Before You Try Any Fixes: What ShortMax Actually Is
Understanding who runs ShortMax, a vertical short-drama streaming app, makes account issues simpler to solve. Over on the App Store the seller is SHORTTV LIMITED, a company registered in Hong Kong, and Google Play names the same legal entity under the developer name SHORTMAX LIMITED. ShortMax launched in September 2023, with short form streaming Google Play giving September 3 and the App Store giving September 11 of that year. With over 100 million installs reported for the Android version alone, you are by no means alone if you have a billing question. More than 50,000 dramas in 19 languages is what its store listing claims, the company’s own figure rather than an independently verified count. Whether users search for «shortmax», «short max» or «shortmax app», all three searches lead to the same product covered here. ShortMax’s terms of service are governed by Hong Kong law.
Can’t Sign In to ShortMax?
Most of the time, shortmax login trouble begins when you log in with another method than the one you used the first time. As stated in ShortMax’s terms, you can sign in with Facebook, Google or Apple, or with an email address or phone number that is tied to your ShortMax account. Pressing a different button later might put you in a separate and empty account, which explains why a purchase can seem to vanish. It has not been confirmed whether there is a guest mode, so you shouldn’t rely on one to keep your coins or pass safe. The safest approach is to settle on one sign-in method and stick with it on every device. Use the steps below to eliminate that simple mix-up before deciding your coins are gone.

- Try the sign-in button you chose when you first paid.
- Look for your purchases while trying the other methods one at a time.
- Use the email address or phone number bound to the account for an email or phone login.
- Update the app and restart your phone.
- Reach out to support with your UID and receipt if nothing works, as explained below.
The ShortMax Subscription Explained
The main shortmax subscription in the US App Store is called Weekly Pass Pro. In September 2026 it shows up at about $19.99 a week, with a second tier at about $9.99 a week, while one-time purchases run from about $3.49 to $24.99. Monthly and yearly plans could not be confirmed, because the US store lists only weekly passes. Treat those figures as a reference point, as prices vary by country, platform and promotion. The terms of service say a subscription renews automatically 24 hours before it expires, at the same price as before. Users get tripped up by this timing, since cancelling on the final day might already be too late. Outside the pass, episodes are unlocked with coins; App Store reviewers report that some require up to 60 coins, with little cost information up front. Look at the price on the unlock screen each time instead of assuming every episode costs the same.
Charged After a Free Trial?
In this category, a common complaint is an unexpected charge after what seemed like a free period. In its own replies on Google Play, ShortMax acknowledges that people were confused by its «free trial» and «24 hours free» wording. Both Apple and Google point out in their help pages that uninstalling the app does not stop billing. Until it is cancelled, a weekly pass started from an offer continues to renew, in practice. The party that actually charged you decides where you cancel and where you ask for money back, so finding that out is your first job. Save the evidence first, since a clear timeline makes every later step faster.
- Look through your inbox for an Apple or Google Play receipt.
- If you find one, cancel and request refunds through that store.
- Capture the merchant name on your card statement if no receipt turns up.
- Use the steps below to cancel the renewal immediately.
- Then, go through the matching route to ask for a refund.
How to Cancel a ShortMax Subscription on iPhone
The option to cancel sits in your iPhone settings for App Store subscriptions, since Apple handles the billing. The ShortMax 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. Apple says plainly that 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. The whole process takes under a minute.
- Launch Settings and tap your name at the top.
- Tap Subscriptions.
- Find ShortMax in the list and tap it.
- Tap Cancel and confirm.
- You may have paid under another Apple ID or on Android if ShortMax is missing.
How to Cancel ShortMax on Android
A pass bought through Google Play on Android is controlled from the Play Store, not from ShortMax itself. Google spells out on its help page that removing an app does not cancel its subscription. The «About Subscription» option inside the app listed in ShortMax’s terms is another route, but Google Play is where store-billed renewals are reliably stopped. Make sure that you are in the same Google account that paid, or the subscription might not appear in the list. Once it shows as cancelled, grab a screenshot and keep it with your receipt. If you paid anywhere other than Google Play, it will not show there, and support becomes your route.
- Launch the Google Play Store.
- Open your account menu and find Subscriptions.
- Tap ShortMax.
- Tap Cancel and follow the prompts.
Refunds: The ShortMax Terms on Refunds
ShortMax’s terms of service take a firm line on money back. ShortMax states that refunds are «not entertained unless the paid product/service is unusable for the reason of ShortMax». Little room is left for a refund just because you forgot to cancel, if that is read literally. However, store purchases also fall under Apple’s and Google’s own refund processes, which run separately from the app’s terms. For a purchase made on iPhone, you can ask for a refund through Apple’s Report a Problem page, and Apple usually responds within 24 to 48 hours. For Android purchases, Google says that within 48 hours of purchase you may be able to receive a refund directly from Google Play. After that window has passed, Google sends you to the developer, which means writing to ShortMax customer service. Refunds are not guaranteed, so summarize what happened briefly and attach your receipt.
How to Reach ShortMax Customer Service
Email is the main channel for ShortMax customer service. ShortMax’s terms of service, published on the official ShortMax website, give the service email you should use. Addresses posted on question-and-answer sites call for caution: at least one circulating address uses a misspelled domain and could not be verified. In its replies 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 recommended in the same replies for cancellation problems. If replies are slow and the charge came through a store, pursuing the Apple or Google refund route at the same time is an option. A full first message saves time, so add the items below.
- The sign-in method you use and your UID.
- 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.
- A single clear request: cancel, refund, restore coins or fix a login.
Which Place Handles Each ShortMax Task
Much of the frustration comes from trying to fix a problem in the wrong place. The app handles your account, coins and viewing, while the stores take care of the money for store purchases. With whatever the app and the stores cannot settle on their own, email support steps in. Before you start tapping through menus, use the table below as a quick guide. The table reflects the terms and store help pages as of September 2026, but menus may change with updates. Cancel first, ask questions second when in doubt.
| Task | Where to go | Key details |
|---|---|---|
| Sign in or change accounts | Inside the ShortMax app | Facebook, Google, Apple, or linked email or phone |
| Review or cancel inside the app | The ShortMax app | «About Subscription», per the terms |
| Stop a pass bought on iPhone | App Store | Settings, then your name, then Subscriptions |
| Cancel a pass bought on Android | The Google Play Store | Subscriptions, in your account menu |
| Get a refund on an App Store charge | App Store | Report a Problem; 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 | By email | Service email listed in the terms, with your UID |