15 office prank ideas to show your coworkers who's really the boss (2024)

Be on the lookout because April 1 is fast approaching.

In this world of prank or be pranked, you want to make sure you come out on top. So here are 15 genius ideas for your very own April Fools' Day office prank.

We cannot guarantee that you won't need to "have a conversation" with your superior after pulling one of these, but they're really funny. You can decide whether or not you want to unleash your inner Jim Halpert for a day.

1. Fill your boss's office with balloons.

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This one is a classic and never gets old, except to the person who's office you are filling.

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We actually did this prank at our offices, as the above photo suggests. From experience, we would highly recommend.

2. Turn your coworker's desk around.

15 office prank ideas to show your coworkers who's really the boss (1)

This one only works if you work at a place with movable desks. However, it is simple, quick, and relatively harmless.

Literally all you have to do is turn the desk around so that all drawers are facing away from where the chair normally would be. In order make the desk still look like it's facing the right way, make sure to shift any desktop items to their proper places on the desk and ensure the chair is where it usually is. With any luck, your coworker won't realize their desk is backwards at all until they have to get something from one of their drawers and then they'll discover the drawer isn't there anymore.

3. Plaster their desk area with pictures of either their favorite or least favorite thing.

CARD ID: 189568, CARD TYPE: Imgur

A certain level of dedication is needed to pull this one off, but the results definitely speak for themselves. There are also two directions you can go with this prank depending on your feelings about the coworker you decide to make your target.

If you are fond of the coworker, why not decorate their desk space with things they love, like puppies and doughnuts? And if you don't, you could always go with the thing that causes them mortal fear. Nothing like terror to start off a work day.

4. Bring your coworkers some "doughnuts."

You're taking a larger risk with this one, as this prank effects the entire office rather than just one particular person. But if you're afraid of potential future backlash, you could always just stay anonymous. The anonymous colleague who wants everyone to eat a little healthier on April Fools'.

5. Wrap everything at your coworker's desk, including their desk.

This one is directly out of the book of Jim Halpert, although he took the extra cruel step of completely replacing Dwight's desk and chair with cardboard so that it collapsed when Dwight attempted to actually use them. You can just stick to covering everything with wrapping paper that's already there.

6. Flood your coworker's computer with an annoying video.

Simple, easy, and you get to choose the weapon of torture, whether it's a rick roll or the peanut butter jelly time song.

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7. Download a Chrome extension to replace every picture online with Nicolas Cage.

15 office prank ideas to show your coworkers who's really the boss (2)

Credit: screenshot from mashable

Horrific, isn't it?

Chrome extensions are easy to both install and uninstall, which means this prank won't do any lasting damage to your coworker's computer. And if Nicolas Cage won't do, there are tons more fun Chrome extensions to choose from that will mess with how your coworker experiences the internet.

8. "Freeze" your coworker's desktop.

Take a screenshot of your coworker's desktop computer screen, then set that screenshot as the desktop wallpaper. Carefully either move the shortcuts, folders, or files your coworker had on the desktop to a hidden folder or select the option to hide the icons. The result will be an exact replica of the desktop your coworker is used to, but he or she will be unable to click on any of the files on the desktop.

To add an extra level of embarrassment, people have added humorous or uncomfortably titled folders to the desktop before taking the screenshot, thus forcing their coworkers to have a folder of "Dirty Porn" or "My Children Puking" permanently on the screen. As they struggle to explain it, you can sit back and relax.

9. Control your coworker's computer with a wireless mouse.

This works best if your coworker uses a traditional mouse but you have a wireless one handy. Simply connect the wireless mouse to your coworker's computer by inserting the almost unnoticeable nano-receiver into a USB port, and then pick the perfect moment.

Those who have done the prank before suggest waiting until your coworker starts to use the mouse before jiggling your own. Your colleague may think that mouse's behavior is just the computer acting up. From there, you can move to full Big Brother mode by completely taking control of the mouse's movements and opening a bunch of applications while your coworker watches in horror.

10. Link to a nonsense video within an extremely "professional" email.

This is another very easy and passive prank you can pull on an entire group of your coworkers. Make up a pretext for sending a very official sounding email that everyone "must read." Make sure to mention within your email that you want them to be familiar with a particular document or presentation, in fact it is crucial for them to do so, and link to something completely absurd instead.

11. Tell your coworkers that the printer has upgraded to voice activation, and provide them helpful instructions for how to use.

This one's cruelty factor is high, but return on humor is equally high.

The above Imgur photo album helpfully contains printable "official" instructions for every brand of printer, so that you can truly convince your coworkers you have a smart printer. While your colleagues struggle to figure out why their verbal instructions aren't working, you'll be soothed by the dulcet tone of people repeatedly yelling, "PRINT FIVE COPIES."

12. Zip tie office supplies, especially the scissors.

Honestly, zip ties are up there on the list of most evil inventions by humans. There's a reason why even the police use them sometimes as a form of restraint.

So why not use them to have a bit of fun around the office. Place a zip tie in the middle of some bananas to make them impossible to open. Zip tie up the handle that controls the height of a desk chair so that it goes down automatically every time someone sits on it. Zip tie a stapler shut.

The possibilities are truly endless. Just make sure you also zip tie the scissors so that there's no escape.

13. Trick everyone into thinking a bug is loose in the office.

If you're the type of person who avoids bugs as much as humanly possible, who's extent of "dealing with it" is to trap the bug and leave it there for someone else to squash, you are not the only one. Why not play into that fear by making it seem like you trapped a creepy-crawly last night but oh no, it looks like the thing has gotten out.

After this, nobody will be putting their feet down on the ground unless they absolutely have to.

14. Put googly eyes on everything in the office fridge.

This great dad did it to his family, and you can do it to your office. All it requires is purchasing adhesive googly eyes and then some alone time with the office fridge. Watch as your coworkers get their lunches under the extreme discomfort of a whole fridge-full of eyes.

15. Pretend every bathroom is out of order.

This prank works best if there are multiple different bathrooms in your office. All you need to do is print out and attach an "Out of Order: Use Other Bathroom" sign on both bathrooms. Your poor coworkers will not know what to do.

Bonus high level prank: Make an entire office disappear.

You probably came here looking for some easy, manageable prank ideas you can put together in time for April 1. The above prank does not fall under that category. But we wanted to share just how masterful an office prank can be if you're invested enough and if you have the right resources at your disposable.

Mad respect to all you pranksters out there. Now please, use the information you've just learned as responsibly as possible.

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15 office prank ideas to show your coworkers who's really the boss (2024)

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