Before You Troubleshoot: What the ShortMax App Is
ShortMax is essentially an app that streams vertical short dramas, and problems with an account become easier to solve once you know which company runs it. The seller listed on the App Store is SHORTTV LIMITED, a company registered in Hong Kong, while Google Play places the same legal entity under the developer name SHORTMAX LIMITED. The app launched in September 2023, going by the store listings: Google Play shows September 3 and the App Store shows September 11 of that year. The Android version alone shows over 100 million installs, so you are far from alone with a billing issue. The listing, written by the company itself, claims more than 50,000 dramas in 19 languages, though this is reelshort series the company’s own number and not an independently checked count. Its terms of service are governed by Hong Kong law. Whether people type “shortmax”, “short max” or “shortmax app”, all three searches lead to the same product covered here.
ShortMax Login Not Working?
The majority of shortmax login trouble starts with logging in via a different method than the one you used at first. Facebook, Google and Apple are all accepted for signing in, per ShortMax’s terms, as can an email address or phone number linked to your ShortMax account. Choosing a different button later could land you in a separate, empty account, and that is why a purchase can seem to vanish. Whether ShortMax has a guest mode is not confirmed, so you shouldn’t rely on one to keep your coins or your pass protected. Settling on one sign-in method and using it on every device is the safest approach. Before concluding your coins are gone, check for that simple mix-up with the steps below.
- Begin with the sign-in button you chose when you first paid.
- Test the other methods one at a time and search for your purchases.
- With an email or phone login, use the email address or phone number you tied to the account.
- Update the app and reboot your phone.
- Reach out to support with your UID and receipt if nothing works, as described below.
How ShortMax Subscriptions Work
Weekly Pass Pro is the name of the main shortmax subscription in the US App Store. As of September 2026 it shows up at about $19.99 a week, with a second tier at about $9.99 a week, while one-time purchases run from about $3.49 to $24.99. Treat those figures as a guide, because prices vary by country, platform and promotion. Monthly and annual plans could not be confirmed, because the US store lists only weekly passes. Per the terms, a subscription renews automatically 24 hours before it expires, at the same price. This timing catches people out, 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 pricing information shown beforehand. Do not assume every episode costs the same; look at the price on the unlock screen each time.
Charged After the Trial?
Being billed unexpectedly after what seemed like a free period is a common complaint in this category. The “free trial” and “24 hours free” wording confused people, which ShortMax’s own replies on Google Play admit. As both Apple and Google note in their help pages, uninstalling the app does not stop billing. What happens in practice is that a weekly pass started from an offer keeps 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 clean timeline makes every later step faster, so gather the evidence first.
- Search your inbox for an Apple or Google Play receipt.
- Cancel the pass and request refunds through that store if one turns up.
- If you find none, screenshot the merchant name on your card statement.
- Use the steps below to cancel the renewal immediately.
- After that, go through the matching route to request a refund.
How to Cancel a ShortMax Subscription on iPhone
Apple takes care of the billing for passes bought through the App Store, so the cancel control lives in your iPhone settings. While ShortMax’s terms also mention an “About Subscription” option inside the app, Apple’s settings are the most dependable place to stop an App Store renewal. Apple says plainly that removing the app from your home screen cancels nothing. Since the pass renews 24 hours before it expires, try to cancel at least a day before the renewal date. Screenshot the confirmation screen so you have proof of the date. The whole thing takes under a minute.
- Tap your name at the top after opening Settings.
- Choose Subscriptions.
- Locate ShortMax in the list and select it.
- Hit Cancel and confirm.
- If ShortMax does not appear, you might have paid under another Apple ID or on Android.
Stopping ShortMax on Android
On Android devices, a pass bought through Google Play is controlled from the Play Store rather than from ShortMax itself. Google’s help page is clear that deleting an app does not cancel its subscription. ShortMax’s terms name an in-app “About Subscription” option, which is another route, yet renewals billed by the store are reliably stopped in Google Play. The subscription may not appear in the list unless you are in the same Google account that paid, so confirm this first. Once it shows as cancelled, grab a screenshot and file it with your receipt. If you made the payment anywhere other than Google Play, it will not show there, and support becomes your route.
- Go to the Google Play Store.
- Go to Subscriptions in your account menu.
- Choose ShortMax.
- Tap Cancel, then follow the prompts.
Refunds: What the ShortMax Terms Say
On money back, ShortMax’s terms take a strict line. Refunds, as the company puts it, 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. That said, Apple and Google have their own refund processes covering store purchases, which 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 might be able to receive a refund directly from Google Play within 48 hours of purchase. Contacting ShortMax customer service is what remains after that window, because Google directs you to the developer. Since no refund is guaranteed, keep your description of what happened brief and attach your receipt.
Getting in Touch With ShortMax Customer Service
Email is the main channel for ShortMax customer service. ShortMax’s terms of service, published on the official ShortMax website, give the service email to write to. 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, in replies to Google Play reviews, asks users to include their UID, the account ID that lets staff find you. The same replies recommend the subject line “Cancel Subscription – Urgent” for cancellation problems. You can follow the Apple or Google refund route at the same time if the charge came through a store and replies are slow. To save time, add the items below.
- Your UID along with the sign-in method you use.
- The charge’s date, amount and store, plus a screenshot of the receipt.
- 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 to Handle Each ShortMax Task
Much of the frustration comes from fixing a problem in the wrong place. The app handles your account, coins and viewing, while the stores handle the money for store purchases. Email support handles whatever the app and the stores cannot settle on their own. The following table works as a quick guide to use before you start tapping through menus. It follows the terms and store help pages as of September 2026, and menus can change with updates. Cancel first, ask questions second when in doubt.
| Job | Where it happens | Good to know |
|---|---|---|
| Sign in or switch accounts | ShortMax app | Facebook, Google, Apple, or bound email or phone |
| Review or cancel in the app | ShortMax app | “About Subscription”, per the terms |
| Stop a pass bought on iPhone | App Store | Settings, your name, Subscriptions |
| Cancel a pass bought on Android | The Google Play Store | Subscriptions, in your account menu |
| Refund for 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; after that, contact the developer |
| Missing coins, lockouts or billing disputes | By email | Service email from the terms, plus your UID |