Blog

Before Fixing Anything: What ShortMax Actually Is

Account issues get easier once you know who runs ShortMax, an app that streams vertical short dramas. The App Store seller is SHORTTV LIMITED, a Hong Kong-registered company, while Google Play shows the same legal entity under the developer label SHORTMAX LIMITED. ShortMax was released in September 2023, with Google Play showing September 3 and the App Store showing September 11 of that year. Over 50,000 Jenna Gilmer dramas dramas in 19 languages is what its store listing claims, the company’s own figure rather than an independently verified count. With over 100 million installs listed for the Android version alone, you are hardly alone if you have a billing question. Legally, the app’s terms of service fall under Hong Kong law. Whether users enter « shortmax », « short max » or « shortmax app », all three searches lead to the same product discussed here.

Can’t Log In to ShortMax?

Signing in with another method than the one you first used is behind most shortmax login trouble. ShortMax’s terms explain that you can log in with Facebook, Google or Apple, or with an email address or phone number bound to your ShortMax account. Your purchase can seem to vanish since pressing a different button later could put you in a separate, empty account. Do not count on a guest mode to keep your coins or pass secure, since whether ShortMax has one is not confirmed. The safest approach is to pick one sign-in method and stick with it on every device. Work through the steps below to eliminate that simple mix-up before concluding your coins are gone.

1. Start with the sign-in button you tapped when you first paid.
2. Go through the other methods one at a time and search for your purchases.
3. For an email or phone login, use the address or number you linked to the account.
4. Restart your phone once you have updated the app.
5. Reach out to support with your UID and receipt if nothing works, as explained below.

How ShortMax Subscriptions Work

In the US App Store, the main shortmax subscription is called Weekly Pass Pro. In September 2026 it appears at about $19.99 a week, with a lower tier at about $9.99 a week, while one-time purchases run from about $3.49 to $24.99. We could not confirm monthly or yearly plans, since the US store lists only weekly passes. Since prices vary by country, platform and promotion, those figures should be treated as a rough reference. Per the terms, a subscription renews automatically 24 hours before expiry, at the same price. Cancelling on the final day might already be too late, which is why this timing trips people up. Episodes outside the pass are opened with coins; App Store reviewers report that some require up to 60 coins, with little cost information in advance. Don’t assume every episode costs the same; confirm the price on the unlock screen each time.

Got Charged After the Trial?

Being billed unexpectedly after what felt like a free period is a common complaint in this category. ShortMax’s own replies on Google Play acknowledge that people were confused by its « free trial » and « 24 hours free » wording. In real life, a weekly pass started from an offer keeps renewing until you cancel it. Both Apple and Google point out in their help pages that uninstalling the app does not stop billing. Start by figuring out who actually charged you, since that determines where you cancel and where you request a refund. Collect the evidence first, since a clear timeline makes every later step faster.

1. Check your inbox for an Apple or Google Play receipt.
2. Cancel and request refunds through that store if you find one.
3. If there isn’t one, take a screenshot of the merchant name on your card statement.
4. Cancel the renewal immediately using the steps below.
5. Then, use the matching route to ask for a refund.

Stopping ShortMax on iPhone

Apple takes care of the billing for subscriptions made through the App Store, so the option to cancel 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. The pass renews 24 hours before it expires, so try to cancel at least a day before the renewal date. Expect to spend less than a minute on the whole process. A capture of the confirmation screen leaves you with proof of the date, so grab one.

1. Go to Settings and tap your name at the top.
2. Choose Subscriptions.
3. Choose ShortMax from the list.
4. Press Cancel, then confirm.
5. If ShortMax is missing, you might have paid under a different Apple ID or on Android.

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. The « About Subscription » option inside the app listed in ShortMax’s terms is another route, but Google Play is where store-billed renewals are reliably stopped. Make sure that you are in the same Google account that paid, or the subscription may not appear in the list. File a screenshot with your receipt, taken once it shows as cancelled. If you paid anywhere other than Google Play, it will not show there, and support becomes your route.

1. Go to the Google Play Store.
2. Open your account menu and choose Subscriptions.
3. Pick ShortMax.
4. Tap Cancel and follow the prompts.

Money Back: What ShortMax’s Terms Say

ShortMax’s terms take a firm 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 leaves little room for a refund just because you forgot to cancel. However, Apple and Google have their own refund processes for 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 replies within 24 to 48 hours. According to Google, on Android you might be able to get a refund directly from Google Play within 48 hours of purchase. After that window, Google sends you to the developer, so you will need to write to ShortMax customer service. Explain what happened briefly and attach your receipt, since no refund is guaranteed.

How to Reach ShortMax Customer Service

ShortMax’s customer service works mainly by email. ShortMax’s terms of service, published on the official ShortMax website, list the service email to write to. Addresses posted on question-and-answer sites deserve caution: at least one circulating address uses a misspelled domain and could not be verified. When replying to Google Play reviews, the developer asks users to provide their UID, the account ID that lets staff find you. The subject line « Cancel Subscription – Urgent » is suggested in the same replies for cancellation problems. When replies are slow and the charge came through a store, following the Apple or Google refund route at the same time is an option. A complete opening message saves time, so add 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 your coins or fix a login.

Where Each ShortMax Task Gets Done

Trying to fix a problem in the wrong place accounts for much of the frustration. The app takes care of your account, coins and viewing, while the stores handle the money for store purchases. 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 guide. Menus can change with updates, and as of September 2026, the table follows the terms and store help pages. The rule if you are unsure is straightforward: cancel first and ask questions second.