot.
4. After downloading, return the old language.

If the text is still not displayed, try changing the region:

1. In the same language settings tap Region.
2. Choose India or Singapore (these regions use the Noto Sans universal fonts).
3. Reset the device.

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If after changing the region the text is displayed, but became “teared” or with artifacts, return the former region and clean the cache of the system through Settings → Memory → Clear the cache.

Method 3: Cleaning the cache and the data of the Themes application

The Theme app (com.miui.themeeditor) is responsible for loading and displaying fonts. If it doesn't work properly, the text may disappear or be displayed in characters.

1. Go to Settings → Applications → Application Management.
2. Find themes (the icon with a brush) and tap on it.
3. Select Warehouse → Clear cache and Clear data.
4. Confirm the action and restart the phone.

Once cleaned, the system will reboot the standard fonts, so if you've used custom themes, you'll have to re-install them, and importantly, this method won't help if the fonts have been removed at the firmware level (e.g., through ADB or Root).

If cleaning didn’t help, try removing the Topics app updates:

1. In the Themes app settings, tap three dots in the upper right corner.
2. Select Remove Updates.
3. Confirm and restart the phone.

5. Method 4: Reset to factory settings (Hard Reset)

If the previous methods didn't work, it's a complete reset. It's a radical way, but it's guaranteed to restore the fonts, because it will reinstall all system files. Importantly, the reset will delete all the data on the phone, including photos, contacts and apps. Back up through Mi Cloud or PC!

Instructions for Redmi Note 8:

1. Turn off the phone.
2. Press the Power Button + Volume up for 10-15 seconds at the same time until the Mi logo appears.
3. In the Recovery menu, select the language (use volume buttons for navigation and power button for confirmation).
4. Choose Wipe Data → Wipe All Data.
5. Confirm the action and wait for the completion (it will take 3-5 minutes).
6. Reboot your phone with Reboot → Reboot to System.

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware MIUI 14+ After reset, you may need to link your Mi Account. If you do not remember the password, untie the device in advance in Settings. → Mi Account → Devices.

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Factory reset is the only way to return fonts if they were deleted at the system file level (for example, via Root Explorer or a failed update).

6. Method 5: Fastboot Fastboot Fastboot Fastboot Fastboot (for Advanced)

If the reset didn't work, the problem is the corrupted system firmware files, and then only a full Fastboot flashing would help, USB-Cable and basic knowledge of working with Mi Flash Tool.

Step-by-step:

1. Download the official firmware for Redmi Note 8 (codenamed ginkgo) from Miui Download. Choose the Fastboot version (file with.tgz extension).
2. Unpack the archive in a folder on the disk C:\ (for example, C:\miui_ginkgo).
3. Download and install the Mi Flash Tool (official version from Xiaomi website).
4. Turn off the phone and put it in Fastboot mode: press the Power button + Volume down.
5. Connect your phone to your PC via USB.
6. Launch the Mi Flash Tool, press Select and point the path to the unpacked firmware.
7. Select Clean All mode and press Flash.
8. Wait for the finish (10-15 minutes) and restart the phone.

Once the firmware is in place, all the data will be erased, but the fonts are guaranteed to recover, and if that doesn't work, there's a hardware problem (damaged memory or screen controller).

FAQ: Frequent questions about font recovery on Redmi Note 8