Before You Troubleshoot: What the ShortMax App Actually Is
ShortMax is a vertical short-drama streaming service, and account problems become easier to solve once you understand which company runs it. Over on the App Store the seller appears as SHORTTV LIMITED, a company with its registration in Hong Kong, and Google Play shows the very same legal entity under the developer name SHORTMAX LIMITED. The app’s launch came in September 2023, when it went up on Google Play on September 3 and on the App Store on September 11 of that year. The Android version on its own displays over 100 million installs, so you are hardly alone reels shorts with a billing issue. The company claims in its store listing that there are more than 50,000 dramas in 19 languages, though that is a self-reported figure rather than an independently checked count. Its terms of service are subject to Hong Kong law. The one product covered here comes up whether users search for “shortmax”, “short max” or “shortmax app”.
Unable to Log In to ShortMax?
Most of the time, shortmax login trouble starts when you sign in with a different method than the one you used originally. Per ShortMax’s terms, you can sign in with Facebook, Google or Apple, or with an email address or phone number that has been bound to your ShortMax account. If you later tap a different button, you could end up in a separate, empty account, which is why a purchase can appear to disappear. It is unconfirmed whether the app offers a guest mode, so don’t count on one to keep your coins or pass secure. Picking one sign-in method and using it on every device is the safest routine. Before you assume your coins are gone, rule out that simple mix-up with the steps below.
- Return to the sign-in button you used for your first payment.
- Test the other methods one at a time and look for your purchases.
- For an email or phone login, use the address or number you bound to the account.
- Upgrade the app and reboot your phone.
- If none of this works, reach out to support with your UID and receipt, as explained below.
How ShortMax Subscriptions Work
The primary shortmax subscription in the US App Store is named Weekly Pass Pro. 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 run from about $3.49 to $24.99. Since pricing differs by country, platform and promotion, those figures work best as a rough reference. Monthly and yearly plans could not be confirmed, because the US store lists only weekly passes. Per the terms, a subscription renews automatically 24 hours before its expiry, at its previous price. People get caught out by this timing, since cancelling on the final day may already be too late. Episodes outside the pass are unlocked with coins; App Store reviewers report that some cost up to 60 coins, with little cost information shown beforehand. Instead of assuming every episode costs the same, confirm the price on the unlock screen each time.
Charged After a Free Trial?
Across this category, one common complaint is an unexpected charge after what felt like a free period. The “free trial” and “24 hours free” wording confused users, as ShortMax’s own replies on Google Play admit. Uninstalling the app does not stop billing, a point both Apple and Google make in their help pages. In real life, a weekly pass started from an offer keeps renewing until you cancel it. The party that actually charged you decides where you cancel and where you request money back, so finding that out comes first. Save the evidence first, since a clear timeline makes every later step faster.
- Find an Apple or Google Play receipt in your inbox.
- If one turns up, cancel and ask for refunds through that store.
- Screenshot the merchant name on your card statement if there is none.
- Stop the renewal at once using the steps below.
- Then ask for a refund through the matching route.
Stopping ShortMax on iPhone
Apple handles the billing for subscriptions made through the App Store, so the cancel control sits in your iPhone settings. While ShortMax’s terms also mention an “About Subscription” option inside the app, Apple’s settings are the most reliable place to end an App Store renewal. As Apple makes clear, deleting the app from your home screen cancels nothing. Since the pass renews 24 hours before it expires, plan to cancel at least a day before the renewal date. You will need less than a minute on the whole process. A screenshot of the confirmation screen leaves you with proof of the date, so grab one.
- Open Settings and tap your name at the top.
- Tap Subscriptions.
- Select ShortMax from the list.
- Tap Cancel, then confirm.
- You may have paid under a different Apple ID or on Android if ShortMax does not appear.
Cancelling ShortMax on Android
A pass bought through Google Play on Android is handled from the Play Store, not 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, yet store-billed renewals are reliably stopped in Google Play. If you are not in the same Google account that paid, the subscription may not appear in the list, so check that. If you made the payment anywhere other than Google Play, it will not show there, and support becomes your route. Keep a screenshot with your receipt, taken once it shows as cancelled.
- Launch the Google Play Store.
- Open your account menu and choose Subscriptions.
- Choose ShortMax.
- Press Cancel and follow the prompts.
Money Back: The ShortMax Terms on Refunds
The line ShortMax’s terms take on refunds is a firm one. 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 you take that literally. Store purchases, however, 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 request a refund through Apple’s Report a Problem page, and Apple usually replies within 24 to 48 hours. According to Google, on Android you may be able to get a refund directly from Google Play within 48 hours of purchase. After that window, Google refers you to the developer, so you will need to email ShortMax customer service. A refund is never guaranteed, so describe what happened briefly and attach your receipt.
How to Contact ShortMax Customer Service
ShortMax customer service works mainly by email. ShortMax’s terms of service, posted on the official ShortMax website, list the service email you should use. 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. The developer, replying to Google Play reviews, asks users to provide their UID, which is the account ID staff use to find you. The subject line “Cancel Subscription – Urgent” is suggested in the same replies for cancellation problems. You can use the Apple or Google refund route at the same time when replies are slow and the charge came through a store. Since a complete first message saves time, add the items below.
- Your UID along with 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 clear request: cancel, refund, restore coins or fix a login.
Where Each ShortMax Task Gets Done
A lot of the annoyance begins when you try to fix 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. For whatever the app and the stores cannot settle on their own, you turn to email support. Use the table below as a handy map before you start tapping through menus. The table reflects the terms and store help pages as of September 2026, and menus may change with updates. If in doubt, cancel first and ask questions second.
| Job | Where it happens | Key details |
|---|---|---|
| Log in or change accounts | Inside the ShortMax app | Facebook, Google, Apple, or a bound email or phone |
| Review or cancel inside the app | ShortMax app | “About Subscription”, as named in the terms |
| Cancel a pass bought on iPhone | The App Store | Settings, then your name, then Subscriptions |
| Cancel a pass bought on Android | Google Play | Subscriptions, in your account menu |
| Refund for an App Store charge | The App Store | Report a Problem; a reply in 24 to 48 hours |
| Refund for a Google Play charge | Google Play, then email | Possible within 48 hours; after that, contact the developer |
| Lost coins, lockouts, billing disputes | By email | The service email from the terms, plus your UID |