Before Fixing Anything: What ShortMax Actually Is

ShortMax is a vertical short-drama streaming service, and problems with an account get simpler to handle once you know who is behind it. In the App Store the seller shows up as SHORTTV LIMITED, a company registered in Hong Kong, and Google Play names the very same legal entity under the developer name SHORTMAX LIMITED. ShortMax first became Ben Armstrong age available in September 2023, with Google Play recording September 3 and the App Store listing September 11 of that year. You are hardly alone with a billing question, since the Android version alone shows over 100 million installs. Over 50,000 dramas in 19 languages is what its store listing claims, the company’s own figure rather than an independent count. ShortMax’s terms of service are governed by Hong Kong law. Whether users type “shortmax”, “short max” or “shortmax app”, each of those searches leads to the same product this guide covers.

Unable to Log In to ShortMax?

In most cases, shortmax login trouble begins when you log in with another method than the one you used the first time. ShortMax’s terms explain that you can log in using Facebook, Google or Apple, or using a phone number or email address linked to your ShortMax account. Tapping a different button later might put you in a separate and empty account, which explains why a purchase can seem to vanish. Choosing one sign-in method and using it on every device is the safest routine. Nobody has confirmed whether the app offers a guest mode, so don’t count on one to keep your pass or coins safe. This simple mix-up should be ruled out with the steps below before you assume your coins are gone.

1. Go back to the sign-in button you tapped when you first paid.
2. Look for your purchases while trying the other methods one at a time.
3. Enter the address or number bound to the account when using an email or phone login.
4. Reboot your phone once you have updated the app.
5. Contact support with your UID and receipt if nothing works, as explained below.

The ShortMax Subscription Explained

The primary shortmax subscription in the US App Store is called Weekly Pass Pro. In September 2026 it lists at about $19.99 a week, a second tier comes in at about $9.99 a week, and one-time purchases range from about $3.49 to $24.99. Use those figures as a reference point, because prices change by country, platform and promotion. We could not confirm monthly or yearly plans, since the US store lists only weekly passes. Each subscription renews automatically, at the same price, 24 hours before it expires, according to the terms. That timing surprises people, since cancelling on the final day might already be too late. Outside the pass, episodes get unlocked with coins; App Store reviewers report that some require up to 60 coins, with little pricing information up front. Rather than assuming every episode costs the same, confirm the price on the unlock screen each time.

Charged After the Trial?

A surprise charge after what looked like a free period is a common complaint in this category. ShortMax’s own responses on Google Play acknowledge that users were confused by its “free trial” and “24 hours free” wording. Until it is cancelled, a weekly pass activated from an offer continues to renew, in practice. Both Apple and Google make the point in their help pages that uninstalling the app does not stop billing. Start by finding out who actually charged you, since this decides where you cancel and where you request a refund. Gather the evidence first, since a clear timeline makes every later step faster.

1. Look for an Apple or Google Play receipt in your inbox.
2. Cancel the pass and ask for a refund through that store if one turns up.
3. Screenshot the merchant name on your card statement if there is none.
4. Cancel the renewal right away using the steps below.
5. Then, go through the matching route to ask for a refund.

Stopping ShortMax on iPhone

The cancel control sits in your iPhone settings if you subscribed through the App Store, because Apple handles the billing. Apple’s settings are the most reliable place to stop an App Store renewal, even though ShortMax’s terms also mention an “About Subscription” option inside the app. Removing the app from your home screen cancels nothing, and Apple says so clearly. Aim to cancel at least a day before the renewal date, because the pass renews 24 hours before it expires. To have proof of the date, capture the confirmation screen. The whole thing takes under a minute.

1. Tap your name at the top once you open Settings.
2. Tap Subscriptions.
3. Tap ShortMax from the list.
4. Press Cancel, then confirm.
5. You might have paid under another Apple ID or on Android if ShortMax does not appear.

How to Cancel ShortMax on Android

A pass bought through Google Play on Android is managed from the Play Store, not from ShortMax itself. The Google help page is clear that removing an app does not cancel its subscription. Google Play is where store-billed renewals are reliably switched off, even though the in-app “About Subscription” option mentioned in ShortMax’s terms is another route. Make sure that you are in the same Google account that paid, or the subscription might not show up in the list. A purchase made anywhere other than Google Play will not show there, so support is the route to take. Take a screenshot once it shows as cancelled, and store it with your receipt.

1. Launch the Google Play Store.
2. Tap your account menu and find Subscriptions.
3. Pick ShortMax.
4. Tap Cancel and follow the prompts.

Refunds: What the ShortMax Terms Say

The ShortMax terms take a strict line on money back. As the company puts it, refunds are “not entertained unless the paid product/service is unusable for the reason of ShortMax”. Read literally, that wording leaves little room for getting money back just because you forgot to cancel. Store purchases, however, also fall under Apple’s and Google’s own refund processes, which run separately from the app’s terms. Apple’s Report a Problem page is where you can request a refund for an iPhone purchase, and Apple usually replies within 24 to 48 hours. A refund directly from Google Play might be possible on Android within 48 hours of purchase, according to Google. After that window has passed, Google sends you to the developer, which means writing to ShortMax customer service. Explain what happened briefly and attach your receipt, because a refund is not guaranteed.

How to Contact ShortMax Customer Service

Email is the main channel for ShortMax customer service. Write to the service email named in ShortMax’s terms of service, which are published on the official ShortMax website. Treat with caution addresses posted on question-and-answer sites, since 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 include in replies to Google Play reviews. For cancellation issues, the same replies recommend the subject line “Cancel Subscription – Urgent”. If the charge came through a store and replies are slow, you can use the Apple or Google refund route at the same time. To save time, include the items below.

1. Your UID plus the sign-in method you use.
2. The charge’s date, amount and store, plus a screenshot of the receipt.
3. Whether you have already cancelled, with a screenshot of that screen.
4. One specific request: cancel, refund, restore coins or fix a login.

Where to Handle Each ShortMax Task

Tackling a problem in the wrong place accounts for much of the frustration. The stores take care of the money for store purchases, while the app manages your account, coins and viewing. For 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. This table reflects the terms and store help pages as of September 2026, but menus can change with updates. The rule when in doubt is simple: cancel first and ask questions second.