Is there a way to keep Android TV version of mobile apps from being installed?

by Waggmans

I want to install the standard Android (mobile) version of Hoopla Digital to my Shield TV, but it keeps automatically reverting to the Android TV version every time. I tried installing the recent apk of the phone version, I tried installing from the Play Store with Chrome on the Shield, and it keeps switching over.

If I open it directly after installing the apk I get the mobile version but every time after it's the Android TV version.

I want to use the Hoopla mobile version on my Shield because the Android TV version won't let you listen to music and audio books, and the mobile version doesn't chromecast music and audio books at all (don't ask me why), it just does video.

TrapZero

If your device is rooted, you can edit the build.prop to make it spoof another device.

rhdelgado

So I don't have an answer to installing Hoopla mobile on your Android TV. But I may have another solution for you.

Install the Google Home app on your phone. Open that app, and find "Cast Screen/Audio" in the pull out menu. Tap the button to Cast your phone screen and audio. If your Android TV doesn't appear right away, give it 10-15 seconds. Tap on your Android TV, and your phone will cast to the TV.

Now open Hoopla on your phone and start your audio book or music. It will play through the Android TV.

A word or advice. This isn't optimal for many reasons, but one big one is that this doesn't have a screen saver for your TV. If you're going to do it for long stretches of time, make sure your phone doesn't have any sort of Always On screen enabled, then turn your screen off. At least then the picture on the TV should be completely black & blank.