Documentation
User guide
Buying access codes, generating Confirmation IDs, and managing your account.
What is GetCID?
GetCID is a Microsoft activation utility suite. You buy access codes, then use each code to generate a single Microsoft Confirmation ID (CID) from an Installation ID (IID). It also includes free tools to check the activation status of Windows / Office product keys, redeem keys, and audit Office 365 accounts.
Access codes
Each access code is a 10-character alphanumeric string (uppercase A-Z + digits 0-9). Codes are single-use: they consume on a successful CID generation. If the upstream service returns an error, the code stays active so you can retry.
- Codes don't expire unless your admin set an expiry on issuance.
- You can use a code on the public form OR via the API (developers only).
- Lost a code? Sign in and check your account — every code is listed there.
Failed lookups don't consume codes
Buying codes
Visit /buy to pick a pack:
| Pack | Codes | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Starter | 1 | One-off activations |
| Pack 5 | 5 | A few machines |
| Pack 10 | 10 | Small office / IT shop |
| Reseller | 25 | Resellers + power users |
Pay with any card via Stripe. After payment, your codes are emailed instantly and appear in your account dashboard if you sign in with the same email.
No account? No problem
Generating a CID
- Open /getcid.
- Paste your access code in the top field.
- Switch to the right tab depending on how you have the IID:
- Type IID — paste the 9 × 6-digit string (with or without dashes).
- Upload screenshot — take a photo of the Microsoft activation dialog; we OCR-read the IID.
- Click Get CID (or Decode & Generate). A progress bar shows each stage; image uploads typically take ~15–25 seconds.
- Copy the 8 segments (labelled A–H) into the Microsoft activation wizard.
CIDs are bound to one IID
Checking a key
Three free tools — they don't consume access codes:
- Check Key — paste a Windows / Office product key, see its activation status + description.
- Redeem Check — verifies whether a key has been redeemed.
- Office 365 — audits Office 365 account credentials.
Your account
Sign up with the email you used at checkout to see every purchase and code in one place.
- Verify your email — click the link we send after signup. Verification unlocks reseller features and reduces support friction.
- Forgot your password? — request a reset link at /password/forgot. Links expire after 1 hour and are single-use.
- Past purchases live on your account page indefinitely, even if codes were already redeemed.
Reseller accounts
Resellers buy in bulk and resell codes to their own customers. To switch to a reseller account, sign up with the "I'm a reseller" box ticked (or ask support to convert your existing account).
As a reseller you can:
- Get a code quota granted by the admin and generate codes from your account at any time
- Create API tokens to mint codes programmatically
- Wire up WooCommerce so completed orders auto-issue codes to buyers
- Embed the GetCID form on your own WordPress site
Technical setup is covered in the developer docs.
Troubleshooting
- "Invalid code"
- The code is mistyped, revoked, or was used already. Codes are case-sensitive (uppercase only) and exactly 10 characters.
- "Code has already been used"
- Each code is single-use. Buy another pack or contact your reseller.
- CID generation took 25+ seconds then failed
- The upstream service occasionally times out — your code is not consumed on failure. Try again in a minute.
- OCR couldn't read my screenshot
- Make sure the IID is fully visible, not blurred, and high-contrast. If it keeps failing, type the IID manually from the wizard.
- CID was generated but Microsoft says "invalid"
- Each CID is bound to one specific IID. If you reopened the activation wizard, the IID changed — go back to /getcid with the new IID and use a fresh code.
Getting help
Stuck? Send a message via /support. Include your purchase email, the IID you're trying to activate, and a copy of any error message. We usually respond within a business day.