Before You Troubleshoot: What the ShortMax App Actually Is
ShortMax is a streaming app for vertical short dramas, and account issues get easier once you know who is behind it. SHORTTV LIMITED, a Hong Kong-registered company, appears as the seller on watch vertical micro drama the App Store, and Google Play lists that same legal entity under the developer name SHORTMAX LIMITED. ShortMax launched in September 2023, with Google Play showing September 3 and the App Store giving September 11 of that year. Just the Android version lists over 100 million installs, so you are by no means alone with a billing question. Over 50,000 dramas in 19 languages are claimed in its store listing, the company’s own figure rather than an independently verified count. Legally, its terms of service are governed by Hong Kong law. The one product covered here turns up whether people type “shortmax”, “short max” or “shortmax app”.
Can’t Log In to ShortMax?
Logging in through another method than your original one is behind most shortmax login trouble. ShortMax’s terms explain that you can sign in through Facebook, Google or Apple, or using an email address or phone number bound to your ShortMax account. If you choose a different button later, you might end up in a separate and empty account, which is why a purchase can appear to disappear. Do not count on a guest mode to keep your coins or pass secure, as whether ShortMax has one is unconfirmed. Settling on one sign-in method and using it on every device is the safest habit. Follow the steps below to eliminate that simple mix-up before concluding your coins are gone.

- Go back to the sign-in button you tapped when you first paid.
- Check for your purchases while trying the other methods one at a time.
- Use the address or number linked to the account for an email or phone login.
- Update the app and restart your phone.
- Contact support with your UID and receipt if none of this helps, as described below.
Understanding the ShortMax Subscription
The primary shortmax subscription in the US App Store goes by the name Weekly Pass Pro. In September 2026 it costs about $19.99 per week, a second tier sits at about $9.99 per week, and one-time purchases go from about $3.49 to $24.99. Treat those figures as a reference point, since prices change by country, platform and promotion. Monthly and annual plans could not be confirmed, because the US store lists only weekly passes. Each subscription renews automatically, at the same price, 24 hours before it expires, as the terms put it. Cancelling on the final day might already be too late, which is why that timing trips people up. Outside of the pass, episodes are unlocked with coins, and App Store reviewers point out that some cost up to 60 coins with little pricing information up front. Look at the price on the unlock screen each time instead of assuming every episode costs the same.
Got Charged After the Trial?
Being billed without expecting it after what seemed like a free period is a common complaint in this category. Its “free trial” and “24 hours free” wording confused users, as ShortMax’s own replies on Google Play acknowledge. In reality, a weekly pass activated from an offer keeps renewing until you cancel it. As both Apple and Google note in their help pages, uninstalling the app does not stop billing. Begin by figuring out who actually charged you, since that determines where you cancel and where you request money back. Gather the evidence before anything else: a clear timeline will make every later step faster.
- Search your inbox for an Apple or Google Play receipt.
- Cancel the pass and ask for a refund through that store if one turns up.
- Capture the merchant name on your card statement if no receipt turns up.
- Stop the renewal at once using the steps below.
- Then, go through the matching route to ask for a refund.
How to Cancel a ShortMax Subscription on iPhone
The cancel control lives in your iPhone settings for App Store subscriptions, because Apple handles the billing. The ShortMax terms also mention an “About Subscription” option inside the app, but Apple’s settings are the surest place to stop an App Store renewal. Deleting the app from your home screen cancels nothing, and Apple says so plainly. The pass renews 24 hours before it expires, so plan to cancel at least a day before the renewal date. The entire process takes under a minute. To have proof of the date, capture the confirmation screen.
- Tap your name at the top after opening Settings.
- Tap Subscriptions.
- Find ShortMax in the list and tap it.
- Tap Cancel, then confirm.
- You may have paid under another Apple ID or on Android if ShortMax is missing.
Cancelling ShortMax on Android
On Android devices, a pass bought through Google Play is controlled from the Play Store rather than from ShortMax itself. Google makes it clear in 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 switched off. If you are not in the same Google account that paid, the subscription might not show up in the list, so check that. When it shows as cancelled, grab a screenshot and file it with your receipt. Support is the route to take if you paid anywhere other than Google Play, because that payment will not show there.
- Launch the Google Play Store.
- Tap your account menu and find Subscriptions.
- Pick ShortMax.
- Press Cancel, then follow the prompts.
Getting a Refund: What ShortMax’s Terms Say
On refunds, ShortMax’s terms take a firm line. Refunds, in the company’s words, 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. The refund processes of Apple and Google, however, also cover store purchases and 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 replies 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. Once that window has passed, Google sends you to the developer, so you will need to email ShortMax customer service. A refund is never guaranteed, so explain what happened briefly and attach your receipt.
Getting in Touch With ShortMax Customer Service
ShortMax’s customer service works mainly by email. The service email to use is the one given in ShortMax’s terms of service, which are published on the official ShortMax website. Be careful with addresses posted on question-and-answer sites, since 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 include their UID, the account ID that lets staff find you. The same replies suggest the subject line “Cancel Subscription – Urgent” for cancellation problems. 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.
- The sign-in method you use and your UID.
- The charge’s date, amount and store, plus a screenshot of the receipt.
- Whether you have already cancelled, with a screenshot of that screen.
- One specific request: cancel, refund, restore coins or fix a login.
Which Place Handles Each ShortMax Task
A lot of the frustration comes from fixing a problem in the wrong place. The app takes care of your account, coins and viewing, while the stores take care of the money for store purchases. Anything the app and the stores cannot settle on their own falls to email support. Before you start tapping through menus, use the table below as a quick map. Menus can change with updates, and as of September 2026, the table reflects the terms and store help pages. The rule if you are unsure is straightforward: cancel first and ask questions second.
| Action | Where it happens | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Log in or change accounts | ShortMax app | Facebook, Google, Apple, or a bound email or phone |
| Review or cancel in the app | ShortMax app | “About Subscription”, according to the terms |
| Cancel a pass bought on iPhone | The App Store | Settings, then your name, then Subscriptions |
| Stop a pass bought on Android | Google Play | Subscriptions under your account menu |
| Refund for an App Store charge | The App Store | Report a Problem; a reply in 24 to 48 hours |
| Refund a Google Play charge | Google Play, followed by email | Possible within 48 hours; later on, contact the developer |
| Missing coins, lockouts, billing disputes | Email support | The service email from the terms, plus your UID |
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