Funny and Harmless Office Pranks to Play on Your Co-Worker When They Leave Their Desk

Quick Links

Fake Windows Update Screen
Deceptive Desktop: The Ultimate Wallpaper Prank
Spam Them With Weird Ads
Schedule a Timed Shutdown
Use PowerShell for Extra Fun

Injecting a bit of mischief into the office atmosphere can pump new life into a dull workday. With these harmless computer pranks, you can enjoy a few laughs with your colleagues without stepping over the line. Here’s how to pull off some good-natured tricks that promise to lighten the mood!

1. Fake Windows Update Screen

Want to create a mini-panic over a seemingly endless Windows update? This prank is just the ticket when your co-worker steps away for a moment. To orchestrate this harmless jest, follow these easy steps:

Open your target’s browser and navigate to FakeUpdate.net.
Select an update screen that closely resembles their actual operating system.
Press F11 to maximize the browser to full-screen mode.
Place the mouse cursor in the bottom-right corner to make it disappear.
Enjoy the hilarity as your co-worker grapples with the “endless update.”

2. Deceptive Desktop: The Ultimate Wallpaper Prank

This prank takes a bit more finesse but offers a delightful twist! By creating a deceptive desktop, you’ll leave your colleague baffled. This trick works best during their lunch break or an extended meeting. Here’s how to pull it off:

Hit the PrtScn button to take a screenshot of your co-worker’s desktop.
Paste the screenshot into an image editor (like Paint), and save it as a JPG or PNG.
Set this image as their wallpaper by right-clicking on the desktop and selecting Personalize.
Hide the desktop icons by going to View and unchecking Show desktop icons.
For even more deception, hide the taskbar. Right-click on it, select Taskbar settings, and turn on Automatically hide the taskbar in desktop mode.

Your colleague will return only to discover they can’t interact with any of the “icons” that are now merely decorative!

3. Spam Them With Weird Ads

When you have some access to your co-worker’s computer and an unlocked browser, take advantage of it! Manipulating their ad preferences will ensure they receive a slew of bizarre advertisements. Here’s how:

Access their browser and search for absurd products, such as “inflatable banana suit” or “haunted doll.”
Click on several listings to alter their ad preferences for targeted ads.
Sit back and enjoy the spectacle as they question their newfound interest in odd products.

4. Schedule a Timed Shutdown

This prank gives your colleague a harmless fright, especially if they haven’t saved their work. Scheduling an automatic shutdown is straightforward; here’s how:

Open the Command Prompt by hitting Windows Key + X, then selecting Terminal.
Type the command: shutdown -s -t 60 to set a shutdown for 60 seconds. Remember, you’ll want to save their work first!
Press Enter and step away.
Add extra flair with: shutdown -s -t 60 -c "Critical System Error: Trojan Virus Activated" for greater alarm.
Reassure them that they can cancel the shutdown with shutdown -a.

5. Use PowerShell for Extra Fun

PowerShell offers an exciting avenue for lighthearted pranks. With just a few lines of code, you can create amusing effects. Here are a few ideas:

Adjust Mouse Sensitivity

Make their mouse comically slow or fast using the following command:

set-itemProperty 'HKCU:\\Control Panel\\Mouse' -name MouseSensitivity -value 1

The value ranges from 1 to 20, allowing you to customize the sensitivity. They won’t be able to troubleshoot with DPI buttons—this command hard wires the sensitivity settings! Reset to normal by using the same command with a value of 10.

Open Notepad Every 30 Seconds

Make it a mission to annoy your colleague by opening Notepad every 30 seconds:

1..100 | ForEach-Object { Start-Process notepad; Start-Sleep -Seconds 30 }

Adjust the frequency in -Seconds and how many times in the 1..X range. To stop this mayhem, they’ll need to restart or manually close the problematic processes.

Play Eerie Messages Every Five Minutes

Spook them with unsettling audio messages at five-minute intervals:

while ($true) { Add-Type -AssemblyName System.speech; $speak = New-Object System. Speech. Synthesis. SpeechSynthesizer; $speak. Speak('Come see the violence inherent in the system. Help! Help! I''m being repressed!'); Start-Sleep -Seconds 300 }

Personalize the message by modifying the text within the single quotes. To bring this prank to a halt, they must either restart the computer or terminate PowerShell through Task Manager.

All the pranks mentioned are safe, easy to reverse, and intended to add some laughter to the workplace. Just ensure your co-workers are receptive to good-natured humor before you go all out! Happy pranking!

Source & Images