Before Fixing Anything: What ShortMax Actually Is
Knowing who operates ShortMax, a vertical short-drama streaming app, makes account problems easier. In the App Store the seller shows up as SHORTTV LIMITED, a Hong Kong-registered company, and Google Play names the same legal entity under the developer name SHORTMAX LIMITED. ShortMax first became available in September 2023, with Google Play recording September 3 and the App Store giving September dramabox cast 11 of that year. The company’s own store listing claims more than 50,000 dramas in 19 languages, yet this is the company’s own number rather than an independent count. Given over 100 million installs listed for just the Android version, you are far from alone if you have a billing issue. On the legal side, its terms of service are governed by Hong Kong law. Users enter the name as “shortmax”, “short max” or “shortmax app”, and all three searches point to the same product described in this guide.
ShortMax Login Not Working?
Logging in with a different method than your original one is where most shortmax login trouble starts. ShortMax’s terms say that you can log in through Facebook, Google or Apple, or using a phone number or email address linked to your ShortMax account. If you later press a different button, you could wind up in a separate, blank account, which is why a purchase can look like it has vanished. To stay safe, pick one sign-in method and stick with it on every device. It is unconfirmed whether there is a guest mode, so do not count on one to keep your pass or coins safe. Before you assume 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.
- Check for your purchases as you try the other methods one at a time.
- With phone or email login, use the email address or phone number you bound to the account.
- Upgrade the app and reboot your phone.
- If nothing works, contact support with your UID and receipt, as explained below.
The ShortMax Subscription Explained
In the US App Store, the headline shortmax subscription is called Weekly Pass Pro. As of September 2026 the pass is listed at 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. Since the US store lists only weekly passes, monthly and yearly plans could not be verified. Take those figures as a rough reference, as prices vary by country, platform and promotion. The terms say a subscription renews automatically 24 hours before it expires, at its previous price. People get caught out by that timing, since a cancellation on the last day may already be too late. Coins unlock episodes outside the pass, and some App Store reviewers complain that some episodes cost up to 60 coins with little pricing information up front. Rather than assuming every episode costs the same, check the price on the unlock screen each time.
Charged After the Trial?
Across this category, one common complaint is an unexpected charge after what seemed like a free period. ShortMax’s own responses on Google Play acknowledge that people were confused by its “free trial” and “24 hours free” wording. In real terms, a weekly pass started from an offer goes on renewing until you cancel it. Both Apple and Google make the point in their help pages that uninstalling the app does not stop billing. Start by working out who actually charged you, since this decides where you cancel and where you ask for money back. Gather the evidence before anything else: a clear timeline will make every later step faster.
- Search your inbox for an Apple or Google Play receipt.
- Cancel the pass and request refunds through that store if you find one.
- If there isn’t one, capture the merchant name on your card statement.
- Follow the steps below to cancel the renewal right away.
- Next ask for a refund through the matching route.
How to Cancel a ShortMax Subscription on iPhone
If you signed up in the App Store, Apple handles the billing, so the cancel control is located in your iPhone settings. ShortMax’s terms also refer to an “About Subscription” option inside the app, but Apple’s settings are the surest place to stop an App Store renewal. As Apple makes clear, removing the app from your home screen cancels nothing. Your pass renews 24 hours before it expires, so try to cancel at least a day before the renewal date. Expect to spend under a minute on the whole process. A capture of the confirmation screen leaves you with proof of the date, so take one.
- Go to Settings and tap your name at the top.
- Select Subscriptions.
- Pick ShortMax from the list.
- Press Cancel, then confirm.
- If ShortMax is not there, you may have paid under another Apple ID or on Android.
How to Cancel ShortMax on Android
The Play Store, rather than ShortMax itself, controls a pass bought through Google Play on Android. The Google help page is clear that removing an app does not cancel its subscription. Google Play is where store-billed renewals are reliably stopped, although the in-app “About Subscription” option mentioned in ShortMax’s terms is another route. The subscription might not appear in the list unless you are in the same Google account that paid, so check this first. If you made the payment anywhere other than Google Play, it will not show there, and support becomes your route. Once it shows as cancelled, take a screenshot and file it with your receipt.
- Launch the Google Play Store.
- Find Subscriptions in your account menu.
- Pick ShortMax.
- Tap Cancel, then complete the prompts.
Refunds: The ShortMax Terms on Refunds
The stance ShortMax’s terms take on refunds is a firm one. ShortMax 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 that is read literally. Store purchases, though, are also covered by Apple’s and Google’s own refund processes, which run separately from the app’s terms. Apple’s Report a Problem page lets you request a refund for an iPhone purchase, and Apple usually responds within 24 to 48 hours. A refund directly from Google Play might be possible on Android within 48 hours of purchase, according to Google. Writing to ShortMax customer service is the next step after that window, since Google points you to the developer. Refunds are not guaranteed, so summarize what happened briefly and attach your receipt.
Getting in Touch With ShortMax Customer Service
Email is the main way to reach ShortMax customer service. Use the service email listed in ShortMax’s terms of service, which are published on the official ShortMax website. Because at least one circulating address uses a misspelled domain and could not be verified, be careful with addresses posted on question-and-answer sites. The developer, replying to Google Play reviews, asks users to include their UID, the account ID that lets staff find you. For problems with cancelling, the same replies recommend the subject line “Cancel Subscription – Urgent”. If a store handled the charge and replies are slow, you can use the Apple or Google refund route at the same time. A full first message saves time, so include the items below.
- Your UID plus the sign-in method you use.
- The date, amount and store of the charge, along with a screenshot of your receipt.
- Whether you have cancelled already, plus a screenshot of that screen.
- One specific request: cancel, refund, restore coins or fix a login.
Where Each ShortMax Task Gets Done
Tackling 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 take care of the money for store purchases. Anything the app and the stores cannot settle on their own falls to email support. Treat the table below as a quick map before you start tapping through menus. Menus can change with updates, and as of September 2026, the table reflects the terms and store help pages. Cancel first, ask questions second when in doubt.
| Job | Where to go | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Log in or change accounts | Inside the ShortMax app | Facebook, Google, Apple, or bound email or phone |
| Review or cancel inside the app | ShortMax app | “About Subscription”, as named in the terms |
| Cancel a pass bought on iPhone | App Store | Settings, then your name, then Subscriptions |
| Cancel a pass purchased on Android | Google Play | Subscriptions under your account menu |
| Get a refund on an App Store charge | App Store | Report a Problem; reply in 24 to 48 hours |
| Get a refund on a Google Play charge | Google Play, then email | Possible within 48 hours; after that, contact the developer |
| Missing coins, lockouts or billing disputes | By email | Service email listed in the terms, with your UID |
