April Fools’ Day is a great opportunity to break up the monotony of work with a little humor. When done right, pranks can strengthen bonds, create lasting memories, and bring coworkers closer together. But here's the thing—professionalism matters even while pranking. After all, the goal is to make your colleagues laugh, not annoy or offend them. Here are our top picks for funny, professional pranks that will keep the laughter rolling.
1. Invert Someone’s Screen
If your coworker steps away from their desk, use this quick keyboard trick to flip their screen view upside-down. On a Windows PC, press Ctrl + Alt + Down Arrow. To fix it, simply press Ctrl + Alt + Up Arrow.
2. Jello-Encased Stapler
Channel your inner Jim Halpert from The Office by placing someone’s stapler or mouse inside a mold of Jello.
3. “Out Of Order” Signs
Print and place fake “Out of Order” signs on frequently used items like the office coffee machine or bathroom door. Don’t leave these up for too long—feeling coffee-deprived isn’t funny for long!
4. Inflatable Surprise
Fill a coworker’s office or cubicle with balloons. Bonus points if you use helium, so the balloons lift to their full height!
5. Keyboard Confusion
Swap out a colleague's keyboard keys or replace the letters with stickers spelling out random words. Don’t forget to put everything back in place! This prank is funny but can be mildly disruptive.
6. AutoCorrect Hijinks
Change a coworker’s autocorrect settings so common words like “and” are replaced with something goofy like “🥳”. Go into Word or their device’s settings. (Just make sure to revert back after a good laugh!)
7. The Classic Mouse Trick
Stick a small piece of tape over a coworker’s mouse sensor, rendering it nonfunctional. Watch as they repeatedly try (and fail) to make the cursor move. Bonus points if you write “Gotcha!” on the tape.
8. The Invisible Cup Wall
Build a “wall” of transparent cups filled with water in the doorway of your coworker’s office or cubicle. They’ll have a tricky time figuring out how to enter.
9. Paper Overload
Replace a coworker’s entire supply of paper for the printer with bright, colorful sheets. Watching them accidentally print an official document on neon paper will be priceless.
10. Deskbound Garden
Transform someone’s desk into a full garden by covering it with potted plants. Choose non-allergenic plants to avoid irritating anyone.
11. The Cut-Out Co-worker
Create a life-sized cardboard cut-out of a colleague and position it somewhere unexpected. It's surprisingly startling (and hilarious).
12. Fake Desktop Screenshot
Take a screenshot of someone’s full desktop, set it as their wallpaper, and hide the actual apps and folders. They’ll wonder why nothing seems to work.
13. Sticky Note Explosion
Cover every inch of a coworker’s space—computer, chair, desk—with sticky notes. Yes, it’s a classic, but it never fails to make people laugh.
14. Ceiling Decorations
Attach lightweight objects, like helium-filled balloons or funny notes, to the ceiling above their desk. A subtle but amusing prank.
15. Suspicious “Error Codes”
Stick hilarious fake “error messages” on printers or other office tech. Examples could include “Printer Offline. Time To Panic.”
