Resolved. pasted the code below in the input.js file in the acf plugins folder.
$(document).on('click touchstart', '.acf-image-uploader .add-image', function( e ){
e.preventDefault();
acf.fields.image.set({ $el : $(this).closest('.acf-image-uploader') }).popup();
});
@Flo where did you paste this code? thanks
A
EDIT: Nevermind, skimmed past the input.js part