Pranks can be a great source of enjoyment, offering a fun way to catch people off guard and make them laugh. It’s one of those activities that most people can universally appreciate.
Alongside other playful distractions like viral cat videos and free giveaways, pranks are usually a hit with everyone – well, except for that one person who always gets caught in the crossfire. Don’t worry, though, Joe, you’ll get over it soon!
Most likely, you’ve already pranked a few friends or family members at some point. You might have used classic pranks like the whoopee cushion or surprised someone by vacuuming while they were in deep sleep. Great memories, right? But have you truly tapped into your full prankster potential?
Even the busiest cursor can’t hide a mischievous plan (Photo: Twitter)
Considering your knack for technology, it’s time to step up your game with some tech-savvy pranks. Here are some ideas you can try…
1. Flip the computer display screen upside down
This prank makes using a computer’s trackpad feel like a task requiring Olympic-level skill, or at least a hefty dose of patience.
For Windows: Right-click on the Desktop, select Display Settings, and adjust the screen orientation to Landscape (flipped). Alternatively, use Ctrl + Alt + Down arrow on the keyboard.
For Mac: Hold the Option key, go to System Preferences, select Displays, and you’ll find an option to rotate the display. You can flip it and either save the change or undo it.
2. Drive people crazy by constantly changing the mouse pointer to look busy
This prank will have your target convinced their computer is malfunctioning, even when it’s functioning perfectly. The sight of a busy cursor can make anyone feel on edge. To carry out this trick:
For Windows: Go to Settings > Mouse > Pointers, and change the default pointer to the “working” one.
For Mac: While there’s no straightforward option, you can still mess with the cursor by going to System Preferences > Accessibility > Display and dragging the cursor size slider to the far right, making the pointer huge.
While you’re at it, you can also experiment with display settings like inverting the colours or cranking up the contrast.
3. Master sinister autocorrect additions
This simple, yet frustrating prank can be done on someone’s computer or smartphone. The idea is to add a custom entry into the AutoCorrect settings to replace common words with something else.
For a subtle prank, change a word to a typo – it’ll certainly make the victim cringe. If you want to go all out, change “Hi” to something like “I love watching Jersey Shore reruns,” and get ready to see their reaction.
For Microsoft Word: Go to File > Options > Proofing > AutoCorrect Options.
For Mac Word: Go to Word > Preferences > Autocorrect.
For Google Docs: Head to Tools > Preferences > Substitutions, and make sure the “Automatic substitution” box is checked.
For Android: Settings > Language & Input > Google Keyboard > Text Correction > Personal Dictionary.
For iPhone: Settings > General > Keyboard > Text Replacement.
4. Switch the keyboard layout to DVORAK
Switching the keyboard layout is a quick way to throw someone off without much effort. By enabling the Dvorak alternate keyboard layout, most users will be completely confused.
For Windows: Go to Settings > Region and Language > Keyboards, then add the Dvorak layout and set it as the default.
5. Block the mouse sensor with a Post-It note
A simple yet effective way to frustrate your victim is to cover the mouse sensor with a Post-It note. They’ll be wondering why their mouse isn’t responding.
6. Give your victim a heart attack with a cracked screen wallpaper
Sometimes, the simplest pranks are the most effective. Changing someone’s wallpaper to a cracked screen can send a shock through them. To maximize the effect, take a screenshot of their home screen and add a cracked glass effect on top.
You could also set the screensaver to the Blue Screen of Death (BSOD) or use a prank website in full-screen mode (F11).
7. Set up task scheduler jobs to launch random apps (or a website)
Imagine a new browser tab opening every few minutes. Annoying, right? Now imagine trying to troubleshoot it with no luck, while the tabs keep popping open.
When autocorrect turns your texts into comedy gold (Photo: Getty Images)
Create a task in the scheduler to run the browser executable and open a website every few minutes (or even every minute, if you’re feeling extra mischievous).
8. Replace system sounds
To make a prank more impactful, you can change the default system sounds. Download various ‘.wav’ files and replace the usual sounds, like the notification tone for a new email, with something more unexpected.
For a more subtle prank, use a sound editor like Audacity to add silence between the default sound and the new sound file, creating a delay that will leave the victim wondering what’s going on.
9. Move desktop icons, take a screenshot, set as the wallpaper
Take a screenshot of the victim’s desktop and set it as their wallpaper. Then, hide the icons and taskbar. They’ll think their computer is broken when nothing responds to mouse clicks.
You can also take several screenshots with icons moved around and repeat the process until their desktop is a chaotic mess.
10. Plug a wireless mouse or keyboard and control your victim’s PC from afar
If you’re in an office setting, plug a wireless mouse and keyboard into the back of your victim’s computer and control it from your desk. Watching them react when the mouse starts moving on its own is priceless.
Now, it’s time to plan your next move. Choose your target, control that evil laughter, and get ready for some serious fun. After all, good pranks are the best kind of work.
