Before You Troubleshoot: What ShortMax Actually Is
Account issues get easier once you understand who operates ShortMax, a vertical short-drama streaming app. Over on the App Store the seller shows up as SHORTTV LIMITED, a company with its registration in Hong Kong, and Google Play names the same legal entity under the developer name SHORTMAX LIMITED. ShortMax went live in September 2023, going by the stores: Google Play shows September 3 and the App Store gives September 11 of that year. You are by no means alone with a billing question, because the Android version alone lists over 100 million installs. Its listing in the stores claims more than 50,000 dramas in 19 languages, which short dramas is the company’s own number rather than an independently verified count. Its terms of service are governed by Hong Kong law. Users spell the name as “shortmax”, “short max” or “shortmax app”, and all three searches bring up the same product this guide covers.
Can’t Log In to ShortMax?
Logging in through a different method than your original one is the usual cause of most shortmax login trouble. ShortMax’s terms explain that you can sign in using Facebook, Google or Apple, or using an email address or phone number bound to your ShortMax account. Choosing a different button later might put you in a separate, empty account, and that is why a purchase can appear to disappear. It is unconfirmed whether there is a guest mode, so don’t rely on one to keep your pass or coins safe. For safety, pick one sign-in method and stick with it on every device. That simple mix-up is worth ruling out with the steps below before you conclude your coins are gone.
- Go back to the sign-in button you used for your first payment.
- Test the other methods one at a time and look for your purchases.
- With phone or email login, use the email address or phone number you tied to the account.
- Update the app and restart your phone.
- Reach out to support with your UID and receipt if none of this helps, as described below.
The ShortMax Subscription Explained
In the US App Store, the primary shortmax subscription is named Weekly Pass Pro. In September 2026 it costs about $19.99 a week, a lower tier comes in at about $9.99 per week, and one-time purchases range from about $3.49 to $24.99. It was not possible to confirm monthly and yearly plans, since the US store lists only weekly passes. Use those figures as a guide, since prices vary by country, platform and promotion. Per the terms, a subscription is renewed automatically 24 hours before its expiry, at the same price as before. This timing surprises people, since cancelling on the final day may already be too late. Beyond the pass, episodes are unlocked with coins, and App Store reviewers report that some cost up to 60 coins with little pricing information up front. Do not assume every episode costs the same; look at the price on the unlock screen each time.
Billed After the Trial?
A surprise charge after what felt like a free period is a common complaint in this category. ShortMax’s own replies on Google Play acknowledge that users were confused by its “free trial” and “24 hours free” wording. Until it is cancelled, a weekly pass started from an offer continues to renew, in reality. As both Apple and Google explain in their help pages, uninstalling the app does not stop billing. Start by figuring out who actually charged you, since that decides where you cancel and where you request a refund. Gather the evidence first: a clear timeline makes every later step faster.
- Search your inbox for an Apple or Google Play receipt.
- Cancel and request refunds through that store if you find one.
- If there isn’t one, take a screenshot of the merchant name on your card statement.
- Stop the renewal immediately using the steps below.
- After that, go through the matching route to request a refund.
How to Cancel ShortMax on iPhone
If you subscribed through the App Store, Apple handles the billing, so the cancel control is located in your iPhone settings. ShortMax’s terms also mention an “About Subscription” option inside the app, but Apple’s settings are the most reliable place to stop an App Store renewal. As Apple makes clear, deleting the app from your home screen cancels nothing. Your pass renews 24 hours before it expires, so plan to cancel at least a day before the renewal date. A capture of the confirmation screen leaves you with proof of the date, so grab one. You will need less than a minute on the whole process.
- Tap your name at the top after opening Settings.
- Select Subscriptions.
- Choose ShortMax from the list.
- Hit Cancel and confirm.
- You may have paid under another Apple ID or on Android if ShortMax is missing.
Stopping ShortMax on Android
On Android devices, a pass bought through Google Play is handled from the Play Store rather than from ShortMax itself. Removing an app does not cancel its subscription, and Google’s help page is clear on that point. ShortMax’s terms mention an in-app “About Subscription” option, which is another route, but store-billed renewals are reliably stopped in Google Play. The subscription might not show up in the list unless you are signed in to the same Google account that paid, so check this first. Grab a screenshot once it shows as cancelled, and keep it with your receipt. A purchase made anywhere other than Google Play will not show there, and support becomes your route.
- Open the Google Play Store.
- Open your account menu and find Subscriptions.
- Choose ShortMax.
- Press Cancel, then complete the prompts.
Money Back: The ShortMax Terms on Refunds
The line ShortMax’s terms take on money back is a strict one. To quote the company, refunds are “not entertained unless the paid product/service is unusable for the reason of ShortMax”. Read literally, that leaves little room for a refund just because you forgot to cancel. Apple’s and Google’s own refund processes, however, also cover store purchases and run separately from the app’s terms. You can request a refund on an iPhone purchase using Apple’s Report a Problem page, and Apple usually responds within 24 to 48 hours. A direct refund from Google Play may be possible on Android within 48 hours of purchase, Google says. Once that window has passed, Google sends you to the developer, so you will need to write to ShortMax customer service. No refund is guaranteed, so describe what happened briefly and attach your receipt.
How to Contact ShortMax Customer Service
For the most part, ShortMax customer service works by email. The right service email is the one listed in ShortMax’s terms of service, which are published on the official ShortMax website. Addresses posted on question-and-answer sites deserve caution: at least one circulating address uses a misspelled domain and could not be verified. When replying to Google Play reviews, the developer asks users to add their UID, the account ID that lets staff find you. The subject line “Cancel Subscription – Urgent” is suggested in the same replies for cancellation problems. If a store handled the charge and replies are slow, you can pursue the Apple or Google refund route at the same time. To save time, include the items below.
- Your UID and the sign-in method you use.
- The date, amount and store of the charge, along with a screenshot of your receipt.
- Whether you have already cancelled, along with a screenshot of the cancellation screen.
- One clear request: cancel, refund, restore your coins or fix a login.
Where Every ShortMax Task Is Handled
A lot of the annoyance starts when you try to fix a problem in the wrong place. The app handles your account, coins and viewing, while the stores handle the money for store purchases. Email support covers whatever the app and the stores cannot settle on their own. Before you start tapping through menus, treat the table below as a quick map. Menus can change with updates, and as of September 2026, the table follows the terms and store help pages. The rule if you are unsure is simple: cancel first and ask questions second.
| Action | Where it happens | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Sign in or switch accounts | The ShortMax app | Facebook, Google, Apple, or bound email or phone |
| Review or cancel in the app | Inside the ShortMax app | “About Subscription”, as named in the terms |
| Cancel a pass purchased on iPhone | App Store | Settings, then your name, then Subscriptions |
| Stop a pass bought on Android | The Google Play Store | Subscriptions under your account menu |
| Refund an App Store charge | The App Store | Report a Problem; a reply in 24 to 48 hours |
| Get a refund on a Google Play charge | Google Play, then by email | Possible within 48 hours; later, contact the developer |
| Missing coins, lockouts or billing disputes | Email support | Service email from the terms, plus your UID |
