[Q] Watch Google Play Movies on Fire TV Stick - Fire TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

We have a number of movies on Google Play Movies that we'd like to watch on our Fire TV Stick. We've tried the YouTube app, but whenever we try to watch videos in the Purchased tab, they just buffer indefinitely. Other content plays just fine, and using the Chromecast works for playing purchased videos, but I would rather use the Fire TV. Has anyone else had this issue? And did you figure out a solution?
Thanks!
- Dave

Hi there, did you ever find a solution to this? I would be interested to know this too. (In my case the Google Play Movies do not buffer, they just through an error when I try to watch them using the YouTube app on the Fire TV).

Nope, no solution for this, although I haven't tried recently. Although now that Amazon is part of Disney Anywhere (our 4-year-old dictates most of our movie watching these days), it's less of an issue than it was before.

Okay, too bad. I am not sure Amazon Germany is part of Disney Anywhere. Annoying as I am in the same boat as you, our 3 year old dictates our movie watching and so I have quite a few Disney movies on Google Play...

In case you are interested it works. Without rooting. I followed most of what was mentioned here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-3SWSD232U
I did not install 1Mobile though as I have no use for that, neither did I install the remote app mentioned in the video. I only went through the initial instructions about installing play services, account manager, play store. Then I updated the play store as mentioned. And finally I installed YouTube and Google Play Movies.
The first time I launched Play Movies it asked me to log in. And then I was able to access my library of purchased movies and watch them. It even started them from where I last left off on other devices.

PartisanEntity said:
In case you are interested it works. Without rooting. I followed most of what was mentioned here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q-3SWSD232U
I did not install 1Mobile though as I have no use for that, neither did I install the remote app mentioned in the video. I only went through the initial instructions about installing play services, account manager, play store. Then I updated the play store as mentioned. And finally I installed YouTube and Google Play Movies.
The first time I launched Play Movies it asked me to log in. And then I was able to access my library of purchased movies and watch them. It even started them from where I last left off on other devices.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Where did you get the APK for play movies? I am trying to install this on my Fire TV Stick, but the only version that installs without error is the version for Android TV, which won't even launch on the Fire Stick (my source is apkmirror.com).

Took me awhile, but got this working. Followed that YouTube video exactly, including getting the Wukong Remote app to control the mouse. You can either load Google Play Movies via the 1Mobile app on the video, or else I'm guessing you can also get it on your phone and use an app like AGKFire, or use ADBFire?
Make sure you follow the instructions in the order he installs the different APK's. Good luck.

Success, with some modifications. First, I was unable to click on some of the links to install, perhaps because the trackpad is an essential step. I have no trackpad. Instead, I downloaded those apps to my cell phone and used ES File Explorer to Send the files to the stick. I was still unable to navigate the 1Market app and even had to use the send method to get Google Play Movies, which was my whole point in doing all of this.
With Google Play Movies is installed, it would only play a single movie on my account from where I left off; I was initially unable to navigate the app from the Fire Stick remote to browse my library. I am now able to control the app using a helper app, Remote Mouse for Fire TV, I found out about here: http://www.aftvnews.com/remote-mouse-app-released-for-fire-tv-fire-tv-stick/ and which can be purchased from the Amazon app store, one time, for both the stick and the phone that I am using to remote-control the stick. Initially I thought even this wasn't working, but switching this Remote Mouse app from remote mode to mouse mode did the trick.
In hindsight, now that I know about the remote mouse app (which I had to pay a couple bucks for) it might have worked in place of the trackpad and I probably could have avoided the send file workaround.

RN-Dude said:
Success, with some modifications. First, I was unable to click on some of the links to install, perhaps because the trackpad is an essential step. I have no trackpad. Instead, I downloaded those apps to my cell phone and used ES File Explorer to Send the files to the stick. I was still unable to navigate the 1Market app and even had to use the send method to get Google Play Movies, which was my whole point in doing all of this.
With Google Play Movies is installed, it would only play a single movie on my account from where I left off; I was initially unable to navigate the app from the Fire Stick remote to browse my library. I am now able to control the app using a helper app, Remote Mouse for Fire TV, I found out about here: http://www.aftvnews.com/remote-mouse-app-released-for-fire-tv-fire-tv-stick/ and which can be purchased from the Amazon app store, one time, for both the stick and the phone that I am using to remote-control the stick. Initially I thought even this wasn't working, but switching this Remote Mouse app from remote mode to mouse mode did the trick.
In hindsight, now that I know about the remote mouse app (which I had to pay a couple bucks for) it might have worked in place of the trackpad and I probably could have avoided the send file workaround.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
with the latest ROM for the fire tv, its not possible to install the get the google play movies to work.

I had issues with following that YouTube video. In order to download the various Google apps (Services etc al) I clicked on the link and then, in the more menu of ES File Manager clicked on Open in Browser which then kicked off the download. This suggests that the steps are version specific with the file manager behaving differently plus I had an issue with getting YouTube installed. YouTube has grown so much that you have to identify an apk so I downloaded the version shown in the video. In fact I gave up on ES File Manager and side loaded apps using Apps2Fire. This also removes the need to install 1Mobile.
Wukong did not work for me as it did not recognise mouse clicks and has been replaced with another app. So I grabbed hold of Remote Mouse for Fire TV which works like a charm.

I downloaded and installed all the programs and opened the Google play app. It seems to do nothing though, what did I do wrong?

Easiest work around is to play it on your phone and mirror the screen to your firestick. Works perfectly for me.

ducktat said:
Easiest work around is to play it on your phone and mirror the screen to your firestick. Works perfectly for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what's the best way to mirror from Android to the stick?

It seems watching Google Play Movies on an Amazon Fire TV is much simpler now. Just use the official Silk Browser app from the Amazon app store, and sign in at play.google.com.
When you go to your library, you will be taken to YouTube to play your videos. Just make sure you are signed in there too.

Related

[Q] cannot setup google play store properly

Hey guys, I got myself the firetv yesterday, and have gotten to rooting the device, and have set up xbmc.
One of the main apps that I want to use is hbogo, and I understand it is possible to do so using the google play store. I have got the google play store all downloaded and ready to go, and used the market helper app technique to trick it to thinking its an ASUS tablet, as outlined below:
http://www.aftvnews.com/how-to-install-the-google-play-store-on-the-amazon-fire-tv/
and used
http://www.aftvnews.com/how-to-trick-google-play-store-into-allowing-all-apps/
However, the play store still says the device is not supported. I have tried clearing caches and data files but to no avail. Any advice will be appreciated. TIA
Actually, I got it to work- the key was to refresh it using google dashboard, and wait for a bit until the system reads it.
However, as I was using the hbogo application, I noticed that the resolution on the downloaded videos are not hd. I first thought it was because the device setting was for the nexus 7 tablet, but I saw that that device has a 1280 by 800 resolution, and therefore hbogo should stream at HD quality, correct? I have a 720p tv, so I don't need to go to 1080p, but I can definitely notice a lower streaming quality when comparing hbogo from the firetv vs the past when I used a roku 3.
Any help will be appreciated.
If both use apps,you can't properly compare them to each other as the same thing because Roku is Apple while Fire TV is Android.
The two apps are much different from each other.
It must be a quality issue with the Android app in comparison to the Roku app.
Edit: DERP
^ wut?
Roku has nothing to do with apple. They're actually direct competitors with apple tv lol
Anyone having issues with Google Play restoring back to its Fire TV state without reboot?
Market Helper notes say that it should not restore back to Fire TV, unless there is a reboot or you actively restore it back to normal.
However, I have noticed that my Play Store/ Android Device Manager reverts back to Fire TV state even without reboot...
For example, I have a full Play Store with many compatible apps one evening, and then the Fire TV goes to sleep (not rebooted) and the following day, the Play Store is back to its state in which there are lots of non-compatible apps. I then have to use Market Helper to set it to be recognized as a Nexus 7 again.
Thanks.

[Q] Slingbox Fire TV

Hello, I have searched the Internet for a Slingplayer app for my Slingbox solo on my Fire TV with no success. I took a chance and sideloaded several APK'S, a lot did not show the video, only sound. I found Slingplayer for tablets 3.4.0 and got it to work, with a little fiddling the quality is not bad (SD) at 2Mps on a wired network. With an Ipad mouse app and an Ipad remote control app It works, I use the Virgin Media Anytime App to change channels. I would like some feedback as to whether or not this is a new discovery or if there is a better APK for the Fire TV out there...... Thanks ....Mark
I had this version loaded on my AFS successfully. However, since I didn;t have Google Play Store, it stopped working after a while since it couldn;t validate my license.
sparkycomuk said:
Hello, I have searched the Internet for a Slingplayer app for my Slingbox solo on my Fire TV with no success. I took a chance and sideloaded several APK'S, a lot did not show the video, only sound. I found Slingplayer for tablets 3.4.0 and got it to work, with a little fiddling the quality is not bad (SD) at 2Mps on a wired network. With an Ipad mouse app and an Ipad remote control app It works, I use the Virgin Media Anytime App to change channels. I would like some feedback as to whether or not this is a new discovery or if there is a better APK for the Fire TV out there...... Thanks ....Mark
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
tekweezle said:
I had this version loaded on my AFS successfully. However, since I didn;t have Google Play Store, it stopped working after a while since it couldn;t validate my license.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the apk. The error message doesn't seem to occur until I log out eventually and then doesn't let me back in so just uninstall and reinstall and works again. Isn't ideal but its just like having to log in again after each time.
These versions have worked for me thus far on AFS. The first was made for a phone and second for tablet. I use the one for the tablet as looks a little better and for me has a real remote. Only issue with the slingbox remote was the bottom half was off the screen. To bring it up, using the firestick remote, placed the mouse over the slingbox remote and moving the firestick cursor up first, then held down the firestick select button, letting go when reaches desired location. Mouse must be over the remote throughout. Stays in that position until log out.
bit.ly/2Ovmvis
bit.ly/2ypee5D
This thread is 3 and a half years old so might be a better way out there by now? Something with better quality?
There's a Slingplayer app for the Fire TV. Why aren't you using it?
Sizzlechest said:
There's a Slingplayer app for the Fire TV. Why aren't you using it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the slingplayer application for firetv does not work with all slingbox models. I use the app for tablet and I have installed a version of google playstore posted in this forum. For the user interface I use an i7 Rii mini with the function of "air mouse".
1. Google Play Services 11.9.75.apk
2. Google Play Store 8.5.39.apk
3. Google Account Manager 4.4.4.apk
4. Google Gmail (Login Interface) 5.6.102685581.apk
5. SlingPlayer Free for Tablet_v1.0.1.apk
Wow, what an old thread. I mothballed my streaming boxes because cable set top boxes are becoming rare. But while I had them running, my slingbox and Vulkano boxes worked great for streaming live tv!

FireTV side loaded YouTube TV apk

I really need to get this working as I can't afford IPTV or any live TV substription right now. Is their any possible way I can get this working? I'm one of the lucky few that live in an area that YouTube TV covers and I'm testing out their 1 month trial. Right now theirs not much options in reguarding to using it on anything other than a phone/tablet.
I've tried side loading YouTube TV onto my fire stick and I have google services side loaded using this guide from AFTVNews (sorry I can't link as I've not met forum requirments) as well but it's telling me I need to update my google services in order to use the app.
Here are the Gapps I've successfully sideloaded:
com.google.android.gsf.login v4.4.4-1215936.apk
com.google.android.gms v8.7.03.apk
com.android.vending v6.0.2.apk
If anyone can tell me which one I need to update specifically for the Fire TV/YouTube TV app is so much appreciated!
I would like also to know. I have an older FireTV that has all Amazon updates blocked so it wont update Youtube app. Is there a way to either download and sideload it or update just the app from the Play store?
after you do update services apk here APKMirror Google Play Services you will encounter the problem with not finding the location. That is where I am currently stuck at
Credit choice of play services from this topic
youtube tv
does anyone know of any device that I could use. to use youtube tv on television screen with remote to operate youtube tv?
I was able to side load the new Android TV app for You Tube TV. I get the new interface, but cannot play anything. When I click on a program it boots me back to the launcher.
anyone.. have any suggestions.
It wont let me edit the previous post.
Ok after looking around i found this helped me to get to run. I have not signed in or clicked on start trial yet. Short on time today..
1. get play services and store via this xda thread
https://forum.xda-developers.com/fire-tv/general/guide-installing-google-play-service-t3672181
install both.
I installed these versions
Android TV) 8.0.28.R-xhdpi [8] [PR] 163004339 (320dpi) (Android 5.0+).
Google Play services (Android TV) 11.7.44 (836-173432861) .
2. install the youtube tv apk
https://www.apkmirror.com/apk/googl...e-tv-android-tv-1-04-05-android-apk-download/
YouTube TV - Watch & Record Live TV (Android TV) 1.04.05 (arm64) Version: 1.04.05 (10405330) arm64
Package: com.google.android.youtube.tvunplugged
I hope this works... If not I will probably load the fake gps apk and see.
will report back tonight after errands
Got all 3 installed and YouTubeTV launches without error but i'm stuck there. It seems there is no way to add my google account so the setup does not complete. I cannot get the login field to accept text input.
salamandar said:
Got all 3 installed and YouTubeTV launches without error but i'm stuck there. It seems there is no way to add my google account so the setup does not complete. I cannot get the login field to accept text input.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was able to get a step further by logging in, but when you go to select a show or channel to watch you get booted from the app and back to the Fire TV UI.
tkamen said:
I was able to get a step further by logging in, but when you go to select a show or channel to watch you get booted from the app and back to the Fire TV UI.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here. Anyone been able to keep the app from crashing?
So, ads play but as soon as the ad is over it crashes. Could this be something Google is doing?
I've tried adding Google framework and root cloak to everything that has been tried already. I've enabled mock location on fire tv and used mock GPS to set location. Must be a device model issue. App crashes before video starts.
Yep, i just tried tonight. sorry about the delay.
it loads, authenticates via the pc code.
It will play an ad for anything in your library then kicks it out to amazon os.
I am not sure what logfile to go look around at... Does anyone know?
I think I am going to try and load the newest version apk 1.11 something.
How could google think this will work for most people.. casting . sucking the battery out of your mobile..
ok.. an update.. I have a firetv and a firetv stick.
I loaded the youtubetv app on my phone. opened the youtube tv app on phone tapped the cast icon and it tried to play. It gave an error. on phone
an error occurred playing the video
on the firetv:
"playback error this video is unplayable on this device record this id number" RbqmGx3fYZSadbjC
Next I thought hell with it I will mess with my firestick that i rarely use.
I opened the youtubetv app on my phone and tapped the cast icon and "magically" the firetvstick was there. I selected it and the youtube TV app opened on it. Note I had not loaded any apk for youtube tv on this firestick. It unfortunately gave the same type of playback error for live or shows in my home tab.
firetv stick
youtube version
youtube version 2.0.58.0_206003810
firetv box
youtube version 2.0.58.0_206003810
youtube tv version 1.04.05
I am trying to transfer the newer youtubetv apk , taking forever and I need to get to sleep.
com.google.android.apps.youtube.unplugged_1.11.6-201110610_minAPI21(armeabi-v7a)(nodpi)_apkmirror.com.apk
loaded that up.. it acts different, wont let me click past that i have an account.
slightly off topic
Sorry to go slightly off topic - I am also looking for this, but for a different reason.
Just a moment ago a message appeared on my YouTube app for my Amazon Fire Stick, stating Google is pulling the plug on YouTube being available for Fire Stick Devices (Fire TV Stick).
They are removing it from the devices on January 1st, 2018.
I'm not sure if that's going to effect your efforts, but I think this thread is going to be getting very popular soon and hopefully you guys figure something out.
I will be following the thread and eventually will have to side-load youtube or use an unofficial apk.
Good luck, and we're all counting on you.
Amazon and Google are really playing hard ball with each other re: this topic! They're really hitting each other where it hurts....their wallets. Hopefully we get this worked out - I'd love to ditch Directv Now and go with Youtube TV!
Hello, I'm also here because the official YouTube app on Fire TV that's just using the TV interface (YouTube(dot)com/TV) is about to get useless starting 2018. I think the way Google is making that happen is by recognizing the user agent so if anybody knows how to change it, please let us know
Julian120 said:
Hello, I'm also here because the official YouTube app on Fire TV that's just using the TV interface (YouTube(dot)com/TV) is about to get useless starting 2018. I think the way Google is making that happen is by recognizing the user agent so if anybody knows how to change it, please let us know
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What about sideloading youtube in kodi? I do not get this notification I get in the youtube app. Doesn't look as good and has bit less functionality but it may be the trick.
Dave

Dropbox and SnapTube interface issue

I have sideloaded Dropbox and SnapTube to my Firestick. Both load up fine, but the menus don't seem to work properly with the remote and I can't navigate to the file of interest, or if I can, I can't play it. I know others have used Dropbox successfully. I may be a screen resolution issue, but I've played around with the TV settings to no avail. I've also tried my phone as a remote rather than the Fire Remote. Any suggestions please. The pre-installed apps all work fine.

How can I improve my Fire TV Stick Gen 2?

I forgot to block OTA updates so I'm on the latest firmware (5.2.6.3). From the many hours of googling I've done it seems it can't be rooted right now. I'm hoping somebody tells me I'm wrong there. I fudged some stuff up so I did a factory reset so I'm working from a pretty much clean install.
My main complaint really is that I hate the launcher and the UI. It's soooooo slow and clunky from the get go. I saw ways of uninstalling bloat ware and using a different launcher, but they were only for older firmware or other FTV devices. I'm totally fine with losing any Amazon apps. Nothing against Amazon I just don't need those apps.
I looked into casting instead because I saw how awesomely smooth and easy the Chromecast is to use and I really regret not getting a Chromecast. I feel like I've tried every casting receiver on the play store, and a few that weren't, with very little success. I can really only cast YouTube with AirScreen.
The Netflix app on my phone acts like it can cast to the firestick right out of the package. But when I hit the cast button on my phone it opens Netflix and loads the user selection screen. Then I have to use the remote to pick the user and the thing I wanted to watch. Defeating the purpose. It's pretty much the same story for every app that that allows me to cast to the firestick.
Sorry for writing a novel full of dumb rookie questions. I've spent a lot of time trying a lot of stuff with no success at all. I just want this thing to work better somehow. Right now I kinda wanna just install Kodi and sell it as jailbroken so I can get a Chromecast.
To cast YouTube use this app
YouTube App
Goto YouTube settings on both fire tv app & your YouTube app on phone & select watch on TV & choose to link to TV via code
Enter the code on your phone that the fire app gives you & then you can cast (the fire app must be open for the cast icon to appear)
You can cast Spotify easily by using the Spotify TV version of the app on the firestick
You can cast any video/audio/picture on your phone using allcast (playstore) and also installing the receiver app on the firestick
You can cast any video/audio from your media server (pc/laptop/nas drive) using bubbleupnp
There's no such thing as a "jailbroken" firestick
Kodi is just a media player - what you use it for is your choice - for example you can use it with bubbleupnp to create a media server on your pc to cast all videos on your pc to the firestick
TheFixItMan said:
To cast YouTube use this app
YouTube App
Goto YouTube settings on both fire tv app & your YouTube app on phone & select watch on TV & choose to link to TV via code
Enter the code on your phone that the fire app gives you & then you can cast (the fire app must be open for the cast icon to appear)
You can cast Spotify easily by using the Spotify TV version of the app on the firestick
You can cast any video/audio/picture on your phone using allcast (playstore) and also installing the receiver app on the firestick
You can cast any video/audio from your media server (pc/laptop/nas drive) using bubbleupnp
There's no such thing as a "jailbroken" firestick
Kodi is just a media player - what you use it for is your choice - for example you can use it with bubbleupnp to create a media server on your pc to cast all videos on your pc to the firestick
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
YouTube, music and videos files I own are the only things I don't need help casting. But thank you for your quick reply. They make it crazy easy to stream files from your phone/pc. I just don't have any movies or TV shows downloaded on any of my devices. I forgot to mention I have been able to stream music I have on my phone/pc no problem. And the music apps casting sends to work pretty decently.
I know there's no such thing as a jailbroken firestick. But most people think a firestick with Kodi installed is a jailbroken firestick and will pay you $10 to $20 more for it :laugh:

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