Before Fixing Anything: What the ShortMax App Actually Is
ShortMax works as a streaming app for vertical short dramas, and problems with an account get simpler to handle once you find out which company runs it. The seller on the App Store is SHORTTV LIMITED, a company registered in Hong Kong, while Google Play shows the same legal entity under the developer name SHORTMAX LIMITED. ShortMax went live in September 2023, with Google Play giving September 3 and the App Store listing September 11 of that year. Its listing in the stores claims more than 50,000 dramas in 19 languages, which is the company’s own watch short series number rather than an independently verified count. Given over 100 million installs listed for the Android version alone, you are hardly alone with a question about billing. The one product this guide covers turns up whether people type “shortmax”, “short max” or “shortmax app”. Hong Kong law applies to its terms of service.
Unable to Log In to ShortMax?
Most of the time, shortmax login trouble starts when you log in through a different method than the one you used the first time. Under ShortMax’s terms, you can sign in with Facebook, Google or Apple, or with an email address or phone number bound to your ShortMax account. A purchase can appear to disappear since tapping a different button later could land you in a separate and empty account. As the safest habit, choose one sign-in method and use it on every device. Do not count on a guest mode to keep your pass or coins safe, since whether ShortMax has one is unconfirmed. Work through the steps below to eliminate that simple mix-up before assuming your coins are gone.
- Begin with the sign-in button you chose when you first paid.
- Look for your purchases as you try the other methods one at a time.
- For an email or phone login, use the address or number you linked to the account.
- Update the app and reboot your phone.
- If nothing helps, reach out to support with your UID and receipt, as described below.
Understanding the ShortMax Subscription
Weekly Pass Pro is what is called the main shortmax subscription in the US App Store. In September 2026 it costs about $19.99 per week, a second tier comes in at about $9.99 a week, and one-time purchases go from about $3.49 to $24.99. Because the US store lists only weekly passes, monthly and yearly plans could not be confirmed. Take those figures as a reference point, because pricing differs by country, platform and promotion. The terms say a subscription renews automatically 24 hours before it expires, at its previous price. The timing catches users off guard, since cancelling on the final day can already be too late. Outside the pass, episodes are unlocked with coins; App Store reviewers complain that some cost up to 60 coins, with little cost information in advance. Do not assume every episode costs the same; check the price on the unlock screen each time.
Billed After the Trial?
In this category, a common complaint is an unexpected charge after what seemed like a free period. ShortMax’s own replies on Google Play concede that people were confused by its “free trial” and “24 hours free” wording. In practice, a weekly pass begun through an offer goes on renewing until you cancel it. Both Apple and Google state in their help pages that uninstalling the app does not stop billing. Who actually charged you determines where you cancel and where you ask for money back, so finding that out is your first job. A clear timeline makes every later step faster, so gather the evidence first.
- Search your inbox for an Apple or Google Play receipt.
- If one turns up, cancel and request refunds through that store.
- Screenshot the merchant name on your card statement if no receipt turns up.
- Stop the renewal at once using the steps below.
- After that, go through the matching route to ask for a refund.
Stopping ShortMax on iPhone
If you subscribed via the App Store, Apple handles the billing, so the cancel control is found in your iPhone settings. Apple’s settings are the most dependable place to stop an App Store renewal, even though ShortMax’s terms also mention an “About Subscription” option inside the app. Apple says plainly that deleting the app from your home screen cancels nothing. Aim to cancel at least a day before the renewal date, because the pass renews 24 hours before it expires. The process takes less than a minute. Screenshot the confirmation screen so you have proof of the date.
- Go to Settings and tap your name at the top.
- Tap Subscriptions.
- Choose ShortMax from the list.
- Press Cancel, then confirm.
- You might have paid under another Apple ID or on Android if ShortMax does not appear.
Stopping ShortMax on Android
On an Android phone, a pass bought through Google Play is handled from the Play Store rather than from ShortMax itself. Google spells out in its help page that uninstalling an app does not cancel its subscription. Google Play is where store-billed renewals are reliably stopped, although the in-app “About Subscription” option named in ShortMax’s terms is another route. Unless you are in the same Google account that paid, the subscription may not show up in the list, so check that. Take a screenshot once it shows as cancelled, and file it with your receipt. A payment made anywhere other than Google Play will not show there, so support becomes the way forward.
- Open the Google Play Store.
- Tap your account menu and find Subscriptions.
- Select ShortMax.
- Press Cancel, then complete the prompts.
Money Back: What the ShortMax Terms Say
The stance ShortMax’s terms take on refunds is a strict one. To quote the company, refunds are “not entertained unless the paid product/service is unusable for the reason of ShortMax”. Taken at face value, that leaves little room for a refund just because you forgot to cancel. The refund processes of Apple and Google, however, also cover store purchases and run separately from the app’s terms. If you bought on iPhone, you can ask for a refund through Apple’s Report a Problem page, and Apple usually responds within 24 to 48 hours. As Google explains, on Android you may be able to get a refund directly from Google Play within 48 hours of purchase. After that window, Google points you to the developer, which means writing to ShortMax customer service. Refunds are not guaranteed, so describe what happened briefly and attach your receipt.
How to Contact ShortMax Customer Service
ShortMax’s customer service operates mainly by email. Use the service email listed in ShortMax’s terms of service, which are published on the official ShortMax website. Addresses shared on question-and-answer sites deserve 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 include 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. You can use the Apple or Google refund route at the same time if the charge came through a store and replies are slow. Add the items below, because a complete first message saves time.
- The sign-in method you use and your UID.
- The date, amount and store of the charge, with a receipt screenshot.
- Whether you have already cancelled, with a screenshot of that screen.
- A single clear request: cancel, refund, restore coins or fix a login.
Where to Handle Each ShortMax Task
A lot of the annoyance starts when people try to fix a problem in the wrong place. The app manages 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, you turn to email support. Before you start tapping through menus, use the table below as a quick map. It reflects the terms and store help pages as of September 2026, and menus can change with updates. The rule when in doubt is simple: cancel first and ask questions second.
| Job | Where it happens | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Sign in or switch accounts | The ShortMax app | Facebook, Google, Apple, or a bound email or phone |
| Review or cancel inside the app | ShortMax app | “About Subscription”, according to the terms |
| Cancel a pass purchased on iPhone | App Store | Settings, your name, Subscriptions |
| Cancel a pass purchased on Android | The Google Play Store | Subscriptions under your account menu |
| Refund for an App Store charge | App Store | Report a Problem; reply in 24 to 48 hours |
| Refund a Google Play charge | Google Play, then email | Possible within 48 hours; after that, contact the developer |
| Lost coins, lockouts, billing disputes | By email | Service email listed in the terms, with your UID |


