150 Best April Fools Day Pranks The Ultimate Guide to Gags and Laughs

Ready to unleash your inner prankster this April Fools’ Day? Before you go sticking googly eyes on everything, let’s talk strategy. Because a truly legendary April Fools’ Day prank is one that’s hilarious, harmless, and, most importantly, memorable.

But where do you even begin brainstorming? Fear not! We’ve compiled a list of top-tier pranks, from classic gags to modern trickery, guaranteed to elicit laughs (and maybe a few groans).

Get ready to be inspired and discover the perfect April Fools’ Day pranks to pull on your friends, family, or coworkers. Just remember to keep it lighthearted and fun!

Drop your funniest prank ideas in the comment section!

Best April Fools Day Pranks The Ultimate Guide to Gags and Laughs

• Replace someone’s family photos with pictures of Nicolas Cage.
• Set all their computer shortcuts to open a picture of a llama instead of the intended program.
• Cover their car in sticky notes, each with a different dad joke written on it.
• Change their phone’s autocorrect so that every instance of ‘yes’ becomes ‘maybe’.
• Fill their office with balloons, but each balloon contains a single, uncooked popcorn kernel.
• Secretly replace their desk chair with an identical one that is slightly lower.
• Leave a trail of rubber ducks leading to a ridiculous, yet harmless, prize.
• Write a fake but very convincing email from their boss announcing a new, absurd company policy.
• Wrap all their office supplies individually in wrapping paper.
• Tape an air horn under their chair, activated by sitting down.
• Change all the labels in their pantry to mislabel the contents (e.g., sugar labeled as salt).
• Create a fake parking ticket that is for an incredibly minor and silly infraction.
• Hide alarm clocks around their house set to go off at random intervals throughout the day.
• Offer them a ‘special’ homemade dessert that is actually made from vegetables disguised as sweets.
• Change their phone’s ringtone to a recording of them snoring.

April Fools’ Day Pranks: History and Traditions

April Fools’ Day, a beloved day for pranks! But where did this silly tradition come from? Some believe it originated with the shift to the Gregorian calendar in the 16th century. Those slow to adopt the new date were mocked as “April Fools.” Today, we continue the fun with harmless…

• Replace the batteries in their TV remote with dead ones, then hide the real batteries.
• Set their computer mouse sensitivity to the maximum or minimum setting.
• Slowly move their desk a few inches further away from the door each day leading up to April Fools’.
• Bake a batch of brownies but replace the chocolate with black beans.
• Forward all their emails to a coworker and set up an auto-reply saying “Out of office until April 2nd”.
• Print out a life-sized photo of a celebrity and place it in their shower.
• Replace the sugar in the sugar bowl with powdered cheese.
• Create a custom screensaver of a blue screen of death.
• Hide a Bluetooth speaker in their office and play animal sounds intermittently.
• Stuff their shoes with cotton balls or newspaper.
• Change the language on their social media account to something ridiculous, like Pirate Speak.
• Cover their doorknob with clear tape.
• Fill a spray bottle with water and lightly mist them when they least expect it.
• Unplug their mouse and keyboard, then feign ignorance when they ask for help.
• Change their desktop background to a picture of your face.

Classic April Fools’ Day Pranks Ideas: A Hilarious Guide

Ready to unleash some harmless chaos this April Fools’ Day? “Classic April Fools’ Day Prank Ideas: A Hilarious Guide” is your go-to resource! From swapping sugar and salt to the ever-popular cling film doorway, we’ve compiled a collection of tried-and-true pranks guaranteed to elicit laughter (and maybe a groan or…

• The Office Supply Orchestra: Hide kazoos in various office supplies (pens, stapler, tape dispenser) and wait for the symphony of confusion.
• The Sentient Coffee Machine: Pre-record a message saying, “I’m making coffee… for you!” and set it to play whenever someone uses the coffee machine.
• The Imaginary Meeting: Send a company-wide email about a mandatory meeting on “Effective Cloud Gazing Techniques” at a ridiculous time.
• The Desk Garden: Grow grass seeds in their keyboard over a week leading up to April Fools’.
• The Coin Collection: Superglue a few coins to the floor near their desk and watch people struggle to pick them up.
• The Upside-Down Desk: Turn everything on their desk upside down the night before.
• The “Helpful” Sticky Notes: Cover their monitor with sticky notes offering “helpful” tips on using their computer (e.g., “Click the mouse to click”).
• The Accidental Air Freshener: Replace the contents of their air freshener with a faint fish scent.
• The Phantom Phone Calls: Program a friend to call them repeatedly throughout the day with increasingly bizarre questions.
• The Fake Spill: Create a realistic-looking “spill” on their desk using glue and a dark-colored liquid (like soy sauce or coffee).
• The Self-Inflating Bag: Place a small bag of self-inflating packing peanuts inside their desk drawer.
• The Mystery Package: Send them an empty box, elaborately wrapped, with a note saying, “You’ll know what it’s for.”
• The Glitter Bomb Note: Place a note in an envelope filled with glitter, with a message saying “You’ve been glitter-bombed!”.
• The Wrong Holiday: Decorate their workspace for a completely different holiday (like Christmas in April).
• The Voice-Activated Everything: Put up signs around their office labeling things as voice-activated (e.g., “Voice-Activated Door,” “Voice-Activated Light”).

April Fools’ Day Pranks Gone Wrong: Avoiding Disaster

April Fools’ Day is all fun and games until someone gets hurt! Before you unleash your inner prankster, remember safety first. A harmless joke can quickly turn sour, leading to hurt feelings, damaged property, or even injuries. Think twice, consider the potential consequences, and keep your pranks lighthearted and respectful…

• The Framed Achievement: Frame a completely ridiculous “employee of the month” certificate featuring a stock photo of a hamster.
• The Unexpected Anthem: Change their computer’s startup sound to a recording of a ridiculous song, like the Barney theme song or a polka tune.
• The Fake Lottery Ticket: Give them a convincing fake lottery ticket that appears to be a big winner, then reveal it’s a prank with a custom-made “loser” message.
• The “Haunted” Object: Attach fishing line to a small, harmless object on their desk (like a bobblehead) and subtly make it move throughout the day.
• The Confetti Shower: Rig a ceiling fan with a lightweight container filled with confetti, triggered by their light switch.
• The Mysterious Memo: Leave a series of cryptic memos around their workspace, each referencing a fictional project or task with increasingly absurd details.
• The Inflatable Invasion: Slowly fill their office with inflatable animals or pool toys over several days, starting with just one and escalating the chaos.
• The Decoy Wallet: Place a fake wallet on the ground with silly or embarrassing fake ID cards and novelty money inside.
• The “Expert” Advice: Leave a printed-out “expert” guide on a completely useless skill, like “Advanced Stapler Maintenance” or “The Art of Paperclip Origami.”
• The Colorful Keyboard: Replace the keycaps on their keyboard with brightly colored, mismatched keycaps, but keep the layout correct.
• The Musical Toilet Paper: Hide a small, battery-operated musical device inside their toilet paper roll that plays a short tune each time the roll is spun.
• The Wrong Day: Convince them it is a completely different day of the week than it actually is.
• The Plant Swap: If they have a plant, replace it with a nearly identical fake plant, and subtly move the real one elsewhere.
• The Backward Clock: Change the direction their clock is moving in, but only slightly, to cause subtle confusion.
• The Ghostly Garment: Hang a coat or jacket in their peripheral vision that’s slightly too big or too small, giving the impression someone is standing there.

High-Tech April Fools’ Day Pranks: Gadgets and Giggles

April Fools’ Day is the perfect excuse for tech-fueled tomfoolery! “High-Tech April Fools’ Day Pranks: Gadgets and Giggles” explores hilarious pranks you can pull using everyday tech. Imagine a rogue smart speaker, a self-stirring coffee mug gone wild, or even a cleverly manipulated phone screen. Get ready to unleash your…

• The Wi-Fi Password Paradox: Change the Wi-Fi password to something long and absurd like “correcthorsebatterystaple,” then post a sign saying, “New simplified Wi-Fi password!”
• Smart Home Sabotage: If they have smart lights, program them to flicker erratically or change color every few minutes.
• The Digital Pet Rock: Download a pet rock simulator app onto their phone without them knowing and set it as their home screen.
• The Talking Toaster: Rig their smart toaster to say a random phrase every time it pops toast, like “Enjoy your carbs!” or “The future is now!”
• The Reverse Remote: Swap the infrared receiver and transmitter on their TV remote so it controls the neighbor’s TV (with their permission, of course!).
• The Annoying App Notification: Download a soundboard app and schedule fake app notifications with embarrassing or silly sounds.
• The Ubiquitous QR Code: Replace all the QR codes in their vicinity with a QR code that rickrolls them.
• The Phantom Text Message: Use a fake text message app to send them a message from a celebrity or fictional character.
• The Voice-Activated Lamp: Tell them their lamp is voice-activated, but secretly control it with a smart plug and your phone.
• The Fake Software Update: Create a realistic-looking fake software update screen that takes over their computer for a few minutes.
• The “Helpful” AI Assistant: Change the settings on their AI assistant (like Siri or Alexa) to give absurd or unhelpful responses to common questions.
• The Smart Speaker Scare: Program their smart speaker to randomly play spooky sound effects throughout the day.
• The Autocorrect Conspiracy: Add a custom autocorrect entry that replaces their name with a ridiculous nickname in every message.
• The Mouse Cursor Maze: Download a custom mouse cursor pack with confusing or distracting cursors (like a spinning beach ball).
• The Self-Typing Keyboard: Use a macro program to make their keyboard type out random sentences or phrases every few minutes.

Safe April Fools’ Day Prank: Fun for All Ages

April Fools’ Day is all about harmless fun! Let’s keep the pranks light and joyful for everyone. Think silly notes, unexpected rubber duckies, or swapping sugar and salt (but label it clearly!). Avoid anything that could scare, embarrass, or damage property. A good prank brings laughter, not tears! Let’s make…

• The Frozen Cereal: Prepare a bowl of cereal the night before, then freeze it solid. Offer it to your unsuspecting victim in the morning.
• The Backward Clothes: Turn all their clothes in their drawers or closet inside out.
• The Brown “E”: Offer someone a plate of brownies, but one of them is just an “E” cut out of brown construction paper.
• The Dollar Switch: Tape a dollar bill to the floor with a tiny piece of tape. Watch people try to pick it up.
• The Fake Bug: Tape a realistic-looking plastic bug to the inside of a lampshade.
• The Jelly Snack: Fill a doughnut with mayonnaise or mustard instead of cream or jelly.
• The Balloon Avalanche: Fill a small room (like a bathroom) entirely with balloons.
• The Remote Control Switcheroo: Swap the batteries between the TV remote and something else, like a toy, rendering the remote useless.
• The Upside-Down Portrait: Hang a framed photo on the wall upside down.
• The Colored Faucet: Unscrew the aerator on a faucet and place a few drops of food coloring inside.
• The Fake Plant Surprise: Hide a small, battery-operated toy that makes noise (like a chirping cricket) inside a potted plant.
• The Bubble Wrap Chair: Cover the seat of their chair with bubble wrap.
• The Laundry Detergent Swap: Pour the laundry detergent into an empty milk carton and the milk into the detergent container.
• The Toothpaste Oreo: Replace the cream filling in an Oreo with toothpaste.
• The Short Sheet: Make their bed, but short-sheet it so they can’t fully extend their legs.

Office April Fools’ Day Prank: Boosting Morale (Carefully!)

April Fools’ at the office can be a morale booster, but tread carefully! Think lighthearted fun, not malicious pranks. A silly desk makeover or a harmless “out of paper” memo can spark laughter and camaraderie. The goal is a shared giggle, not a stressful situation. Keep it inclusive and remember,…

• The Stationery Swap: Replace all their pens with pens that write in disappearing ink.
• The Desk Decoy: Completely cover their desk in aluminum foil. Every. Single. Item.
• The Suspiciously Supportive Co-worker: Spend the entire day agreeing with everything they say, no matter how ridiculous.
• The Misleading Memo: Leave a printed memo on their keyboard that says, “Please see me immediately about the incident,” signed “HR,” but with no further explanation.
• The Fake Outage: Post a sign on the coffee machine that says “Out of Order – Requires Specialized Technician,” even if it’s working perfectly.
• The “Important” Delivery: Have a large, empty appliance box delivered to their desk, addressed to them, but with no indication of what’s inside.
• The Backward Mouse: Change their mouse settings so that the left and right click functions are reversed.
• The “Confidential” Files: Replace all the files in their filing cabinet with printouts of cat pictures.
• The Voice Mail Vortex: Change their outgoing voicemail message to a recording of them saying “Please hold,” followed by elevator music for an extended period.
• The Paperclip Chain Reaction: Secretly connect all the paperclips on their desk into one long chain while they are away.
• The “New” Company Policy: Draft a fake memo announcing a new company policy requiring everyone to wear a specific, silly item of clothing (e.g., mismatched socks, a paper hat) on Fridays.
• The Keyboard Zoo: Place small plastic animal figurines strategically among the keys on their keyboard.
• The “Sponsored” Post-It Notes: Cover their monitor with Post-it notes, each featuring a different ad for a ridiculously niche product or service.
• The Accidental Conference Call: Casually mention to them that you accidentally included the CEO in a very embarrassing group text message about them.
• The “Technical Difficulties”: Change their computer’s default printer to a fax machine in another office (with the other office’s permission, of course).

International April Fools’ Day Prank: Global Humor

April Fools’ Day brings global chuckles! From fake news stories to elaborate workplace pranks, countries worldwide participate in this day of playful deception. While the specific pranks vary by culture, the underlying spirit of lighthearted humor unites us. It’s a day to question everything and enjoy a good laugh, even…

• The Global Greeting: Change the default language on their email signature to a different language each week leading up to April Fools’ Day. On April 1st, switch it to Klingon.
• The Foreign Exchange: Replace all the coins in their wallet with foreign currency of similar size and shape.
• The International Incident: Hide a small, inexpensive item associated with a particular country (e.g., a miniature Eiffel Tower) in a surprising place in their office.
• The Lost in Translation Lunch: Order their lunch from a restaurant that only speaks a foreign language and have it delivered with no explanation.
• The Around the World in 80 Sounds: Set their computer’s notification sounds to different animal noises from around the globe.
• The Passport Photo Swap: Replace their passport photo with a picture of a celebrity wearing a disguise.
• The Global Pandemic Prank: Send out a fake company memo announcing a new mandatory “International Pajama Day” on April 1st, citing “increased productivity and global unity.”
• The Tourist Trap: Secretly add a touristy keychain or souvenir to their bag or briefcase.
• The Mystery Postcard: Send them a postcard from a random country, signed only with a question mark.
• The Imaginary Exchange Student: Leave notes around their workspace from a fictional “exchange student” with increasingly bizarre cultural observations.
• The Universal Remote: Convince them that a universal remote control can operate any electronic device in the world.
• The Global Positioning Gag: Change their GPS navigation settings to provide directions in a ridiculously formal or archaic style.
• The Worldly Wardrobe: Add a small, unexpected item of clothing from another culture to their wardrobe while they are away.
• The Continent Confusion: Rearrange the continents on their world map or globe.
• The Simultaneous Translation: Create a fake live translation app that translates their speech into increasingly absurd languages.

April Fools’ Day Prank: Ethical Considerations and Boundaries

April Fools’ Day! A chance for harmless fun, but remember to tread carefully. While a silly joke can bring laughter, pranks shouldn’t cause genuine distress, damage property, or target vulnerable individuals. Consider how your prank might be perceived and keep it lighthearted. Ethical April Fools’ is about shared amusement, not…

• The Office Time Warp: Set all the clocks in the office forward by a manageable, yet disorienting, amount (like 23 minutes).
• The Sentient Stapler: Attach googly eyes to their stapler and leave a note saying, “I require more staples.”
• The Keyboard Confusion: Rearrange the letters on their keyboard into alphabetical order.
• The “World’s Best…” Award: Present them with a framed “World’s Best [Their Job Title]” certificate, but the picture is a stock photo of a squirrel.
• The Mysterious Office Plant: Leave a single, exotic-looking fruit (like a starfruit or dragon fruit) on their desk with no explanation.
• The Fabricated Fire Drill: Send a fake email from “Building Management” announcing a mandatory fire drill at a bizarre time (like 2:22 PM).
• The Incorrect Inventory: Replace all the items in their desk drawers with similar, but slightly different, items (e.g., ballpoint pens instead of gel pens, a stapler without staples).
• The Phantom Snacks: Place a single, individually wrapped candy or snack item in a random, unexpected location in their office each day leading up to April Fools’.
• The “Helpful” Computer Tip: Change their browser’s homepage to a website offering hilariously outdated computer advice (like a Geocities page).
• The Office Artifact: Display a random, antique-looking object (like an old rotary phone or a typewriter) in their workspace with a note claiming it’s a company heirloom.
• The Backwards Compliment: Compliment them all day, but in a way that’s slightly insulting (e.g., “Your organizational skills are surprisingly good.”).
• The “Official” Memo: Post a fake memo announcing a new dress code requiring everyone to wear a specific, silly item of clothing on Wednesdays (like a single glove or a funny hat).
• The Stationery Invasion: Cover their desk in an excessive amount of stationery supplies, like hundreds of paperclips, dozens of pens, and stacks of sticky notes.
• The Personalized Puzzle: Create a custom jigsaw puzzle featuring a ridiculous photo of them and leave it on their desk with a note saying, “Assemble at your leisure.”
• The Inflatable Co-worker: Place a life-sized inflatable doll at their desk, dressed in similar clothes to them, and give it a funny name tag.