A fake Windows update screen: the blue background, the spinning dots and a percentage that creeps up and stalls near the end. Go fullscreen on a friend's computer and watch them wait. Nothing is installed and nothing on the computer changes.
How to set up the prank
- Open this page on the computer you want to prank.
- Press F or the fullscreen button. Then move the mouse away and wait a few seconds for the controls to fade out.
- Walk away. The counter keeps climbing slowly and slows down near 99%.
- To end it, press Esc to leave fullscreen and close the tab.
Making it convincing
Real updates take a long time, so the counter does too: it moves one percent every few seconds and crawls near the end. The mouse cursor disappears along with the controls. Set it up just before your friend comes back to their desk, and keep the room quiet.
Questions
Is the fake update safe?
Yes. It is a web page in fullscreen. It installs nothing, changes no settings and cannot harm the computer.
How do I get out of it?
Press Esc to leave fullscreen, then close the browser tab. Alt+Tab or Cmd+Tab also switch away.
Does it reach 100%?
No. It stops at 99% and stays there, like the most annoying real updates.
Can I use it on a Mac?
Yes. It works in any browser, though a Windows screen on a Mac may give the joke away.