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C# / .NET guide

Solve captchas from C# / .NET with one function

An async client built on HttpClient and System.Text.Json creates a task, awaits the result and returns the text or token. No NuGet packages, no SDK.

  • .NET 8+
  • HttpClient
  • System.Text.Json
  • async/await

Setup

Before you start

  • .NET 8 SDK or newer
  • No NuGet packages: HttpClient and System.Text.Json ship with .NET
  • A bypass.so API key (create one) with a positive balance

Install

terminal
dotnet new console -o BypassDemo
cd BypassDemo

Store your key

The examples read your key from the BYPASS_API_KEY environment variable, so it never lands in source control.

Shell
export BYPASS_API_KEY="your-api-key"

Check that the key works: curl -H "Authorization: Bearer $BYPASS_API_KEY" https://bypass.so/balance returns your balance.

Step 1

Add the helper

Save this file next to your code. It wraps the whole task lifecycle in one call, SolveAsync(type, parameters), so the rest of your project never deals with polling.

  • createTask: sends your key, the task type and its fields as one flat JSON object.
  • Fast path: if the answer is already ready, it returns at once.
  • Polling: otherwise it checks /getTaskResult/{taskId} every two seconds until the result is ready or the timeout runs out.
  • Errors: any reply with a non-zero errorId, including a failed task, becomes an error carrying the errorCode, so you can branch on it.
  • taskId: kept with the solution, so you can report a wrong answer later.
Bypass.cs
using System.Net.Http.Headers;
using System.Net.Http.Json;
using System.Text.Json;
using System.Text.Json.Nodes;

namespace BypassSo;

/// <summary>Any API reply with errorId != 0.</summary>
public sealed class BypassException(string code, string description, string? taskId = null)
    : Exception($"{code}: {description}")
{
    public string Code { get; } = code;
    public string? TaskId { get; } = taskId;
}

public sealed class Solution
{
    public string? Text { get; init; }
    public string? Token { get; init; }
    public string? GRecaptchaResponse { get; init; }
    public string? TokenField { get; init; }
    public double? TokenLifetime { get; init; }
    public string TaskId { get; set; } = "";

    /// <summary>The token for widget types, or the text for recognition types.</summary>
    public string? Answer => GRecaptchaResponse ?? Token ?? Text;
}

public sealed record Balance(long Credits, decimal BalanceUsd);

public sealed record ReportResult(string TaskId, long Refunded, decimal BalanceUsd);

public sealed class BypassClient
{
    private const string ApiUrl = "https://bypass.so";
    private static readonly JsonSerializerOptions JsonOptions = new(JsonSerializerDefaults.Web);
    private readonly HttpClient _http;
    private readonly string _key;

    public BypassClient(HttpClient? http = null, string? apiKey = null)
    {
        _http = http ?? new HttpClient { Timeout = TimeSpan.FromSeconds(30) };
        _key = apiKey ?? Environment.GetEnvironmentVariable("BYPASS_API_KEY") ?? "";
    }

    /// <summary>Creates a task and polls every 2 seconds until it is ready (default timeout 120 s).</summary>
    public async Task<Solution> SolveAsync(
        string type,
        IReadOnlyDictionary<string, object?> parameters,
        TimeSpan? timeout = null,
        CancellationToken cancellationToken = default)
    {
        if (_key == "")
        {
            throw new BypassException("ERROR_KEY_INVALID", "set the BYPASS_API_KEY environment variable");
        }
        var limit = timeout ?? TimeSpan.FromSeconds(120);
        using var cts = CancellationTokenSource.CreateLinkedTokenSource(cancellationToken);
        cts.CancelAfter(limit);

        var body = new Dictionary<string, object?>(parameters) { ["clientKey"] = _key, ["type"] = type };
        var data = await SendAsync(HttpMethod.Post, "/createTask", JsonContent.Create(body), false, cts.Token);
        var taskId = (string?)data["taskId"] ?? "";
        var poll = $"/getTaskResult/{Uri.EscapeDataString(taskId)}?clientKey={Uri.EscapeDataString(_key)}";

        try
        {
            while ((string?)data["status"] != "ready")
            {
                if ((string?)data["status"] == "failed")
                {
                    throw new BypassException("ERROR_CAPTCHA_UNSOLVABLE", "task failed", taskId);
                }
                await Task.Delay(TimeSpan.FromSeconds(2), cts.Token);
                data = await SendAsync(HttpMethod.Get, poll, null, false, cts.Token);
            }
        }
        catch (OperationCanceledException) when (!cancellationToken.IsCancellationRequested)
        {
            throw new BypassException("CLIENT_TIMEOUT", $"task {taskId} was not ready after {limit.TotalSeconds}s", taskId);
        }

        var solution = data["solution"]?.Deserialize<Solution>(JsonOptions) ?? new Solution();
        solution.TaskId = taskId;
        return solution;
    }

    public async Task<Balance> GetBalanceAsync(CancellationToken cancellationToken = default)
    {
        var data = await SendAsync(HttpMethod.Get, "/balance", null, true, cancellationToken);
        return data.Deserialize<Balance>(JsonOptions)!;
    }

    /// <summary>Flags a wrong answer. The price is refunded once and the task is closed.</summary>
    public async Task<ReportResult> ReportBadAsync(string taskId, CancellationToken cancellationToken = default)
    {
        var data = await SendAsync(HttpMethod.Post, $"/reportBad?task_id={Uri.EscapeDataString(taskId)}", null, true, cancellationToken);
        return data.Deserialize<ReportResult>(JsonOptions)!;
    }

    private async Task<JsonObject> SendAsync(HttpMethod method, string path, HttpContent? content, bool bearer, CancellationToken cancellationToken)
    {
        using var request = new HttpRequestMessage(method, ApiUrl + path) { Content = content };
        if (bearer)
        {
            request.Headers.Authorization = new AuthenticationHeaderValue("Bearer", _key);
        }

        HttpResponseMessage response;
        try
        {
            response = await _http.SendAsync(request, cancellationToken);
        }
        catch (HttpRequestException e)
        {
            throw new BypassException("HTTP_ERROR", e.Message);
        }

        using (response)
        {
            var raw = await response.Content.ReadAsStringAsync(cancellationToken);
            JsonObject? data;
            try
            {
                data = JsonNode.Parse(raw) as JsonObject;
            }
            catch (JsonException)
            {
                data = null;
            }
            if (data is null)
            {
                throw new BypassException("HTTP_ERROR", $"HTTP {(int)response.StatusCode} without a JSON body");
            }
            if (data["errorId"]?.GetValue<int>() is int errorId && errorId != 0)
            {
                throw new BypassException(
                    (string?)data["errorCode"] ?? "ERROR_UNKNOWN",
                    (string?)data["errorDescription"] ?? "",
                    (string?)data["taskId"]);
            }
            return data;
        }
    }
}

Good to know

Create one BypassClient and reuse it. In ASP.NET Core, register it as a singleton or pass in an HttpClient from IHttpClientFactory through the constructor.

Project layout used below:

files
BypassDemo/
  BypassDemo.csproj
  Bypass.cs     the helper (step 1)
  Program.cs    your program (step 2)

Step 2

Solve any supported type

Every task type uses the same call. Only the type name and its fields change. Pick a tab to see a complete, runnable file, then run it with dotnet run. Tabs marked soon are ready for launch day, but those types are not live yet.

Program.cs
using BypassSo;

var bypass = new BypassClient();
var solution = await bypass.SolveAsync("MathCaptchaTask", new Dictionary<string, object?>
{
    ["captchaText"] = "12 + 30 = ?",
});
Console.WriteLine(solution.Text);
run it
dotnet run

reCAPTCHA v3 and hCaptcha are coming soon

RecaptchaV3Task and HCaptchaTask are not live yet. Until launch, createTask returns ERROR_TASK_NOT_SUPPORTED and nothing is charged. Get notified when they ship.

Token types and your form

For reCAPTCHA, Turnstile and (once live) hCaptcha the token goes into the same form field the widget would fill: g-recaptcha-response, h-captcha-response or cf-turnstile-response. Send the exact URL of the page that shows the widget as websiteURL.

Step 3

Handle errors and retries

Some failures are worth a second try and some are not. A missing balance or a wrong key will fail again, so stop and fix it. An unsolvable task, a timeout or a network hiccup is worth one or two more attempts with a short pause. An exception filter (catch … when) retries only the codes worth retrying. A timeout inside the helper becomes CLIENT_TIMEOUT, and your own cancellation token still stops everything at once.

Program.cs
using BypassSo;

var retryable = new HashSet<string> { "ERROR_CAPTCHA_UNSOLVABLE", "ERROR_INTERNAL", "HTTP_ERROR", "CLIENT_TIMEOUT" };
var bypass = new BypassClient();

async Task<Solution> SolveWithRetryAsync(string type, Dictionary<string, object?> parameters, int attempts = 3)
{
    for (var attempt = 1; ; attempt++)
    {
        try
        {
            return await bypass.SolveAsync(type, parameters);
        }
        catch (BypassException e) when (retryable.Contains(e.Code) && attempt < attempts)
        {
            Console.Error.WriteLine($"attempt {attempt}: {e.Code}, retrying");
            await Task.Delay(TimeSpan.FromSeconds(2 * attempt));
        }
    }
}

var solution = await SolveWithRetryAsync("MathCaptchaTask", new() { ["captchaText"] = "12 + 30 = ?" });
Console.WriteLine(solution.Text);

Failed tasks cost nothing

The task price is held when you create a task and released if it fails. You are only charged when the result is ready.

Step 4

Check your balance and flag wrong answers

GET /balance and POST /reportBad use your key as a Bearer token. Report a task only when the target site actually rejected its answer. The refund is applied once per task, and the task is closed afterwards.

Program.cs
using BypassSo;

var bypass = new BypassClient();

if (args.Length > 0)
{
    // dotnet run -- <taskId> reports that task's answer as wrong
    var result = await bypass.ReportBadAsync(args[0]);
    Console.WriteLine($"refunded units: {result.Refunded} balance now: {result.BalanceUsd}");
}

var balance = await bypass.GetBalanceAsync();
Console.WriteLine($"balance: ${balance.BalanceUsd:F2}");

Scale

Solve many tasks in parallel

Each task is independent, so throughput grows with concurrency. Task.WhenAll starts every task, and a SemaphoreSlim keeps at most eight in flight. One BypassClient is shared by all of them. Start with a limit of 8 and adjust while you watch error rates and spend.

Program.cs
using BypassSo;

var bypass = new BypassClient();
using var gate = new SemaphoreSlim(8); // at most 8 tasks in flight

var jobs = Directory.GetFiles("captchas", "*.png").Select(async path =>
{
    await gate.WaitAsync();
    try
    {
        var imageBase64 = Convert.ToBase64String(await File.ReadAllBytesAsync(path));
        var solution = await bypass.SolveAsync("ImageToTextTask", new Dictionary<string, object?>
        {
            ["imageBase64"] = imageBase64,
        });
        return $"{Path.GetFileName(path)}: {solution.Text}";
    }
    catch (BypassException e)
    {
        return $"{Path.GetFileName(path)} failed: {e.Code}";
    }
    finally
    {
        gate.Release();
    }
});

foreach (var line in await Task.WhenAll(jobs))
{
    Console.WriteLine(line);
}

Reference

Task type reference

What each type expects and returns. Prices are per 1,000 solved tasks; larger top-ups add bonus credit (see pricing).

Task type reference
Task typeMathCaptchaTaskYou sendcaptchaTextYou gettextPrice / 1k$0.35
Task typeImageToTextTaskYou sendimageBase64You gettextPrice / 1k$0.28
Task typeAudioCaptchaTaskYou sendaudioBase64You gettextPrice / 1k$0.35
Task typeRecaptchaV2TaskYou sendwebsiteURLwebsiteKeyYou getgRecaptchaResponse and token, plus tokenFieldPrice / 1k$0.56
Task typeTurnstileTaskYou sendwebsiteURLwebsiteKeyYou gettoken, plus tokenFieldPrice / 1k$0.84
Task typeRecaptchaV3TaskComing soonYou sendwebsiteURLwebsiteKeyactionYou getgRecaptchaResponse and token, plus tokenFieldPrice / 1kAt launch
Task typeHCaptchaTaskComing soonYou sendwebsiteURLwebsiteKeyYou gettoken, plus tokenFieldPrice / 1kAt launch

Errors

Troubleshooting

Errors and fixes
ErrorERROR_KEY_INVALIDSourceHTTP 403What it meansThe key is missing, mistyped or revoked.How to fix itCheck that BYPASS_API_KEY is set in the same shell that runs your code, with no quotes or spaces around it.
ErrorERROR_INSUFFICIENT_CREDITSSourceHTTP 402What it meansYour balance cannot cover the task price.How to fix itTop up from the dashboard. Nothing was charged for this request.
ErrorERROR_TASK_NOT_SUPPORTEDSourceHTTP 200What it meansThe type string is unknown, or the type is still coming soon (reCAPTCHA v3, hCaptcha).How to fix itCopy the exact name, for example TurnstileTask. Names are case-sensitive. Nothing is charged.
ErrorERROR_BAD_REQUESTSourceHTTP 400What it meansThe body is not valid JSON, or a field has the wrong type.How to fix itSend Content-Type: application/json and string values for clientKey, type and the task fields.
ErrorERROR_CAPTCHA_UNSOLVABLESourceHTTP 200What it meansThis task could not be completed.How to fix itYou are not charged. Check the image, sitekey and page URL, then submit a new task.
ErrorERROR_NOT_FOUNDSourceHTTP 404What it meansThe taskId is unknown or belongs to another key.How to fix itPoll with the taskId returned by your own createTask call, using the same key.
ErrorERROR_INTERNALSourceHTTP 500What it meansSomething went wrong on our side.How to fix itRetry after a short pause. The helper’s retry wrapper does this for you.
ErrorHelper timeoutSourceyour codeWhat it meansNo result inside your timeout.How to fix itToken types usually need several seconds. Keep at least 60–120 s and retry with a new task.
ErrorHTTP_ERRORSourceyour codeWhat it meansA proxy or network layer answered without JSON.How to fix itRetry with backoff. If it persists, check that your code calls https://bypass.so.

Every error body has the same shape: {"errorId":1,"errorCode":"…","errorDescription":"…"}. Full list in the API reference.

Production

Best practices

  • Keep the key out of code

    Read it from an environment variable or your secret store. Never commit it or ship it to a web page.

  • Solve right before submit

    Tokens are short-lived. Fill the form first, then request the token and submit at once.

  • Cap your concurrency

    Start with 5–10 parallel tasks and raise it while you watch error rates and spend.

  • Log every taskId

    It is the only thing you need to debug a result or report a wrong answer.

  • Match the page exactly

    Send the URL where the widget renders and the sitekey from that page, not from a different form.

  • Report wrong answers

    If a site rejects a solved result, call reportBad with its taskId. The price returns to your balance once.

FAQ

Questions

No. The API is two HTTPS endpoints that take and return JSON. The helper on this page is a single file that you own, can read in a few minutes and can change freely.

Math, image and audio tasks often finish while the createTask request is still open. The response then already has "status": "ready" and a solution, so the helper returns without polling. Token types always come back as processing first.

Every two seconds is a good default. Polling faster does not make a task finish sooner. Keep the overall timeout at 60 to 120 seconds for token types.

No. You pay only when a task comes back ready. If a site rejects a solved answer, call reportBad with its taskId and the price returns to your balance once. A reported task is closed, so submit a new one to try again.

Yes. Pass a CancellationToken as the last argument of SolveAsync. Cancelling it stops the polling loop at once; a timeout of your own choosing goes in the timeout argument.

Policy

Responsible use

Use it where you are allowed to

Automate pages you own, test environments you run, or sites whose terms permit automated access. Do not use bypass.so for fraud, account takeover, spam, scalping, evading bans or collecting personal data without a lawful basis. Keep request rates reasonable and stop when a site asks you to. Our acceptable use policy applies to every key, and keys used for abuse are closed.

Keep going

Next steps