Before You Start Troubleshooting: What the ShortMax App Is
Understanding which company is behind ShortMax, a streaming app for vertical short dramas, makes trouble with your account easier to handle. The seller on the App Store is SHORTTV LIMITED, a company registered in Hong Kong, while Google Play lists that same legal entity under the developer label SHORTMAX LIMITED. The app’s debut came in September 2023, as it appeared on Google Play on September 3 and on the App Store on September 11 of the same year. You Shayne Davis dramas are far from alone with a billing issue, since the Android version alone lists over 100 million installs. The listing, written by the company itself, claims more than 50,000 dramas in 19 languages, but this is a self-reported figure rather than an independent count. The same product this guide covers appears whether people type “shortmax”, “short max” or “shortmax app”. The app’s terms of service are subject to Hong Kong law.
Can’t Log In to ShortMax?
The majority of shortmax login trouble stems from logging in through a different sign-in method than the one you used at first. Facebook, Google and Apple can all be used for signing in, per ShortMax’s terms, and so can an email address or phone number bound to your ShortMax account. If you tap a different button later, you may land in a separate and empty account, which is why a purchase can appear to disappear. The safest routine is to choose one sign-in method and use it on every device. Whether ShortMax has a guest mode is not confirmed, so you shouldn’t depend on one to keep your pass or coins safe. Work through the steps below to rule out that simple mix-up before deciding your coins are gone.
- Go back to the sign-in button you used for your first payment.
- Go through the other methods one at a time and search for your purchases.
- Enter the address or number linked to the account for email or phone login.
- Update the app and restart your phone.
- Contact support with your UID and receipt if none of this helps, as explained below.
How ShortMax Subscriptions Work
The primary shortmax subscription in the US App Store goes by the name Weekly Pass Pro. In 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 range from about $3.49 to $24.99. We could not confirm monthly or yearly plans, since the US store shows only weekly passes. Prices vary by country, platform and promotion, so take those figures as a rough reference. Under the terms, a subscription renews automatically 24 hours before expiry, at the same price. Cancelling on the final day may already be too late, which is why this timing catches people out. Coins unlock episodes outside the pass, and some App Store reviewers complain that certain episodes cost up to 60 coins with little pricing information up front. Do not assume every episode costs the same; confirm the price on the unlock screen each time.
Got Charged After the Trial?
A surprise charge after what looked 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. Both Apple and Google make the point in their help pages that removing the app does not stop billing. Until it is cancelled, a weekly pass started from an offer keeps renewing, in reality. Begin by finding out who actually charged you, since this determines where you cancel and where you request money back. Save the evidence first, since a clear timeline makes every later step faster.
- Look for an Apple or Google Play receipt in your inbox.
- If you find one, cancel and ask for refunds through that store.
- Capture the merchant name on your card statement if there is none.
- Use the steps below to cancel the renewal immediately.
- Next request a refund through the matching route.
How to Cancel a ShortMax Subscription on iPhone
The cancel control sits in your iPhone settings if you subscribed through the App Store, since Apple handles the billing. ShortMax’s terms also mention an “About Subscription” option inside the app, but Apple’s settings are the most dependable place to stop an App Store renewal. Apple says plainly that deleting the app from your home screen cancels nothing. The pass renews 24 hours before it expires, so try to cancel at least a day before the renewal date. To have proof of the date, screenshot the confirmation screen. It all takes under a minute.
- Tap your name at the top after opening Settings.
- Tap Subscriptions.
- Choose ShortMax from the list.
- Press Cancel and confirm.
- If you cannot see ShortMax, you might have paid under a different Apple ID or on Android.
How to Cancel a ShortMax Subscription on Android
A pass bought through Google Play on Android is handled from the Play Store, not from ShortMax itself. Deleting an app does not cancel its subscription, and Google’s help page is clear on that point. The in-app “About Subscription” option listed in ShortMax’s terms is another route, but Google Play is where store-billed renewals are reliably stopped. Unless you are in the same Google account that paid, the subscription may not appear in the list, so confirm this. File a screenshot with your receipt, taken once it shows as cancelled. A purchase made anywhere other than Google Play will not show there, and support becomes the way forward.
- Open the Google Play Store.
- Find Subscriptions in your account menu.
- Pick ShortMax.
- Press Cancel, then complete the prompts.
Refunds: What the ShortMax Terms Say
On refunds, ShortMax’s terms take a strict line. Refunds, in the company’s words, 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 simply because you forgot to cancel. Store purchases, though, are also covered by Apple’s and Google’s own refund processes, which run separately from the app’s terms. If you bought on iPhone, you can request a refund through Apple’s Report a Problem page, and Apple usually responds within 24 to 48 hours. A direct refund from Google Play might be possible on Android within 48 hours of purchase, according to Google. 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.
How to Reach ShortMax Customer Service
Email is the main channel to reach ShortMax customer service. Use the service email given 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 provide in replies to Google Play reviews. The subject line “Cancel Subscription – Urgent” is recommended in the same replies for cancellation problems. If replies are slow and the charge came through a store, pursuing the Apple or Google refund route at the same time is possible. Since a complete first message saves time, add the items below.
- Your UID plus 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 your coins or fix a login.
Where to Handle Each ShortMax Task
Much of the frustration comes from trying to fix a problem in the wrong place. Your account, coins and viewing are handled by the app, while the money for store purchases is handled by the stores. With whatever the app and the stores cannot settle on their own, email support steps in. Before you start tapping through menus, treat the table below as a quick map. The table reflects the terms and store help pages as of September 2026, and menus can change with updates. Cancel first and ask questions second when in doubt.
| Action | Where to do it | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Log in or change accounts | The ShortMax app | Facebook, Google, Apple, or bound email or phone |
| Review or cancel in the app | The ShortMax app | “About Subscription”, as named in the terms |
| Cancel a pass bought on iPhone | App Store | Settings, your name, then 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; later, contact the developer |
| Missing coins, lockouts, billing disputes | Service email listed in the terms, with your UID |
