Pranks are awesome. They are ane of those few things in life that almost people tin can unequivocally concord on being great (except if you're Microsoft). Pranks are in the same league with true cat videos, candy, and free stuff – anybody loves 'em. (Except for that one guy you know, simply he's nevertheless sore from your concluding prank. Lighten up, Joe!)

You've probably already pranked some lucky members of your life at once or another. Maybe you deployed the humble Whoopee cushion or used the vacuum on someone audio asleep. Fun times, but are you really living up to your prankster potential? You're a tech-savvy individual, and it's fourth dimension that your pranks showed that. We've got some ideas...

Note: This feature was originally published on 03/28/2016. Nosotros have bumped it because a expert lighthearted prank can build better teams and help colleagues grow closer, destroy barriers, and dramatically improve morale.

1. Flip the computer display screen upside downwardly

This little prank makes using your trackpad feel like staying off Twitter while y'all're supposed to be working or climbing Everest (or something else equally hard.)

For Windows: Hit Ctrl + Alt + Down arrow (the same combination with the up pointer will flip it back). If for some reason this doesn't piece of work, right click on the desktop > Brandish Settings (or Screen Resolution on older versions) and modify the screen orientation.

For Mac: Concur Command + Option at the same time, while however holding those keys go to Arrangement Preferences. Go to Display (while still property the 2 keys) A new menu chosen Rotation should appear, and you can flip the display and save it or undo.

2. Bulldoze people to insanity by changing the mouse pointer to wait constantly busy

This unproblematic prank volition make your victim recollect their computer is hanging all the time when it's really non. Whenever I see the busy cursor I experience irritable. Can't aid it. The mere idea of this prank happening to me makes me want to punch something. Only, if you promise to never use this on me here are the directions:

For Windows: Go to the Control Panel > Mouse > Pointers and change the Normal arrow to the working ane.

For Mac: This prank option isn't readily available but yous tin can still mess with the cursor. Become to Organisation Preferences > Accessibility > Display and elevate the cursor size all the way to the right to make the mouse pointer gigantic. While you're at it, y'all might as well mess around with the other display settings similar inverting colors and turning the contrast all the way upward.

iii. Get the master of sinister autocorrect additions

This elementary just overly frustrating prank can be played in numerous ways and depending on your victim you lot could mess with his computer or smartphone. The basic premise here is to add together a custom entry into the AutoCorrect keyboard feature to supervene upon a mutual word (or the spacebar) with something else entirely.

Y'all can be subtle and simply replace a correctly typed give-and-take with a typo. That'southward irritating, right. Or yous tin can go for shock value and add something that makes you express mirth uncontrollably – such as changing "Hi" to "I love watching Bailiwick of jersey Shore reruns." Only be prepared to deal with whatever fallout may occur.

For Microsoft Discussion: Cull File from the principal menu (or the Office button in older versions of Word) > Options > Proofing > AutoCorrect Options. If y'all want this to be system-wide, you can employ AutoHotkey instead.

Word on Mac: Give-and-take > Preferences > Autocorrect.

For Mac: System Preferences > Keyboard > Text > Click the Plus sign at the bottom left.

For Google Docs: Tools > Preferences. Add away. Make sure the box next to "Automatic substitution" is checked.

For Android: Go to Settings > Linguistic communication & Input > Google Keyboard (or other default keyboard) > Text Correction > Personal Lexicon.

For iPhone: Get to Settings > General > Keyboard (make sure autocorrect is on) > Text Replacement > tap the Plus sign at the elevation correct and add your "corrections."

4. Switch the keyboard layout to DVORAK

Every bit a quicker culling, this one is a fun mode to mess with somebody without having to do much. All yous need to practice is enable the Dvorak alternate keyboard layout that well-nigh average users aren't familiar with.

Go to the Command Console > Region and Language > Keyboards > Alter keyboards, so click the Add button and option the Dvorak layout (or whatsoever other random layout you desire). Once you've washed that, use the drop-downwards above to set the default. You lot'll probably desire to flip over to the Linguistic communication Bar tab and set that to hidden as well, so the tricks tin can't be figured out too hands.

five. Cake their mouse sensor with a Mail-it

6. Requite your victim a eye set on with a cracked screen wallpaper

Simple pranks tin can have just as much impact as complicated ones. Apace changing someone's wallpaper is super easy to set up and can evangelize some stupor value, however for best results you may want to take a screenshot of the home screen and add the cracked glass effect on acme of it. There are a few apps that can do it for you as well on Android and iOS.

7. Ready up task scheduler jobs to launch random apps (or a web folio)

Imagine that a new tab to a certain page opens every couple of minutes. Annoying. At present imagine trying to troubleshoot information technology quickly and not having whatever luck (while the new tab keeps popping open.) Bury the job in the scheduler and that'south exactly what will happen. Go in and create a new job, run through the sorcerer and pick the browser executable, plug the site proper noun into the arguments box, and so set the schedule to repeat the chore every 5 minutes (or every minute – depending on how maniacal you are.)

8. Replace system sounds

Equally with many of the pranks listed hither, it's all in the approach. The straightforward approach is good for pranksters who are short on time: Download an array of '.wav' files and supersede the prankee'southward mutual system sounds through the Control Panel. Example; when they receive a new e-mail in Outlook or other electronic mail clients.

If subtlety is your thing and y'all have some more time to invest in this prank, employ a sound editor (such every bit Brazenness) and add together lots of silence between the default sound (for receiving electronic mail or another) and the sound files you're using. That adds a big gap between what causes the audio – logging onto Windows, a User Account Control window appearing, or anything else you decide – and your chosen sound effect. Terrifying screams is a common suggestion, but why non try something new similar a child'southward voice whispering something?

9. Motion desktop icons, take a screenshot, set as the wallpaper

Have a screenshot of the victim's current desktop, set information technology every bit the desktop wallpaper, and then hibernate the icons and taskbar. At first, everything will await normal, but zip will respond to any mouse clicks. Another approach is to have a screenshot of their desktop, set it every bit their wallpaper, move some icons around, and accept another screenshot. Repeat until y'all have a very cluttered desktop, with simply a few icons that actually piece of work and the victim is left to search to discover what'southward usable.

10. Plug a wireless mouse/keyboard and control a computer from afar

Back in the 24-hour interval, at that place used to be trojan-like (only benign) VNC programs y'all could run to mess around with people but those no longer piece of work. Alternatively, installing something like TeamViewer is an elaborate pick for a prank only one that will take most planning than near.

Even so, if you lot are in an role setting with desktop PCs, just plug a wireless mouse and keyboard receiver in the back of the prankee's computer, and control it from your desk. The receiving person will be lost when the mouse starts moving past itself, starting applications, and typing weird messages on the screen. Combine this with one of the pranks above and y'all're in for a proficient express joy.

At present, what are you waiting for?

Figure out your target, control your maniacal laughter, and get to work. Considering good pranks are the all-time kind of piece of work.