All About Short Dramas Hits Unlimited Free Episodes

Before Fixing Anything: What the ShortMax App Is

Knowing which company is behind ShortMax, a streaming app for vertical short dramas, makes account problems easier. In the App Store the seller shows up as SHORTTV LIMITED, a company registered in short drama website Hong Kong, and Google Play lists that same legal entity under the developer name SHORTMAX LIMITED. The app launched in September 2023, according to the stores: Google Play gives September 3 and the App Store shows September 11 of that year. The store listing claims more than 50,000 dramas in 19 languages, which is the company’s own number rather than a count from an outside source. You are by no means alone with a billing issue, since the Android version alone lists over 100 million installs. Hong Kong law governs its terms of service. Whether users type “shortmax”, “short max” or “shortmax app”, all three searches lead to the same product this guide covers.

Can’t Log In to ShortMax?

Signing in via another method than your original one is where most shortmax login trouble starts. Per ShortMax’s terms, you can log in with Facebook, Google or Apple, or with an email address or phone number already linked to your ShortMax account. Choosing a different button later could put you in a separate and empty account, which explains why a purchase can appear to disappear. Do not count on a guest mode to keep your coins or pass secure, since whether the app offers one is not confirmed. To stay safe, pick one sign-in method and stick with it on every device. This simple mix-up should be ruled out with the steps below before you assume your coins are gone.

1. Start with the sign-in button you used when you first paid.
2. Test the other methods one at a time and look for your purchases.
3. With email or phone login, use the address or number you bound to the account.
4. Upgrade the app and reboot your phone.
5. If none of this works, reach out to support with your UID and receipt, as explained below.

How the ShortMax Subscription Works

The main shortmax subscription in the US App Store goes by the name Weekly Pass Pro. As of September 2026 the pass is listed at about $19.99 a week, a lower tier sits at about $9.99 a week, and one-time purchases range from about $3.49 to $24.99. Treat those figures as a reference point, since prices vary by country, platform and promotion. Because the US store shows only weekly passes, monthly and annual plans could not be confirmed. A subscription renews automatically, at the same price as before, 24 hours before it expires, as the terms put it. That timing surprises people, since cancelling on the final day can already be too late. Beyond the pass, episodes are unlocked with coins, and App Store reviewers point out that some cost up to 60 coins with little pricing information up front. Instead of assuming every episode costs the same, check the price on the unlock screen each time.

Charged After the Trial?

An unexpected charge after what felt like a free period is a common complaint in this category. The developer’s own replies on Google Play concede that users were confused by its “free trial” and “24 hours free” wording. Deleting the app does not stop billing, a point both Apple and Google make in their help pages. In practice, a weekly pass activated 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 is your first job. Collect the evidence first: a clear timeline makes every later step faster.

1. Look through your inbox for an Apple or Google Play receipt.
2. Cancel and request refunds through that store if you find one.
3. Screenshot the merchant name on your card statement if there is none.
4. Follow the steps below to cancel the renewal immediately.
5. Then request a refund through the matching route.

Cancelling ShortMax on iPhone

Apple handles the billing for subscriptions made through the App Store, so the option to cancel sits in your iPhone settings. 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. As Apple says plainly, deleting the app from your home screen cancels nothing. Plan to cancel at least a day before the renewal date, because the pass renews 24 hours before it expires. Screenshot the confirmation screen so you have proof of the date. The whole process takes under a minute.

1. Launch Settings and tap your name at the top.
2. Tap Subscriptions.
3. Find ShortMax in the list and select it.
4. Tap Cancel, then confirm.
5. If ShortMax does not appear, you might have paid under a different Apple ID or on Android.

Stopping ShortMax on Android

A pass bought through Google Play on Android is managed from the Play Store, not from ShortMax itself. Google’s own help page is clear that removing 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. If you are not in the same Google account that paid, the subscription might not show up in the list, so confirm this. Take 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, and support is the route to take.

1. Go to the Google Play Store.
2. Tap your account menu and choose Subscriptions.
3. Tap ShortMax.
4. Tap Cancel, then complete the prompts.

Refunds: What the ShortMax Terms Say

On refunds, ShortMax’s terms take a strict line. As the company puts it, refunds are “not entertained unless the paid product/service is unusable for the reason of ShortMax”. Taken 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 request a refund through Apple’s Report a Problem page, and Apple usually replies within 24 to 48 hours. As Google explains, on Android you may be able to get a refund directly from Google Play within 48 hours of purchase. Once that window has passed, Google sends you to the developer, so you will need to email ShortMax customer service. Describe what happened briefly and attach your receipt, because no refund is guaranteed.

How to Reach ShortMax Customer Service

Email is the main channel to reach ShortMax customer service. The service email to use is the one listed in ShortMax’s terms of service, which are published on the official ShortMax website. Addresses shared on question-and-answer sites call for caution: at least one circulating address uses a misspelled domain and could not be verified. 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 issues, the same replies recommend the subject line “Cancel Subscription – Urgent”. If replies are slow and the charge came through a store, following the Apple or Google refund route at the same time is possible. A complete first message saves time, so add the items below.

1. Your UID and the sign-in method you use.
2. The charge’s date, amount and store, plus a screenshot of the receipt.
3. Whether you have cancelled already, plus a screenshot of that screen.
4. A single clear request: cancel, refund, restore your coins or fix a login.

Which Place Handles Each ShortMax Task

Much of the annoyance comes from fixing a problem in the wrong place. Your account, coins and viewing are handled by the app, whereas the money for store purchases is handled by the stores. Anything the app and the stores cannot settle on their own falls to email support. Treat the table below as a handy map before you start tapping through menus. This table reflects the terms and store help pages as of September 2026, but menus may change with updates. The rule if you are unsure is straightforward: cancel first and ask questions second.

Job	Where to go	What to know
Sign in or change accounts	Inside the ShortMax app	Facebook, Google, Apple, or bound email or phone
Review or cancel inside the app	The ShortMax app	“About Subscription”, as named in the terms
Cancel a pass purchased on iPhone	The App Store	Settings, your name, Subscriptions
Cancel a pass bought on Android	The Google Play Store	Subscriptions, in your account menu
Get a refund on an App Store charge	The App Store	Report a Problem; reply within 24 to 48 hours
Get a refund on a Google Play charge	Google Play, followed by email	Possible within 48 hours; later on, contact the developer
Missing coins, lockouts or billing disputes	Email	The service email from the terms, plus your UID