The best and meanest technical pranks
Not only April 1st is the perfect date to drive your colleagues crazy with fun technology tricks. We have summarized the best and meanest ideas for you in this article.
The shutdown prank: restart instead of browser
If you really want to annoy one of your colleagues, you can switch off his PC during certain actions. To do this, you only need brief access to the victim's computer:
- Find a program shortcut on the desktop. It is best to use a tool that your victim uses frequently.
- Right-click on the icon and select the "Properties".
- In the section "Target:" enter the command "% windir% \ system32 \ shutdown.exe -r -t 00" and save the change with "Ok".
- If your victim now wants to start the desired program, the computer shuts down immediately and restarts.
The desktop prank: when nothing works ...
A little more complex but at least as funny: replace the entire desktop of your victim so that nothing seems to work anymore.
- Use the key combination [Ctrl] + [Print] to take a screenshot of the entire monitor.
- Paste this into an image editing tool like Gimp and save the file. Then set the image as the background.
- Now click with the right mouse button on a free area of the desktop and remove the checkmark under "View" under "Show desktop icons".
- Finally, hide the Windows taskbar. The desktop has hardly changed optically, but the icons and the taskbar no longer work.
- Alternatively, go to this website on your victim's PC and press the [F11] key. The browser is now in full screen mode and looks like a normal Windows update - with the difference that it never ends. You can only get back to the desktop using [F11].
More pranks on Windows: From mouse traps to pirates
In addition to the two classics, there are countless other Windows pranks. There are almost no limits to your imagination:
- Rotate screen: Get astonished looks by rotating your victim's Windows screen. The quickest way to do this is with a keyboard shortcut. It is best to combine this prank with our next tip:
- Control your PC remotely: Secretly connect a wireless mouse or keyboard to your victim's computer. You can then manipulate the victim's input remotely or control the PC using shortcuts.
- Manipulating the mouse: While you could simply remove the ball from old PC mice, you have to be a bit more creative with a laser mouse. Here you can remove the batteries, tape the optical sensor on the floor or remove the receiver from the computer.
- Mousetrap deluxe: If you change the mouse itself, the prank will quickly be exposed. Better if you swap the mouse buttons in Windows or replace the mouse cursor with a loading symbol.
- Google prank: Have you ever heard of the BorkBorkBork language? Your future victim certainly won't either. Open the Google search settings on a third-party PC and click on "Language" in the "Data & Personalization" section. It is best to choose a fantasy language like "BorkBorkBork" or "Pirate". For this to work, your victim must be logged in with his Google account.
- Fake virus: Create a new text document and enter the following code "@echo off Start Start Start Start". Each "start" later opens a CMD window. So the more you enter, the more computationally intensive the "virus" becomes. Save the document as ".bat". So that your victim does not immediately recognize the file, you can create a desktop shortcut and give it the name of a known program or game.
Daring smartphone pranks: Auto correction on a new level
A little creativity is also required on the smartphone. You can also make laughs here:
- Manipulate inputs: You cannot connect your own keyboard to a foreign cell phone, but you can still manipulate the inputs on the iPhone: Open the Settings app and go to "Keyboard"> "Shortcuts" in the "General" tab. Create new commands here for everyday words. For example, you can make "Hello" from "Hello". As soon as your victim uses one of the words entered, it will automatically be replaced by your specified name.
- Change language: If you have short-term access to your victim's cell phone, you can change the language in the settings. We'll show you how it works on Android and iOS.
- Bluetooth prank: If you want to control the entire smartphone of your friend or colleague, you need a Bluetooth headset. If you pair the device with the smartphone, you can use the buttons on the headset to start the music, answer calls or even use voice control, for example.
- Screen damage fake: It is the horror concept of many cell phone owners: For a short while not paying attention, the cell phone falls and the display jumps. You can recreate this scenario with a free app for Android. The tool simulates a broken screen - a moment of shock is almost inevitable here.
- For more childish humor: change the WhatsApp or other notification sound to a pups sound. The prank is particularly nasty if your victim has the cell phone in his pocket. We show you how to change WhatsApp tones on Android and iOS.