16 Hilarious PC Pranks

These are pranks, not malware. The steps below explicitly avoid destructive system calls (like actual file deletion or registry corruption). To run these, you only need Notepad (built into every Windows PC).

🎯 Phase 1: Setup (Do this once)

Step 1: Open Notepad (Press Win+R, type notepad, hit Enter).

Step 2: Save your file with the correct extension (.bat, .vbs, or .html).

Step 3: Double-click the file to run it. To stop, use Ctrl+C in the terminal or Ctrl+Alt+Delete to open Task Manager.

1. FAKE BLUE SCREEN (BSOD)

🎭 Cool File Name: "Windows_Critical_Scanner.bat"

🖼️ The Icon: Looks like a gear (it's a batch file)

What it does: Fills the screen with blue and scrolling error text.

Step 1: Open Notepad.
Step 2: Copy and paste this:

              
@echo off

color 1f

cls

echo.

echo STOP: 0x0000007B (0xF78D2524, 0xC0000034, 0x00000000, 0x00000000)

echo.

echo DRIVER_IRQL_NOT_LESS_OR_EQUAL

echo.

echo *** Address 0x8054A2B1 base at 0x8054A000 - DateStamp 0x3d6d4a1c

echo.

echo Beginning dump of physical memory...

echo.

:loop

echo Dumping memory at 0x%random%%random% - Page 0x%random%

goto loop

Step 3: Save as "Windows_Critical_Scanner.bat" (make sure it ends in .bat).
Step 4: Double-click to run. Press Ctrl+C to stop.

😂 The Fun Twist: The text scrolls so fast it looks legit. Hide a Rick Roll link at the bottom!

2. FAKE WINDOWS UPDATE

🎭 Cool File Name: "Windows11_Upgrader.bat"

🖼️ The Icon: Looks like a blue window

What it does: Shows a fake update percentage that loops forever.

              
@echo off

color 1f

cls

echo Working on updates...

echo.

:loop

set /a num=%random% %% 100

echo %num%%% complete.

echo Do not turn off your computer.

timeout /t 2 >nul

goto loop

Step 3: Save as "Windows11_Upgrader.bat".
Step 4: Double-click to run. Press Ctrl+C to stop.

😂 The Fun Twist: It jumps from 99% back to 45% randomly—just like real Windows updates!

3. FAKE MACOS KERNEL PANIC

🎭 Cool File Name: "MacOS_Fix.app.bat"

🖼️ The Icon: Looks like a grey screen

What it does: Makes a grey box with fake Mac error text.

              
@echo off

color 8f

cls

echo #################################################

echo #           Your computer restarted              #

echo #         because of a problem.                 #

echo #################################################

echo.

echo panic(cpu 0 caller 0xffffff800a2b4c2e): Kernel trap

echo.

echo macOS version: 14.5 (23F79)

echo Hostname: %computername%

echo.

echo Press any key to continue...

pause >nul

😂 The Fun Twist: At the bottom, add a hidden message: "Your Mac is now a Windows PC. ¡Olé!"

4. FAKE LINUX TERMINAL HACK

🎭 Cool File Name: "NSA_Hack_Tool.bat"

🖼️ The Icon: Green terminal

What it does: Green scrolling text that looks like hacking NASA.

              
@echo off

color 0a

cls

echo INITIALIZING HACK SEQUENCE...

echo.

:loop

echo %random%%random%%random% - ACCESSING NODE 192.168.%random%.%random%

echo DECRYPTING DATA PACKET %random%...

echo.

timeout /t 1 >nul

goto loop

😂 The Fun Twist: After 10 seconds, print: "ACCESS GRANTED... WELCOME, PRESIDENT OF MARS."

5. FAKE "DELETING SYSTEM32"

🎭 Cool File Name: "PC_Optimizer_Pro.bat"

🖼️ The Icon: Green checkmark

What it does: Shows fake files being deleted, then fails dramatically.

              
@echo off

color 4f

cls

echo DELETING SYSTEM FILES...

echo.

echo Deleting: ntoskrnl.exe... SUCCESS

echo Deleting: winload.efi... SUCCESS

echo Deleting: hal.dll... SUCCESS

echo Deleting: kernel32.dll... SUCCESS

echo.

echo ERROR: Access Denied!

echo.

echo #################################################

echo #          YOU HAVE BEEN TROLLED!               #

echo #################################################

pause

😂 The Fun Twist: The "ERROR: Access Denied" pops up with a huge troll face made of text!

6. FAKE SHUTDOWN TIMER

🎭 Cool File Name: "Windows_Defender_Scan.bat"

🖼️ The Icon: Blue shield

What it does: Countdown from 60 that gets faster when you hit "Abort."

              
@echo off

color 0c

cls

echo WARNING: System shutdown initiated!

echo.

set /a count=60

:loop

cls

echo SHUTTING DOWN IN %count% SECONDS...

echo.

echo [ Press any key to ABORT ]

set /a count-=1

timeout /t 1 >nul

if %count%==0 goto explode

goto loop

:explode

echo SHUTDOWN COMPLETE!

echo.

echo Just kidding! Have a nice day! 😂

pause

😂 The Fun Twist: When it hits 0, it doesn't shut down—it plays a fake "sad trombone" sound!

7. FAKE POPUP VIRUS (Endless Warnings)

🎭 Cool File Name: "System_Health_Check.vbs"

🖼️ The Icon: Red "X"

What it does: Infinite popups that won't stop!

              
Do

    x = MsgBox("CRITICAL VIRUS DETECTED!", 16, "Windows Security")

Loop

Step 3: Save as "System_Health_Check.vbs".
Step 4: Double-click to run.
Step 5: To stop, open Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) and kill wscript.exe.

😂 The Fun Twist: Change the message to: "Did you remember to feed your Tamagotchi?"

8. FAKE BROKEN SCREEN

🎭 Cool File Name: "Screen_Calibration_Tool.html"

🖼️ The Icon: Internet browser icon

What it does: Opens a full-screen HTML page that looks like cracked glass.

              
<!DOCTYPE html>

<html>

<head>

    <style>

        body { margin: 0; background: black; overflow: hidden; }

        canvas { display: block; width: 100vw; height: 100vh; }

    </style>

</head>

<body>

    <canvas id="c"></canvas>

    <script>

        const canvas = document.getElementById('c');

        const ctx = canvas.getContext('2d');

        canvas.width = window.innerWidth;

        canvas.height = window.innerHeight;

        // Draw cracked glass

        ctx.strokeStyle = 'white';

        ctx.lineWidth = 3;

        for (let i = 0; i < 20; i++) {

            ctx.beginPath();

            ctx.moveTo(canvas.width/2, canvas.height/2);

            for (let j = 0; j < 10; j++) {

                ctx.lineTo(Math.random() * canvas.width, Math.random() * canvas.height);

            }

            ctx.stroke();

        }

        // Impact circle

        ctx.fillStyle = 'red';

        ctx.beginPath();

        ctx.arc(canvas.width/2, canvas.height/2, 20, 0, Math.PI*2);

        ctx.fill();

    </script>

</body>

</html>

Step 3: Save as "Screen_Calibration_Tool.html".
Step 4: Double-click to open in browser. Press F11 to fullscreen. Press Alt+F4 to close.

😂 The Fun Twist: Add a bouncing band-aid emoji (🩹) in the corner!

9. FAKE SCREEN FREEZE

🎭 Cool File Name: "Desktop_Organizer.html"

🖼️ The Icon: Internet browser icon

What it does: Shows a frozen screenshot of their desktop.

Step 1: Press Print Screen (PrtScn) on your keyboard.
Step 2: Open Paint, paste the screenshot (Ctrl+V), and save it as "desktop.png".
Step 3: Open Notepad and paste this:

              
<!DOCTYPE html>

<html>

<head>

    <style>

        body { margin: 0; overflow: hidden; background: black; }

        img { width: 100vw; height: 100vh; }

    </style>

</head>

<body>

    <img src="desktop.png">

</body>

</html>

Step 4: Save as "Desktop_Organizer.html" in the same folder as "desktop.png".
Step 5: Double-click to open. Press F11 to fullscreen. Press Alt+F4 to close.

😂 The Fun Twist: When they click the screen, play a "ding" sound file!

10. FAKE MOUSE NOT RESPONDING

🎭 Cool File Name: "USB_Fix_Tool.bat"

🖼️ The Icon: USB cable

What it does: Tells the user their mouse is broken.

              
@echo off

color 4f

cls

echo USB HID DRIVER FAILURE!

echo.

echo Mouse not detected.

echo Please reconnect your mouse.

echo.

echo Press any key to retry...

pause >nul

echo Retrying... FAILED.

echo.

echo Your mouse is now a potato. 🥔

pause

😂 The Fun Twist: It ends with: "Your mouse is now a potato. Please insert cheese to continue."

11. FAKE KEYBOARD LOCK

🎭 Cool File Name: "Keyboard_Diagnostic.bat"

🖼️ The Icon: Keyboard

What it does: Shows a fake keyboard error.

              
@echo off

color 4f

cls

echo KEYBOARD DRIVER ERROR!

echo.

echo Keyboard not responding.

echo.

echo Please stop mashing the keys!

echo.

echo Press Ctrl+Alt+Delete to unlock...

pause

😂 The Fun Twist: Every time they press a key, it beeps!

12. FAKE LOW BATTERY ALERT

🎭 Cool File Name: "Battery_Saver_Mode.bat"

🖼️ The Icon: Green battery

What it does: Shows fake battery warnings.

              
@echo off

color 4e

cls

echo ⚠️ LOW BATTERY WARNING ⚠️

echo.

set /a bat=100

:loop

cls

echo Battery: %bat%%%

echo.

echo CRITICAL BATTERY!

echo Please connect charger NOW!

echo.

set /a bat-=5

timeout /t 1 >nul

if %bat%==0 goto dead

goto loop

:dead

echo BATTERY AT 0%%

echo Shutting down...

echo.

echo Just kidding! Have a nice day! 😂

pause

😂 The Fun Twist: At 0%, say: "Please do the Electric Slide to recharge!"

13. FAKE OVERHEATING WARNING

🎭 Cool File Name: "CPU_Temperature_Scanner.bat"

🖼️ The Icon: Flame icon

What it does: Shows fake CPU overheating warnings.

              
@echo off

color 4c

cls

echo 🔥 CPU OVERHEATING WARNING 🔥

echo.

echo Current Temperature: %random%%%C

echo.

echo CRITICAL: CPU Throttling initiated!

echo Damage imminent!

echo.

echo Type "OVERRIDE" to continue:

set /p override=

if "%override%"=="OVERRIDE" goto safe

goto hot

:safe

echo OVERRIDE ACCEPTED.

echo Just kidding! Have a nice day! 😂

pause

:hot

echo SHUTTING DOWN...

pause

😂 The Fun Twist: If they type anything other than "OVERRIDE," it says: "You just crashed the simulation. Congrats!"

14. FAKE RAM ERROR

🎭 Cool File Name: "Memory_Diagnostic_Tool.bat"

🖼️ The Icon: Microchip

What it does: Shows fake memory dump errors.

              
@echo off

color 1f

cls

echo MEMORY MANAGEMENT ERROR

echo.

echo Dumping physical memory...

echo.

:loop

echo Memory dump at 0x%random%%random% - Page Fault

timeout /t 0 >nul

goto loop

😂 The Fun Twist: The memory addresses spell out: "BUY MORE RAM, YOU CHEAPSKATE!"

15. FAKE BIOS BOOT SCREEN

🎭 Cool File Name: "BIOS_Update_Tool.bat"

🖼️ The Icon: Motherboard

What it does: Shows a fake BIOS boot screen.

              
@echo off

color 0f

cls

echo AMERICAN MEGATRENDS BIOS v2.3

echo.

echo Press DEL to enter setup...

timeout /t 2 >nul

echo Detecting Primary Master... None

timeout /t 1 >nul

echo Detecting Secondary Slave... None

timeout /t 1 >nul

echo.

echo Operating System not found.

echo Press any key to retry...

pause >nul

cls

echo JUST KIDDING! Have a nice day! 😂

pause

😂 The Fun Twist: Instead of "None," make it detect: "Detecting Floppy Disk... Found a cookie!"

16. FAKE "FORMATTING DRIVE" ANIMATION

🎭 Cool File Name: "Disk_Cleanup_Utility.bat"

🖼️ The Icon: Trash can

What it does: Shows fake drive formatting.

              
@echo off

color 4f

cls

echo FORMATTING DRIVES...

echo.

echo C: Cat Pictures - Formatting... 0%%

timeout /t 1 >nul

echo C: Cat Pictures - Formatting... 25%%

timeout /t 1 >nul

echo C: Cat Pictures - Formatting... 50%%

timeout /t 1 >nul

echo C: Cat Pictures - Formatting... 75%%

timeout /t 1 >nul

echo C: Cat Pictures - Formatting... 100%% COMPLETE!

echo.

echo D: Embarrassing Selfies - Formatting... 100%% COMPLETE!

echo E: Homework - Formatting... 100%% COMPLETE!

echo.

echo ALL DATA LOST!

echo.

echo Just kidding! Your files are safe! 😂

pause

😂 The Fun Twist: Change drive names to: "C: Cat Pictures", "D: Embarrassing Selfies", and "E: Homework"!

🚀 Phase 6: Deployment (The Final Step for ALL)

Step 1: Save all your .bat or .vbs files in a folder called "Prank_War" on their desktop.

Step 2: Right-click each file → Properties → Change Icon (only works if you convert to .exe—for simple Notepad tricks, just rename them to look official).

Step 3: Rename them to boring names like:

"System_Helper.dll.bat" (hide the .bat extension)
"VCRuntime_Update.bat"
"Windows_Update_Tool.bat"

Step 4: To run on startup, press Win+R, type shell:startup, and paste a shortcut to your prank file there.

Step 5: 🔴 CRUCIAL SAFETY STEP: Always include a Killswitch—a way to stop it. For .bat files, press Ctrl+C in the terminal. For .vbs, use Ctrl+Shift+Esc to open Task Manager and kill wscript.exe.

Step 6: ULTIMATE PROTECTION: For .bat files, add this at the very top to make it close when they press Ctrl+C:

              
@echo off

:killswitch

if exist "C:\stop.txt" exit

Then, if things go wrong, create an empty file called stop.txt on the C: drive to instantly stop the prank!

🎉 BONUS: The "Fake It 'Til You Make It" Strategy

Disguise the icon: Change the file name to "System_Update.exe.bat"—when they see .bat, it'll look like a system file.
Hide the evidence: Save all files in C:\Windows\Temp so it looks official.
Schedule it: Use Windows Task Scheduler to run the prank at a specific time (e.g., 3:00 AM).
Double trouble: Create a prank that opens another prank—endless loop of chaos!

Now go forth and prank responsibly! Remember—once they're laughing (not panicking), reveal the secret killswitch and share a good laugh together! 😉🎭

Tags:

Pranks ,
Notepad ,
Batch ,
Fun

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Article written by

Kelvin Ndung'u Kamau

Founder of Brimcotech Solutions. Kelvin is passionate about technology, AI, and creating fun experiences. When he's not building AI solutions, he enjoys exploring creative ways to make people smile through harmless tech pranks.

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🎯 Phase 1: Setup (Do this once)

1. FAKE BLUE SCREEN (BSOD)

2. FAKE WINDOWS UPDATE

3. FAKE MACOS KERNEL PANIC

4. FAKE LINUX TERMINAL HACK

5. FAKE "DELETING SYSTEM32"

6. FAKE SHUTDOWN TIMER

7. FAKE POPUP VIRUS (Endless Warnings)

8. FAKE BROKEN SCREEN

9. FAKE SCREEN FREEZE

10. FAKE MOUSE NOT RESPONDING

11. FAKE KEYBOARD LOCK

12. FAKE LOW BATTERY ALERT

13. FAKE OVERHEATING WARNING

14. FAKE RAM ERROR

15. FAKE BIOS BOOT SCREEN

16. FAKE "FORMATTING DRIVE" ANIMATION

🚀 Phase 6: Deployment (The Final Step for ALL)

🎉 BONUS: The "Fake It 'Til You Make It" Strategy

Article written by

Kelvin Ndung'u Kamau

Comment Form

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🎯 Phase 1: Setup (Do this once)

1. FAKE BLUE SCREEN (BSOD)

2. FAKE WINDOWS UPDATE

3. FAKE MACOS KERNEL PANIC

4. FAKE LINUX TERMINAL HACK

5. FAKE "DELETING SYSTEM32"

6. FAKE SHUTDOWN TIMER

7. FAKE POPUP VIRUS (Endless Warnings)

8. FAKE BROKEN SCREEN

9. FAKE SCREEN FREEZE

10. FAKE MOUSE NOT RESPONDING

11. FAKE KEYBOARD LOCK

12. FAKE LOW BATTERY ALERT

13. FAKE OVERHEATING WARNING

14. FAKE RAM ERROR

15. FAKE BIOS BOOT SCREEN

16. FAKE "FORMATTING DRIVE" ANIMATION

🚀 Phase 6: Deployment (The Final Step for ALL)

🎉 BONUS: The "Fake It 'Til You Make It" Strategy

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