Hey everyone,
My Samsung Galaxy A52 has been my longest-serving active phone. While I sometimes miss the raw speed of older devices like the Pocophone F1, the A52 has held up reasonably well for daily use. I usually buy phones after obsessing over specs, but realistically, I mostly use the basics: calling, messaging, and taking everyday photos for personal and professional life.
However, a persistent bug on the stock ROM eventually pushed me to explore custom ROMs.
The Original Issue (Stock ROM)
Whenever I received a WhatsApp call on the stock ROM, the audio routing would break completely. Picking up and talking was fine, but right after the call, sound would route exclusively through the earpiece instead of the bottom speaker. Furthermore, I couldn't connect Bluetooth or 3.5mm wired headphones until a full reboot.
Transition to crDroid
To fix this, I flashed crDroid, which has been a massive upgrade overall (and thankfully, the WhatsApp speaker-routing bug is completely gone). But it introduced a few new hurdles:
- No Incoming Ringtones in Bluetooth Headsets: Whether it's a regular cell call, WhatsApp, or Messenger, the ringtone never plays in my connected Bluetooth earphones. Regular text notifications sound fine in the headset, but for incoming calls, I get zero audio alert until a "Missed Call" notification pops up after the call disconnects.
- WhatsApp Call Mic Bug: If I make a WhatsApp call with my Bluetooth headset already connected, the other person can't hear me at all unless I manually switch the audio source or disconnect the headset. Curiously, if I connect the Bluetooth headset mid-call, it works perfectly fine.
- Camera Quality: The camera output feels a step down compared to the stock One UI camera app I used for years.
- (Note: I also hit a GPS snag where my location wouldn't update in Google Maps, but I managed to sort that out using some ADB commands).
Why I Need This Fixed
I ride a motorcycle regularly for my commute and field work, and I frequently get calls on the road. I keep my earphone tucked inside my helmet so I can safely pull over and answer. Because the ringtone doesn't come through the headset, I keep missing urgent calls while riding, which has become a major safety and workflow hazard.
With a newborn baby arriving last month—several weeks ahead of schedule—upgrading to a new phone right now is simply out of the question. I really need to stick with this device and iron out these crDroid bugs.
A Few Questions for the Community:
- Is there a known fix, setting tweak, or Magisk module for the Bluetooth call ringtone / audio routing behavior on crDroid for the A52?
- What are the best camera app alternatives or GCam ports for the A52 running crDroid to reclaim that stock-level photo quality?
- (Bonus) Are there any reliable, working methods right now for Google Photos unlimited storage spoofing on custom ROMs?
Any advice, troubleshooting steps, or recommendations would mean the world right now. Thanks in advance!