The Motorola G72 has carved a niche for itself in the crowded mid-range smartphone market. Launched in late 2022, it brought a stunning pOLED display, a capable 108MP camera, and a sleek, water-repellent design to budget-conscious consumers. However, like almost every Motorola device outside the flagship Edge series, the G72 suffers from a common ailment: slow software updates and a lack of post-launch customization.
Enter the world of Custom ROMs.
If you own a Motorola G72 (codenamed penangf or penang depending on the region), you might feel stuck on Android 12 or 13 while the rest of the world moves to Android 14 and 15. But fear not. The developer community has been quietly working to liberate the G72 from its stock constraints. This article is your deep dive into everything you need to know about Custom ROMs for the Motorola G72.
The Motorola Moto G72 is a device with great hardware hampered by software stagnation. Installing a Custom ROM transforms it from a budget phone waiting to retire into a snappy, customizable device that rivals modern mid-rangers.
However, the process is technical. It requires patience, reading specific developer instructions for your variant, and a willingness to troubleshoot. If you are comfortable with the risks, the reward is a revitalized phone that stays secure and fast for years to come.
The Motorola G72, codenamed "vicky," presents a unique challenge for the custom ROM community due to its MediaTek Helio G99 SoC
, which traditionally receives less third-party developer support than Snapdragon-based devices. While the device offers a high-quality 120Hz pOLED display and solid hardware, users often seek custom ROMs to bypass Motorola’s limited update policy and occasional software lag. Current State of Development Currently, there are no official custom ROMs
(like LineageOS or Pixel Experience) actively maintained specifically for the Moto G72. However, users have found success using Generic System Images (GSIs)
, which are universal ROMs designed to work on any device supporting Project Treble. Customization via GSIs
Because the Moto G72 supports Project Treble, it can boot various GSI versions of popular ROMs. Performance Benefits
: Users report that flashing a Pixel Experience GSI can make the device feel smoother and more stable than the stock Motorola firmware. Added Features : GSIs can unlock hidden hardware capabilities such as Always On Display (AOD) , themed icons, and monochrome color palettes. Battery Life
: Some users have observed improved battery longevity, reaching up to 1.5 days of normal usage even with AOD enabled. Compromises : Using a GSI often comes with "bugs," such as the in-display fingerprint scanner
not functioning or specific camera gestures being hit-or-miss. The Modding Process
To install a custom ROM or GSI on the G72, the following technical hurdles must be cleared:
The Motorola G72 had been a loyal companion for two years. Its pOLED display was still a dream for streaming, and the 108MP camera took surprisingly solid photos. But six months ago, Motorola had shipped its last security patch. The interface, MyUX, felt clunky, bloated with apps Leo never used. The phone would stutter opening Google Maps, and the battery, once a two-day champion, now whimpered for a charge by 5 PM.
Leo was a tinkerer, but he wasn't a pro. He’d rooted a old Nexus 5 back in college, but that was a decade ago. Modern phones felt like locked-down fortresses. Still, the sluggishness of his G72 was a splinter in his brain.
One sleepless night, he fell down a rabbit hole of XDA Developers forums. Hidden in a thread titled "[ROM][UNOFFICIAL] Paranoid Android Topaz - Motorola G72 (tapas)]" was a glimmer of hope. A developer named 'cosmic_coder' had done it. They’d cracked the MediaTek bootloader chain and built a lean, AOSP-based custom ROM.
The instructions were terrifying. Unlock the bootloader? That would wipe everything. Use SP Flash Tool? One wrong click and he’d have a $250 paperweight. But the comments were glowing: "Smoother than stock!" "Battery life is insane!" "No more Moto bloat!"
At 2 AM, Leo made the jump.
He backed up his photos to Google Drive. He downloaded the ROM, the correct GApps package (NikGapps, not BitGapps, the post warned), and the patched Magisk APK. His heart hammered as he enabled Developer Options, toggled "OEM Unlocking," and booted into the fastboot mode—that tiny, scary text on a black screen.
fastboot oem unlock
The command felt like a magic spell. The phone vibrated, screen flashed white, and then… reset. The cheerful Motorola boot logo appeared, but Leo knew it was a lie. The soul of the phone had been evicted. It was just a blank slate now.
Twenty minutes later, after sweating through the TWRP recovery install and wiping the Dalvik cache three times (the guide said five, but he got impatient), he hit "Install."
The progress bar crawled. 25%... 50%... 75%... "Install from ZIP complete."
He rebooted.
The boot animation wasn't the boring Motorola 'M'. It was a smooth, retro 'PA' logo—Paranoid Android—flowing like liquid metal. The phone took longer to boot, nearly two minutes of pure anxiety.
Then, the Setup Wizard appeared. Clean. Minimal. No "Moto App Manager." No "Facebook Installer." No "Glance for Moto." Just pure, untouched Android 13.
He logged in, restored his apps, and the first thing he did was open the Settings app. It flew. Zero lag. He pulled down the notification shade—customizable tiles. He went into the "Paranoid Android Hub" and found built-in spoofing for Google Photos, a per-app network firewall, and a "Gaming Mode" that actually turned off all background processes.
He opened YouTube. The pOLED screen seemed even brighter, the colors more natural. He opened Maps. It snapped to his location in under two seconds. He installed AccuBattery. The projected capacity? It recognized the full 5000mAh for the first time.
The G72 was no longer a budget mid-ranger. It was his phone. Pure. Fast. Free.
For the first time in months, Leo didn't charge his phone that night. When he woke up, it had dropped only 3% in eight hours.
He smiled, typed a quick "Thank you!" into the XDA thread, and finally went to sleep. The G72 sat on his nightstand, screen off, silently waiting—no longer a zombie of Motorola’s neglect, but a phoenix forged in a forum.
The custom ROM ecosystem for the Motorola Moto G72 (codename:
) is extremely limited compared to other devices. This is primarily due to its MediaTek Helio G99
chipset, which historically sees less developer support than Snapdragon-based phones. Customrombay.org Custom ROM Availability Report As of late 2024 and early 2026, there are no official stable releases of popular ROMs like or /e/OS for this specific model. e/OS community Generic System Images (GSIs): The most viable path for custom software is through GSIs. PixelExperience GSI:
Users have reported success with versions maintained by developers like
, which reportedly fixes stability issues seen in stock firmware and adds features like Always On Display Most GSIs are functional, but common issues include the fingerprint scanner not working and potential reductions in camera quality. Experimental ROMs: Motorola G72 Custom Rom
There have been mentions of experimental builds like "Hello Moto" (Android 15) in specialized Telegram communities, though these are often unstable and hard to find publicly. Key Technical Challenges Developing for the faces several "vicky"-specific hurdles: Proprietary Blobs:
Integrating the MediaTek audio HAL (Hardware Abstraction Layer) and DSP is difficult for independent developers. Security Lockouts:
Some users have reported difficulty accessing low-level modes like BROM due to Motorola's updated security patches. Bootloader: Unlocking the bootloader is supported by Motorola but will void your warranty and permanently erase all data. Recommended Performance Optimizations
If your goal is better performance without the risks of a custom ROM:
Searching for a solid custom ROM for the Motorola G72 (codename: vicky) can be a bit tricky because its MediaTek Helio G99
chipset makes development slower than Snapdragon-based Moto phones.
If you are looking to breathe new life into your G72, here is a breakdown of the current landscape based on community findings and developer requests. The Current State of Custom ROMs
As of early 2026, the Moto G72 does not have a wide range of "official" device-specific custom ROMs like LineageOS or /e/OS. Most development is unofficial and found in specialized communities like XDA Developers groups specifically for the G72. The Best Option: Generic System Images (GSI)
Since official device-specific builds are scarce, the most popular way to get a custom experience on the G72 is by using a
. Because the G72 supports Project Treble, you can flash universal ROMs designed to work across different hardware. PixelExperience GSI
: Highly recommended by users for a smooth, "clean" Android feel. It has been reported to fix stability issues found in Motorola's stock software and even adds features like Always On Display and monochrome color palettes. Performance Gains
: Users report that switching to a GSI can make the G72 feel smoother and improve battery life, sometimes lasting up to 1.5 days under normal usage. Trade-offs : Note that some features, like the in-display fingerprint scanner , may not work perfectly on all GSIs. How to Get Started
Before you can install any custom software, you must follow these steps: Unlock the Bootloader
: Motorola officially supports bootloader unlocking via their website, but doing so will void your warranty Install a Custom Recovery
: You will need ADB and Fastboot tools on a computer to install a recovery like TWRP or a dedicated G72 recovery found in community chats. Flash the ROM
: This typically involves wiping your data and using "ADB sideload" or a microSD card to install the new OS. Quick Specs Recap for Flashing : MediaTek Helio G99 (MT6789) : 6.6" pOLED, 120Hz, 1080 x 2400 (402 dpi) : 5000mAh with 33W charging : Check the Motorola Moto G72 XDA Forum or search for "Moto G72 Updates" on for the most active developer threads and download links. step-by-step guide
on how to unlock the bootloader specifically for Motorola devices?
Reviews for the Motorola Moto G72 Go to product viewer dialog for this item. The Motorola G72 has carved a niche for
(codename: "vicky") custom ROMs are generally positive regarding performance, though "official" support from major developers is currently non-existent . Because the
uses a MediaTek Helio G99 chipset, it lacks the broad community development typically seen with Snapdragon-based Motorola phones . Key Performance Feedback
Ported ROMs: Users on community platforms like Reddit report that unofficial ports, such as a Hello UI (Android 15) port, run "smooth as F" on the
GSI ROMs: Since there are no official maintained builds for LineageOS or /e/OS, most users rely on Generic System Images (GSIs) . Reports indicate that GSI builds like Evolution X can work Snappy, though they may require more manual configuration than device-specific ROMs
Performance Gains: General consensus suggests that moving away from the stock software can help remove bloatware and improve RAM management on the 's 6GB hardware . Installation & Compatibility
The Motorola G72 is a fantastic piece of hardware held back by mediocre software support. The Custom ROM community is currently the only lifeline for users who want to keep this device relevant past 2024.
As of late 2025, the most "daily driver" ready ROMs are Evolution X (for Pixel features) and crDroid (for bleeding edge tweaks). Keep an eye on the XDA Forums for the penangf device section; a maintainer recently hinted at an official LineageOS 22 build (Android 15) in the pipeline.
If you decide to take the plunge, remember the golden rule of modding: Read the entire forum thread before typing a single command. The developers for the G72 are talented, but they are not responsible for bricked devices.
Final Tip: Before unlocking your bootloader, use fastboot getvar all to save your stock firmware. If you ever need to sell the phone, you can flash back to stock using Motorola's Rescue and Smart Assistant (LMSA) tool.
Have you installed a Custom ROM on your Moto G72? Let us know your experience with battery life and fingerprint response in the comments below.
Disclaimer: Modifying your device’s software carries inherent risk. This article is for informational purposes. Always verify file checksums and developer reputations before flashing.
Critical Note Before You Begin: The Moto G72 runs on a MediaTek Helio G99 chipset. Unlike Qualcomm Snapdragon devices, MediaTek chips are notoriously difficult to develop for due to closed-source code, lack of kernel sources, and poor documentation. As of mid-2024 into 2025, stable, bug-free Custom ROMs for the G72 are extremely rare. Most projects are unofficial, in early beta, or abandoned.
A custom ROM is not a miracle cure. On the Motorola G72 specifically, you will face trade-offs.
Note: The availability of ROMs changes rapidly. The Moto G72 uses the MediaTek Helio G99 chipset. While powerful, MediaTek devices have historically been harder to develop for than Snapdragon variants, meaning the ROM selection may be more limited compared to a Snapdragon-equivalent device.
As of the current development cycle, the Moto G72 (codenamed rhode) generally sees ports of:
⚠️ Crucial Warning: The Moto G72 has different variants (retail, retail cn, etc.). You must ensure the ROM you download matches your specific device codename and region. Flashing a ROM meant for a different variant can hard-brick your device.
Installing a Custom ROM is not a "one-click" process. It requires unlocking the bootloader, which wipes your device.