10 Harmless April Fool’s Day Pranks to Try on Friends & Family

April Fool’s Day is the perfect excuse to unleash your playful side and bring some laughter to your loved ones. Whether you’re pranking your best friend, your siblings, or even your unsuspecting parents, these harmless pranks are guaranteed to create some hilarious moments. Just remember—what goes around, comes around!

1. The Classic Screen Crack Trick

Picture this: your friend picks up their phone, sees a giant crack on the screen, and immediately goes into full panic mode. Priceless, right? All you need to do is set a realistic cracked screen image as their wallpaper while they’re not looking. Bonus points if you act equally shocked and suggest they take it to a repair shop before revealing the joke! The sheer horror on their face before they realize the truth is absolutely worth it.

2. The Frozen Cereal Surprise

Breakfast time is about to get a lot more interesting. The night before April 1st, pour cereal and milk into a bowl and pop it in the freezer. Serve it as usual in the morning and watch as your victim desperately tries (and fails) to scoop up a bite. You can also try this with a glass of juice—just insert a straw before freezing for maximum confusion. Watching them repeatedly attempt to dig into their breakfast, only to be met with an unbreakable solid mass, is the best part of this prank.

3. The Auto-Correct Chaos

This one’s perfect for tech-savvy pranksters. Sneak into your friend’s phone and change their keyboard’s auto-correct settings. Turn simple words into something ridiculous—like making “yes” auto-correct to “I love pineapple pizza” or “hello” change to “I am the best dancer alive.” Sit back and enjoy their frustration as they send some truly bizarre messages. The best part? They won’t realize what’s happening until they’ve sent a few truly embarrassing texts.

4. The Upside-Down Screen Trick

Want to watch someone question reality for a minute? On a Windows computer, press Ctrl + Alt + Down Arrow to flip the screen upside down. On a Mac, go to System Preferences > Displays and change the screen rotation. When they try to use their computer, they’ll be utterly baffled. Watch them struggle, tilting their head and pressing random buttons, before swooping in to “fix” the problem and claim your spot as a tech genius.

5. The Soap That Won’t Lather

Ever seen someone aggressively rub a bar of soap, trying to get it to lather? It’s hilarious. Simply coat a bar of soap with clear nail polish and let it dry. Place it back in the shower or next to the sink and wait for your unsuspecting victim to experience a very frustrating hand-washing session. They’ll rub and rub, growing more confused by the second, wondering if they’ve somehow forgotten how soap works.

6. The Remote Control Mystery

Imagine trying to watch your favorite show, but the remote control just won’t work. Tape a small piece of clear tape over the sensor of the TV remote. When your family members try to change the channel or adjust the volume, they’ll be totally confused. Let them struggle for a bit, pressing buttons harder and harder, before revealing the sneaky trick. Extra fun if they try changing the batteries first!

7. The Color-Changing Milk

A harmless yet mind-boggling prank! Add a few drops of food coloring to a carton of milk and shake it well. When someone pours themselves a glass, they’ll be shocked to see blue, green, or even pink milk. Act completely normal and insist that it’s always looked like that for the full effect! If they question it, just say, “Maybe it’s a new farm-fresh formula?” and watch their confusion grow.

8. The Fake Update Screen

For your tech-loving friends, this one is gold. Take a screenshot of a fake “software update in progress” screen and set it as their desktop wallpaper. Hide the taskbar and icons for added realism. Then, sit back and watch as they anxiously wait for an update that will never finish. The frustration levels will rise, and soon enough, they’ll be asking, “Why is this taking so long?!”

9. The Backward Shoes Prank

Want to start someone’s morning off with a little confusion? Stuff tissue paper or cotton balls into the toes of their shoes, making them just a little too small. When they go to put them on, they’ll be completely baffled as to why their shoes suddenly don’t fit. It’s especially funny if they’re in a hurry and don’t have time to figure out what’s wrong before running out the door.

10. The Mouse Won’t Work

This classic office prank never fails. Place a small piece of opaque tape over the bottom sensor of a computer mouse. When your coworker or family member tries to use it, they’ll be confused as to why their mouse has stopped working. They’ll probably shake it, slap it on the desk, and even restart their computer before realizing something’s up. For an extra laugh, write “April Fools!” on the tape for them to find once they check underneath.

Final Thoughts

April Fool’s Day is all about lighthearted fun, and these pranks are designed to create laughs without any hard feelings. Whether you’re freezing cereal, flipping screens, or causing mild tech confusion, these tricks are guaranteed to make the day a little more entertaining. Just remember—prank wisely, because payback is always around the corner. Happy April Fool’s Day!