Remove Phone Programing?

I have several old NOTE 2 (Sprint) phones. No longer used. I want to use them around the house for.. OK no bull ****.. I want to install Verizon Messages + on it and log in to my wife's
Account so I can see her messages. When I install the app on the old phone
It knows I am on a phone e and tries to log in with the old number.

The same app when installed on a tablet, let's you enter the phone number
To use and login with. How can I make the app think it's on a tablet and not
A phone?

Again, the phone is no longer used, just connected on WiFi and I am willing
To root or whatever, not worried about risk of bricking it as I will just
Move on to the next one and try again. I have tried Carrier Wipe and all. Still nothing.

Thanks in advanced. (Also I was thinking maybe something with the build.prop file
But app just force closes)