Federer was given a thorough examination in his first meeting with the 19-year-old but despite Tiafoe's admirable effort, the Swiss great proved too strong to book his third round spot and a possible meeting with Juan Martin Del Potro if the Argentine can see off Robin Haase
Despite the gulf in experience between the players, Tiafoe underlined his status as one of the brightest talents in the game with a spirited display full of huge potential and winners off both wings.
But when he needed to, Federer found the extra gear that has brought him back to the very top of the game this year after his injury problems of 2016 and after claiming the first set tie-break eventually eased through the second set having got the measure of Tiafoe's serve.
The 35-year-old followed up a magnificent triumph at the Australian Open for Grand Slam number 18 with victory over Stan Wawrinka at Indian Wells last week and he remains on course for a first Miami title in more than ten years.
After been given a first round bye, Federer took to the Stadium Court at Crandon Park for the first time since losing to Kei Nishikori in the quarter-final in 2014 having missed the last two years in Florida.
Serving first, Tiafoe delighted the home crowd by more than holding his own with a string of impressive holds and big forehand winners against the legendary figure on the other side of the court.
The teenager who lives in Florida but was born in Maryland after his parents moved to the United States from Sierra Leone kept his nose in front throughout the set but offered little threat on the Federer serve and the inevitable result was a tie-break.
Federer forced the mini-break immediately, and despite an admirable effort from Tiafoe at 3-2 to break back, the 18-time Grand Slam champion unveiled his full array of shots to close out the breaker and seal the set.
Having been forced to run almost double the distance of Federer in the opener, it would have been easy for Tiafoe to cower but a blistering winner from the American teenager set him on his way to his first break points and he needed just one of them to lead the second set.
Federer, champion in Miami in 2005 and 2006, forced his own first break points in the very next game and is often the case struck back immediately before seeing Tiafoe fend off two more break points on his next service game thanks to five points in succession.
More break points followed in the sixth game of the set and holding his own serve without trouble Federer closed out the match to move into the last 32
There was more success for another American, John Isner, semi-finalist in 2015 and 18th seed, beat Brazil's Thomaz Bellucci 7-5 7-6 and he will next face Alexander Zverev who needed just an hour to beat Yen-hsun Lu 6- 6-3.
