A prank that ends with a smile
Some jokes need a straight face and a bit of patience. Send a friend a link that opens a dark screen slowly installing updates, a terminal that writes film-style code as they type, or a loading bar that sits at 99 per cent.
After the time you choose, or after a few taps, the fake screen gives way to your message with a burst of confetti and a button to prank someone back.
The screens are made up: there are no real system logos, nothing is installed and nobody is asked for anything.
How to make a prank link
Three choices and a link.
Pick a fake screen: update, hacker or endless loading.
Write the message for the end and, if you like, your name.
Choose when it is revealed: after 10 to 60 seconds, or after a few taps.
Make the link, send it and wait for the reply.
What the prank link does
Harmless fun, ready in a minute.
- Three fake screens: a system update, a hacker terminal, an endless loading bar
- Full screen on the first tap, where the browser allows it
- Your message and name on the reveal, with confetti
- Reveal after a set time or after three taps
- Escape ends it at once on a keyboard
- Nothing stored on our side: the prank lives in the link
- Try it on yourself before sending
Who sends them
Friends, siblings and colleagues with a sense of humour.
A friend who is always on their laptop.
A sibling waiting for an exam result.
April Fools' Day in the office chat.
A partner who keeps saying they are bored.
A gamer friend who will love the hacker screen.
How it works
The screen, the message, the name and the reveal time are written into the link itself, after the # sign, which browsers do not send to the server. Opening the link plays the fake screen right away.
The update and loading screens count up slowly and stop just short of 100 per cent. The hacker screen types a few characters of made-up code for every key or tap, then flashes access granted.
Good to know
Keep it kind: the reveal comes on its own, and the friend can always close the tab.
Full screen needs a tap first; on some phones the browser bar stays visible.
Tips
- Send the link with an innocent message such as "can you check this for me?".
- The hacker screen works best on a computer with a keyboard.
- Keep the reveal short, around 20 seconds, so the joke lands before they give up.
Prank link questions
Is the fake update screen safe?
Yes. It is just a web page: nothing is installed, downloaded or changed on the device.
Does it look like Windows or macOS?
No. It is a generic dark update screen with no system logos or names.
How does the prank end?
After the time you picked, or after three taps, your message appears with confetti.
Is anything stored?
No. Everything is inside the link, so nothing is kept on our side.
Can I test it first?
Yes. Press Try it yourself to watch it before you send it.