Before Fixing Anything: What ShortMax Actually Is
Finding out who runs ShortMax, a vertical short-drama streaming app, makes account issues simpler to solve. In the App Store the seller appears as SHORTTV LIMITED, a Hong Kong-registered company, and Google Play lists the same legal entity under the developer name SHORTMAX LIMITED. The app went live in September 2023, going by the stores: Google Play gives September 3 and the micro drama App Store gives September 11 of that year. Given over 100 million installs shown for the Android version alone, you are far from alone if you have a question about billing. Its listing in the stores advertises more than 50,000 dramas in 19 languages, which is the company’s own figure rather than a count from an outside source. Users write the name as “shortmax”, “short max” or “shortmax app”, and all three searches lead to the same product this guide covers. The app’s terms of service are governed by Hong Kong law.
Can’t Log In to ShortMax?
The majority of shortmax login trouble comes from logging in through a different method than the one you used at first. Facebook, Google or Apple can all be used for signing in, per ShortMax’s terms, and so can a phone number or email address bound to your ShortMax account. Pressing a different button later may 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 don’t rely on one to keep your pass or coins safe. To stay safe, settle on one sign-in method and stick with it on every device. That simple mix-up should be ruled out with the steps below before you assume your coins are gone.
- Try the sign-in button you tapped when you first paid.
- Check for your purchases while trying the other methods one at a time.
- Enter the email address or phone number linked to the account for an email or phone login.
- Restart your phone after updating the app.
- Reach out to support with your UID and receipt if nothing works, as explained below.
How ShortMax Subscriptions Work
On the US App Store, the primary shortmax subscription is called Weekly Pass Pro. In September 2026 it is priced at about $19.99 per week, a second tier sits at about $9.99 a week, and one-time purchases range from about $3.49 to $24.99. Use those figures as a rough reference, because prices vary by country, platform and promotion. Since the US store lists only weekly passes, monthly and annual plans could not be verified. Each subscription renews automatically, at the same price, 24 hours before it expires, as the terms put it. People get caught out by that timing, since a cancellation on the last day may already be too late. Episodes outside the pass are unlocked with coins; App Store reviewers report that some require up to 60 coins, with little pricing information in advance. Confirm the price on the unlock screen each time instead of assuming every episode costs the same.
Charged After the Trial?
Getting charged without expecting it after what seemed like a free period is a common complaint among apps in this category. The “free trial” and “24 hours free” wording confused people, which ShortMax’s own replies on Google Play acknowledge. Removing the app does not stop billing, a point both Apple and Google make in their help pages. In reality, a weekly pass activated from an offer goes on renewing until you cancel it. Who actually charged you decides where you cancel and where you ask for money back, so working that out comes first. A clear timeline makes every later step faster, so collect the evidence first.
- Look through your inbox for an Apple or Google Play receipt.
- If you find one, cancel and ask for refunds through that store.
- Screenshot the merchant name on your card statement if no receipt turns up.
- Follow the steps below to cancel the renewal immediately.
- After that ask for a refund through the matching route.
How to Cancel ShortMax on iPhone
If you subscribed in the App Store, Apple handles the billing, so the cancel control is located in your iPhone settings. Apple’s settings are the most dependable place to stop an App Store renewal, even though ShortMax’s terms also refer to an “About Subscription” option inside the app. Apple states clearly that deleting the app from your home screen cancels nothing. Because the pass renews 24 hours before it expires, try to cancel at least a day before the renewal date. For proof of the date, screenshot the confirmation screen. The entire process takes under a minute.
- Tap your name at the top once you open Settings.
- Choose Subscriptions.
- Choose ShortMax from the list.
- Tap Cancel, then confirm.
- If ShortMax does not appear, you might have paid under a different Apple ID or on Android.
Stopping ShortMax on Android
On Android, a pass bought through Google Play is controlled from the Play Store rather than from ShortMax itself. Google’s help page is clear that uninstalling an app does not cancel its subscription. Google Play is where store-billed renewals are reliably stopped, even though the in-app “About Subscription” option mentioned in ShortMax’s terms is another route. The subscription might not show up in the list unless you are in the same Google account that paid, so check that first. A payment made anywhere other than Google Play will not show there, so support is the route to take. When it shows as cancelled, grab a screenshot and store it with your receipt.
- Go to the Google Play Store.
- Locate Subscriptions in your account menu.
- Tap ShortMax.
- Press Cancel, then complete the prompts.
Money Back: What ShortMax’s Terms Say
The ShortMax terms take a firm line on money back. Refunds, in the company’s words, are “not entertained unless the paid product/service is unusable for the reason of ShortMax”. Taken 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. For an iPhone purchase, you can ask for a refund through Apple’s Report a Problem page, and Apple usually replies within 24 to 48 hours. On Android, Google says that within 48 hours of purchase you might be able to obtain a refund directly from Google Play. After that window, Google directs you to the developer, which means writing to ShortMax customer service. Because no refund is guaranteed, describe what happened briefly and attach your receipt.
Getting in Touch With ShortMax Customer Service
Email is the main way to reach ShortMax customer service. ShortMax’s terms of service, published on the official ShortMax website, include the service email you should use. Addresses posted on question-and-answer sites deserve caution: at least one circulating address uses a misspelled domain and could not be verified. The UID, the account ID that lets staff find you, is what the developer asks users to provide in replies to Google Play reviews. The same replies suggest the subject line “Cancel Subscription – Urgent” for cancellation issues. When replies are slow and the charge came through a store, pursuing the Apple or Google refund route at the same time is possible. Include the items below, because a complete first message saves time.
- Your UID plus the sign-in method you use.
- The date, amount and store of the charge, with a receipt screenshot.
- Whether you have already cancelled, along with a screenshot of the cancellation screen.
- One specific request: cancel, refund, restore coins or fix a login.
Where Each ShortMax Task Gets Done
Much of the frustration comes from fixing a problem in the wrong place. Your account, coins and viewing are handled by the app, whereas the money for store purchases is handled by the stores. Support by email covers whatever the app and the stores cannot settle on their own. The following table works as a quick map to check before you start tapping through menus. It reflects the terms and store help pages as of September 2026, and menus can change with updates. The rule if you are unsure is straightforward: cancel first and ask questions second.
| Action | Where to go | Key details |
|---|---|---|
| Log in or change accounts | ShortMax app | Facebook, Google, Apple, or bound email or phone |
| Review or cancel in the app | The ShortMax app | “About Subscription”, as named in the terms |
| Cancel a pass purchased on iPhone | App Store | Settings, your name, Subscriptions |
| Stop a pass bought on Android | Google Play | Subscriptions, in your account menu |
| Get a refund on an App Store charge | App Store | Report a Problem; reply within 24 to 48 hours |
| Refund a Google Play charge | Google Play, followed by email | Possible within 48 hours; later, contact the developer |
| Missing coins, lockouts, billing disputes | By email | Service email from the terms, plus your UID |