Before You Try Any Fixes: What the ShortMax App Is
Knowing which company is behind ShortMax, a vertical short-drama streaming app, makes account problems easier. SHORTTV LIMITED, a Hong Kong-registered company, is named as the seller on the App Store, and Google Play lists that same legal entity under the developer name SHORTMAX LIMITED. The app went live in September 2023, according to the store listings: Google Play gives September 3 and the App Store shows September Kirby Ellwood biography 11 of that year. Just the Android version reports over 100 million installs, so you are far from alone with a question about billing. The company claims in its store listing that there are more than 50,000 dramas in 19 languages, but that is the company’s own number and not an independent count. ShortMax’s terms of service are subject to Hong Kong law. Searchers enter the name as “shortmax”, “short max” or “shortmax app”, and all three searches point to the same product this guide covers.
Can’t Sign In to ShortMax?
Most of the time, shortmax login trouble begins when you log in with another method than the one you used originally. ShortMax’s terms state that you can sign in through Facebook, Google or Apple, or using a phone number or email address linked to your ShortMax account. If you later pick a different button, you might wind up in a separate and empty account, which is why a purchase can appear to disappear. It is unconfirmed whether ShortMax offers a guest mode, so don’t rely on one to keep your coins or pass secure. As the safest habit, pick one sign-in method and use it on every device. Work through the steps below to rule out that simple mix-up before deciding your coins are gone.
- Return to the sign-in button you tapped when you first paid.
- Check for your purchases as you try the other methods one at a time.
- For email or phone login, use the email address or phone number you tied to the account.
- Restart your phone after updating the app.
- If nothing works, reach out to support with your UID and receipt, as explained below.
The ShortMax Subscription Explained
The main shortmax subscription in the US App Store goes by the name Weekly Pass Pro. In September 2026 the pass costs about $19.99 a week, a lower tier costs about $9.99 a week, and one-time purchases range from about $3.49 to $24.99. Monthly and yearly plans could not be confirmed, because the US store shows only weekly passes. Prices vary by country, platform and promotion, so use those figures as a rough reference. Per the terms, a subscription is renewed automatically 24 hours before its expiry, at the same price. Users get tripped up by that timing, because cancelling on the final day might already be too late. Coins are what unlock episodes outside the pass, and App Store reviewers complain that certain episodes cost up to 60 coins with little cost information up front. Instead of assuming every episode costs the same, look at the price on the unlock screen each time.
Charged After a Free 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 users, as ShortMax’s own replies on Google Play admit. In real life, a weekly pass activated through an offer continues to renew until you cancel it. Both Apple and Google state in their help pages that removing the app does not stop billing. Begin by working out who actually charged you, since this decides where you cancel and where you ask for a refund. A clear timeline makes every later step faster, so collect the evidence first.
- Search your inbox for an Apple or Google Play receipt.
- If there is one, cancel and request refunds through that store.
- If you find none, screenshot the merchant name on your card statement.
- Follow the steps below to cancel the renewal immediately.
- After that, go through the matching route to request a refund.
Stopping ShortMax on iPhone
The option to cancel sits in your iPhone settings for App Store subscriptions, since Apple handles the billing. While ShortMax’s terms also mention an “About Subscription” option inside the app, Apple’s settings remain the most reliable place to end 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. Take a screenshot of the confirmation screen so you have proof of the date. It all takes less than a minute.
- Tap your name at the top after opening Settings.
- Choose Subscriptions.
- Select ShortMax from the list.
- Press Cancel and confirm.
- You may have paid under another Apple ID or on Android if ShortMax does not appear.
How to Cancel a ShortMax Subscription on Android
On Android devices, a pass bought through Google Play is managed 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 named in ShortMax’s terms is another route. Confirm that you are in the same Google account that paid, or the subscription might not appear in the list. Grab a screenshot once it shows as cancelled, and store it with your receipt. A payment made anywhere other than Google Play will not show there, so support becomes the way forward.
- Launch the Google Play Store.
- Open your account menu and choose Subscriptions.
- Choose ShortMax.
- Tap Cancel and follow the prompts.
Money Back: The ShortMax Terms on Refunds
The stance ShortMax’s terms take on money back is a strict one. The company states that refunds are “not entertained unless the paid product/service is unusable for the reason of ShortMax”. There is little room for a refund just because you forgot to cancel, if you take that literally. However, Apple and Google have their own refund processes covering store purchases, and these run separately from the app’s terms. You can request a refund on an iPhone purchase using Apple’s Report a Problem page, with Apple usually replying within 24 to 48 hours. On Android, Google says that within 48 hours of purchase you may be able to get a refund directly from Google Play. Contacting ShortMax customer service is the next step after that window, because Google points you to the developer. No refund is guaranteed, so explain what happened briefly and attach your receipt.
Contacting ShortMax Customer Service
For the most part, ShortMax customer service works by email. ShortMax’s terms of service, posted on the official ShortMax website, list the service email to write to. Because at least one circulating address uses a misspelled domain and could not be verified, be wary of addresses shared on question-and-answer sites. Your 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 problems, the same replies suggest the subject line “Cancel Subscription – Urgent”. If replies are slow and the charge came through a store, pursuing the Apple or Google refund route at the same time is an option. Add 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 cancelled already, plus a screenshot of that screen.
- A single clear request: cancel, refund, restore coins or fix a login.
Where to Handle Each ShortMax Task
Much of the frustration starts when people try to fix a problem in the wrong place. The app handles your account, coins and viewing, while the stores handle the money for store purchases. Whatever the app and the stores cannot settle on their own falls to email support. Before you start tapping through menus, treat the table below as a quick guide. It is based on the terms and store help pages as of September 2026, and menus can change with updates. When in doubt, cancel first and ask questions second.
| Job | Where to go | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Sign in or change accounts | The ShortMax app | Facebook, Google, Apple, or linked email or phone |
| Check or cancel in the app | Inside the ShortMax app | “About Subscription”, per the terms |
| Cancel a pass bought on iPhone | The App Store | Settings, your name, Subscriptions |
| Cancel a pass purchased on Android | The Google Play Store | Subscriptions under your account menu |
| Get a refund on an App Store charge | The App Store | Report a Problem; reply in 24 to 48 hours |
| Refund a Google Play charge | Google Play, then email | Possible within 48 hours; later, contact the developer |
| Lost coins, lockouts, billing disputes | Email support | Service email from the terms, plus your UID |
