40+ Hilarious Text Pranks to Try on Your Friends

40+ Hilarious Text Pranks to Try on Your Friends are cleverly crafted digital jokes designed to create moments of confusion, surprise, and eventual laughter through text messaging. These pranks range from simple wordplay and fake autocorrect fails to elaborate multi-day setups that leave your friends questioning reality—all delivered through the convenience of your smartphone.

Imagine your best friend’s face when they receive an “accidental” text about the embarrassing thing you “saw them do” (that never happened), or their confusion when you suddenly start texting exclusively in rhymes without explanation. These text pranks create memorable moments that strengthen friendships through shared laughter and inside jokes that can last for years.

In today’s digital-first world, text pranks have become the modern equivalent of the whoopee cushion or plastic wrap over the toilet—but with the added benefit of being executable from anywhere at any time. The best part? Unlike physical pranks, these digital jests require zero clean-up and can be scaled from mild mischief to mind-bending confusion depending on your friend’s sense of humour. Get ready to become the undisputed prank master of your social circle!!

Classic Text Pranks That Never Fail

The Fake Screenshot

Nothing causes panic quite like a fabricated screenshot. Create a fake conversation showing your friend saying something embarrassing or outrageous they never actually said. When you send it to them with a message like “Did you mean to send this to me?” watch as they scramble to explain themselves.

How to pull it off:

1. Use an online text message generator tool
2. Create a conversation with their name
3. Write something mildly embarrassing (but not cruel)
4. Screenshot and send with a confused response

Pro tip: Keep it believable and relatively harmless – the goal is laughter, not tears!

Autocorrect Calamity

This creative text prank involves pretending your phone’s autocorrect has gone haywire, replacing normal words with increasingly bizarre alternatives.

Example:

• You: “Hey, can we meet at the giraffe tomorrow?”
• Friend: “The what?”
• You: “Sorry, autocorrect. I meant restaurant.”
• You: “Anyway, I need to talk about the purple submarine incident.”
• Friend: “What are you talking about?”
• You: “My autocorrect is being weird. I meant the project deadline.”

Continue this pattern, with increasingly ridiculous “autocorrect errors” until they catch on.

The Typing Bubble Marathon

Few things are more suspenseful than seeing the typing indicator bubble appear for a prolonged period. Start typing, but never send the message. Most people will stare anxiously at their screen, wondering what novel you’re writing.

When to use it: This works especially well after sending something that demands a response, like “I need to tell you something important…”

Wrong Number Con

One of the most playful text pranks involves insisting that they texted you first with an odd request.

Sample script:

• You: “Sorry, I don’t have any spare chicken feed. You might try the farm supply store on Main.”
• Friend: “What? I didn’t ask for chicken feed.”
• You: “Oh, is this not Dale from the poultry enthusiasts group? My apologies!”
• Friend: “No, it’s [their name]”
• You: “Wait, you’re not looking for chicken feed? Then why did you text me about it?”
• Friend: “I didn’t text you about chicken feed!”

Keep this going until they’re thoroughly confused or catch on to your joke.

Emergency Call Prank

Text them with an urgent “Can you call me right now? It’s an emergency!” When they call, answer with something completely mundane like, “Hey, I couldn’t remember if you prefer chocolate or vanilla ice cream for the party.”

Word of caution: Don’t overuse this one, or you’ll be the boy who cried wolf!

Tech-Based Text Pranks

The Scheduled Message Surprise

Most modern phones allow you to schedule text messages. Set up a bizarre or confusing message to send at 3 AM, then act completely unaware when they mention it the next day.

Example messages to schedule:

• “I still can’t believe what I just saw in your backyard!”
• “Don’t worry, I locked the door behind the clown.”
• “Did you find the hidden package yet?”

Best practice: Resolve the confusion fairly quickly to avoid actual worry.

Text Bombing

A classic that never fails to annoy (in a fun way) is the text bomb technique. Send the same message 20+ times in rapid succession. Their phone will buzz continuously, and their message thread will be flooded.

Text Bomb TypeAnnoyance LevelFriendship RiskSingle word repeatedMediumLowRandom lettersMediumLowSong lyrics one line at a timeHighMedium"K" 30 times in a rowVery HighMedium-High

Phone Settings Switch

For close friends whose phones you occasionally have access to, change their text replacement settings to swap common words with silly alternatives. For example, set “yes” to autocorrect to “ABSOLUTELY POSITIVELY YES!”

Popular replacements:

• “Ok” → “As you wish, my liege”
• “No” → “Not even if you paid me in chocolate”
• “Lol” → “I’m laughing so hard milk came out my nose”

Predictive Text Challenge

Challenge your friend to a game where they can only respond using predictive text suggestions. They must start with a single word of their choice, then use only the center prediction for the next 10 words.

Case Study: The Predictive Text Challenge My friend Steve started with “Today” and ended up with: “Today is a good day to get the same thing as a result of the day I have to go to the store.”

It makes just enough sense to be confusing!

Voice-to-Text Theater

Send increasingly bizarre voice-to-text “accidents” where you claim your phone misinterpreted what you said.

Example:

• You: “Sorry my phone is being weird. I said ‘Want to grab lunch?’ but it sent that gibberish above.”
• Friend: “I don’t see any other message?”
• You: “That’s strange. Let me try again.” (Send another normal message)
• You: “Did it work this time? I’m trying to ask about lunch.”
• Friend: “Yes, lunch sounds good!”
• You: “Great! My refrigerator dolphin sparkles magnificently under penguin light.”
• You: “Whoa! I said ‘I’ll meet you at the usual spot at noon.'”

Identity and Confusion Pranks

The Doppelgänger

This creative text prank requires a bit of acting skill. Text your friend pretending to be someone else who supposedly found their friend’s phone.

How it works:

1. Message your friend: “Hi, I found this phone at Coffee Corner. Whose phone is this?”
2. When they explain it’s their friend’s phone, insist they must be mistaken
3. Create a fictional finder identity: “This is Margaret, I’m 62 and found this phone by the scone display”
4. Keep the charade going for a few minutes before revealing the truth

Secret Admirer Setup

Channel your creative writing skills with a secret agent pranks approach – text from an unknown number with mysterious compliments.

Essential elements:

• Reference details only a friend would know, but be vague
• Include one slightly incorrect detail to create confusion
• Never be inappropriate or make them genuinely uncomfortable

Memory Loss

Suddenly text your friend as if you’ve forgotten key aspects of your friendship or recent conversations.

Example dialogue:

• You: “Hey, remind me how we know each other again?”
• Friend: “What? We’ve been friends since high school!”
• You: “High school? Which one? I went to Westlake.”
• Friend: “Yes, I know. We both did. We had math together.”
• You: “Math? I’m terrible at math. Was I good back then?”

Shared Knowledge Confusion

Reference events or conversations that never happened with complete confidence.

Example:

• You: “I still can’t believe what happened at Jason’s party last weekend!”
• Friend: “What party? I don’t know any Jason.”
• You: “You know, Jason with the pet iguana? You were literally standing next to me when it climbed into the punch bowl!”

Foreign Language Switch

Suddenly start texting exclusively in another language, preferably one you know they don’t speak. When they question it, act confused and insist you’re texting normally.

Pro tip: Use Google Translate but check that the translation makes basic sense before sending.

Psychological Text Pranks

The Anxious Ellipsis

Few text pranks to try create such immediate anxiety as: “We need to talk…” followed by silence. Let them stew for 15-30 minutes (not longer!), then follow up with something completely trivial.

Examples of trivial follow-ups:

• “I think we should try that new ice cream place downtown.”
• “Do you think pigeons have feelings?”
• “I can’t decide what color socks to buy.”

Reality Questioning

Make them doubt something obvious with completely confident statements.

Sample exchanges:

• You: “Wait, you actually believe in the moon?”
• Friend: “What? Of course I do.”
• You: “Oh wow, I thought everyone knew that was just a projection. Interesting.”

Or:

• You: “Happy Tuesday!”
• Friend: “It’s Wednesday.”
• You: “No, it’s definitely Tuesday. Did you lose track of a day?”

The Silent Treatment

This playful text prank involves reading messages (so they see the “read” receipt) but not responding for hours. When you finally respond, act as if no time has passed at all.

Reverse Psychology Trap

Forbid them from doing something completely harmless or random.

Example:

• You: “Whatever you do today, DO NOT think about purple elephants wearing sunglasses.”
• Friend: “…why would I think about that?”
• You: “I’m serious. It’s VERY IMPORTANT that you don’t imagine them dancing in a conga line.”

Gaslighting Lite

Insist they said something they didn’t, but keep it light and absurd.

Example:

• You: “So about that pet tiger you said you’re adopting…”
• Friend: “What? I never said that!”
• You: “You literally texted me yesterday about how you’re converting your garage for it. You named it ‘Mr. Whiskers’ remember?”

Quick-Hit Text Pranks

Fake Breaking News

Create outlandish “breaking news” alerts customized to something your friend would find believable for a moment.

Examples:

• “BREAKING: [their favorite coffee shop] announces they’re discontinuing all coffee products to focus exclusively on selling socks.”
• “JUST IN: [their favorite celebrity] revealed to actually be three children in a trenchcoat.”

The Mystery Photo

Send extreme close-ups of ordinary objects that are unidentifiable out of context. Ask them “Guess what this is?” and enjoy their increasingly frustrated guesses.

Best objects for close-ups:

• Household appliances
• Food textures
• Fabric patterns
• Common office supplies
• Pet fur or feathers

Emoji-Only Communication

Respond only in increasingly obscure emojis for an entire conversation. Start with common ones, then transition to the weird, rarely-used symbols.

Example progression:

1. 😊👍
2. 🤔💭
3. 🦑🔮
4. 🧿🪤
5. ㊙️🗝️

Auto-Replace Setup

If you have access to their phone, this playful text prank involves replacing common words in their phone with silly alternatives.

Word to ReplaceReplacementYesINDUBITABLY MY GOOD FELLOWNoSadly, the stars say noOkayAs the prophecy foretoldThejazz hands THEIThe magnificent person that I am

Formal Transformation

Suddenly text as if writing a Victorian novel or formal business communication.

Example:

• Friend: “Wanna get pizza tonight?”
• You: “Dear Esteemed Colleague, It is with great pleasure that I acknowledge receipt of your correspondence dated the 15th of May regarding the potential consumption of Italian cuisine. I hereby affirm my most enthusiastic willingness to partake in such a gathering. Please advise as to the proposed time and venue for said meeting. I remain, as always, your most humble and obedient servant.”

Group Chat Shenanigans

The Phantom Add

Reference a non-existent person in your group chat as if they’re part of the conversation.

Example:

• You: “Dave made a good point about that earlier.”
• Friend: “What? There’s no Dave here.”
• You: “Yes there is. Dave’s been in this chat for weeks. Dave, back me up here.”

Coordinated Confusion

This creative text prank requires accomplices. Get everyone to act like something completely normal is strange or concerning.

Case Study: The Birthday Confusion My friend Mike’s birthday is in July. In April, six of us started texting him “Happy Birthday” messages throughout the day. When he protested that it wasn’t his birthday, we all acted confused and insisted it was. By afternoon, he was genuinely checking his calendar and questioning himself.

The Exclusion Illusion

Make them think they’re missing messages in a group chat by referencing conversations that never happened.

How to execute:

1. Text something like “As we were saying earlier about the purple elephant situation…”
2. When they ask what they missed, everyone should act confused
3. Continue referencing the non-existent conversation
4. Eventually explain there was no earlier conversation

Mass Typing Assault

Coordinate with other friends to all start typing simultaneously in a group chat but never actually send messages. The typing indicators will drive the victim baffling with anticipation.

Fake Announcement

Stage a major life update that isn’t real (but should be quickly revealed as a joke).

Sample announcements:

• “I’ve decided to sell all my possessions and join the circus as a lion tamer.”
• “Just signed a contract to become a professional yodeler.”
• “I’m moving to Antarctica to study penguin migration patterns.”

Next-Level Commitment Pranks

Alternate Reality Game

Create an ongoing mystery they need to solve through a series of bizarre texts, images, and clues. This alternate reality pranks approach can last for days if done right.

Elements to include:

• Mysterious countdown timers
• Coded messages
• “Clues” hidden in normal conversations
• References to made-up events
• Sudden shifts in narrative

The Slow-Burn Switch

Gradually adopt a bizarre new personality or interest over the course of several days.

Example progression:

1. Day 1: Mention you watched a documentary about squirrels
2. Day 3: Share “fascinating” squirrel facts occasionally
3. Day 5: Change your profile picture to a squirrel
4. Day 7: Begin referring to squirrels as “my people”
5. Day 10: Text exclusively in “squirrel language” with excessive nut emojis

Timed Response Puzzle

Send messages that make sense only when read in order but space them out over hours.

Example:

• 9:00 AM: “The answer is purple.”
• 12:30 PM: “Don’t trust the mailman.”
• 3:45 PM: “Tuesday is when it happens.”
• 7:20 PM: “Remember, only use wooden spoons.”

When they finally ask what you’re talking about, act confused and say “These messages weren’t for you. Who is this?”

The Fake Bot

Pretend your number has been replaced by an automated system. Respond only with robotic, template-like messages.

Example responses:

• “Thank you for your message. Your friendship is important to us. Your message has been placed in a queue and will be responded to by a human in approximately 3-5 business days.”
• “ERROR 47693: Unable to process casual conversation. Please restate query in form of technical support issue.”
• “To continue in English, press 1. Para continuar en español, oprima 2.”

Relationship Status Panic

“Accidentally” send a breakup text meant for someone else.

Example:

• You: “I just don’t think this is working anymore. We should take a break.”
• Friend: “What? What’s not working?”
• You: “OMG so sorry! That was meant for my internet provider!!!”

Creative Text Challenges

Rhyme Time Torture

One of the most creative text pranks is communicating only in rhymes for 24 hours.

Example:

• Friend: “Want to get lunch today?”
• You: “A lunch with you would be so cool, perhaps we’ll meet after your school?”
• Friend: “I’m done with classes at 1. Meet at the usual place?”
• You: “At 1 o’clock I shall be there, the usual spot – I’m well aware!”

Character Commitment

Text as a famous fictional character without explaining why.

Popular characters to imitate:

• Yoda from Star Wars
• Captain Jack Sparrow
• Batman
• Elizabeth Bennet from Pride and Prejudice
• Any character from Game of Thrones

The Riddle Master

Only respond with puzzles they must solve to continue the conversation.

Sample riddles:

• “I speak without a mouth and hear without ears. I have no body, but come alive with wind. What am I?” (Echo)
• “The more you take, the more you leave behind. What am I?” (Footsteps)

Backward Messages

Send all texts with words or sentences reversed. This funny text pranks technique requires commitment but is worth the confused responses.

Example:

• Normal: “Want to see a movie tonight?”
• Backward: “?thginot eivom a ees ot tnaW”

or

• Word reversal: “Tonight movie a see to want?”

The Alphabet Game

This clever text prank to try involves starting each message with the next letter of the alphabet.

Example:

• You: “Anyone want to grab dinner tonight?”
• Friend: “Sure, where?”
• You: “Better places than last time, I hope.”
• Friend: “How about that new Italian place?”
• You: “Certainly! Dinner at 7?”

Expert Tips for Text Pranksters

Timing Is Everything

The perfect text prank to try requires strategic timing:

• Best days: Weekdays when people are bored at work
• Best times: Early morning to catch them off guard, or late evening when they’re tired
• Worst times: When they’re driving, in important meetings, or during known stressful periods

Know Your Audience

Different friends can handle different levels of pranking:

• For sensitive friends: Stick to obvious, quick-reveal pranks
• For prankster friends: Go all out with elaborate setups
• For new friends: Start small and gauge reaction

The Perfect Reveal

Don’t let pranks drag on too long – revealing the joke is crucial:

• Casual pranks: Reveal within minutes
• Medium pranks: Reveal within hours
• Elaborate pranks: Maximum 24 hours (with rare exceptions)

Pro tip: Always end with a laughing emoji or “Just kidding!” to defuse any lingering tension.

Recovery Strategies

If your playful text pranks fall flat:

1. Apologize sincerely
2. Explain your intentions were humorous
3. Ask if they’re okay
4. Give them space if needed
5. Let them prank you back if they want revenge

Conclusion

These 40+ hilarious text pranks to try on your friends aren’t just about getting a quick laugh—they’re about creating shared memories through clever digital mischief. The best pranks leave everyone smiling, strengthen your friendships, and establish you as the group’s resident trickster. Remember to match the prank to your friend’s sense of humour, keep things light hearted, and always reveal the joke before it causes genuine distress.

The beauty of these 40+ hilarious text pranks to try on your friends lies in their simplicity and accessibility. You don’t need special equipment or elaborate setups—just your phone and a dash of creativity. Start small with quick-hit pranks like fake autocorrect fails or wrong number scenarios. Then work your way up to more elaborate schemes as you master the timing and delivery. The digital world offers endless possibilities for harmless trickery, so keep experimenting and inventing new ways to bring unexpected laughter to your friends’ days!

FAQS

What’s the most important rule when pulling a text prank?

Know your audience and reveal the joke at the right moment to ensure everyone ends up laughing.

How long should I let a text prank continue before revealing it?

Casual pranks should be revealed within minutes, medium pranks within hours, and elaborate pranks within 24 hours maximum.

What should I do if my text prank falls flat or upsets someone?

Apologize sincerely, explain your humorous intentions, check if they’re okay, and give them space if needed.

Which text pranks are best for friends who are easily stressed?

Stick to obvious, quick-reveal pranks like emoji-only communication or formal transformation pranks.

Are there tech-based pranks that don’t require access to my friend’s phone?

Yes! Try scheduled message surprises, text bombing, or the typing bubble marathon – all work remotely.