What Pranks to Do on Your Best Friend Over Text: 25 Fun Ideas

Pranking your best friend is one of the best ways to share some laughs and keep your bond strong, especially when you’re miles apart. With just a few taps on your phone, you can turn a regular day into a memorable one with a playful joke or a clever trick.

Whether you want to give them a harmless scare or just make them scratch their head in confusion, there are endless possibilities. So, if you’re looking for some fresh and fun ideas, here’s a quick guide on what pranks to do on your best friend over text.

1. Auto-Correct Prank

If you have access to your friend’s phone (with their permission, of course), you can set up an auto-correct prank. Go into their phone’s settings and change a common word like “and” to something completely ridiculous, like “unicorn” or “potato.” Every time they try to type the word, their phone will auto-correct it to the chosen word, leading to hilarious and confusing conversations. Just be sure to switch it back after the prank to avoid any real frustration!

• Friend: “Hey, can you bring snacks and drinks?”
• You: “Sure, what kind of snacks?”
• Friend: “I was thinking unicorns and chips.”
• You: “Unicorns? Do you mean cookies?”
• Friend: “Wait, what? I typed snacks!”
• You: “Haha, I might have changed your auto-correct. Got you!”
• Friend: “OMG, you tricked me! 😂”

2. Fake News Prank

Send your friend a message with a shocking and completely fabricated headline. For example, you might text them, “Did you hear? They’re banning all pizza in our city starting next month!” Watch as your friend reacts in disbelief before you reveal that it was all a joke. This prank works best with headlines that are just plausible enough to make them think twice but still outrageous enough to be funny when the truth comes out.

• You: “Omg, they’re banning all pizza in the city starting next month!”
• Friend: “What?! Are you serious? No way! 😱”
• You: “Haha, got you! Totally made that up.”
• Friend: “You had me for a second! 😅”

3. “I Can’t Hear You” Prank

Pretend that you’re on a phone call and start texting your friend as if you can’t hear what they’re saying. You could text something like, “I’m on the phone, can’t hear you, text me instead,” and then continue to act as though you can’t understand their responses, even though they’re already texting you. This prank plays on the confusion between texting and calling, and it can lead to some amusing exchanges as your friend tries to figure out what’s going on.

• You: “I’m on a call, can’t hear you, text me instead.”
• Friend: “Um, I am texting you!”
• You: “Sorry, what? Can’t hear you, please text!”
• Friend: “I AM TEXTING! 😂”
• You: “Oh, my bad! Got you good!”

4. Jumbled Letters Prank

Send your friend a message with the letters of each word jumbled up, except for the first and last letters. This type of message is still readable but requires extra effort to decipher, making your friend wonder if something’s wrong with your phone or if you’re just messing with them.

• You: “Helo, hwo are you dnoig today?”
• Friend: “What? Are you okay? Why is your message all jumbled?”
• You: “Oh, srory, my fohne is atcign up!”
• Friend: “Haha, this is hard to read! You’re pranking me, aren’t you?”

5. Endless Typing Prank

This prank is perfect for building suspense and making your friend anticipate a message that never comes. Simply type one letter at a time or keep typing random characters, sending only when you see the typing indicator on their end. The constant typing will keep them on edge, waiting for a message that seems like it will never arrive.

• You: “I have to tell you something…”
• Friend: “What is it?”
• You: [You keep typing but don’t send anything, then send random dots like “…”]
• Friend: “Are you still there? What’s going on? 😅”
• You: [Continue typing random letters without sending a full message]
• Friend: “Okay, you’re definitely messing with me! 😂”

6. Reverse Text Prank

Send your friend messages with the text written backward. This will force them to either figure out what you’re saying or copy and paste it into a text reverser to read it properly. The confusion it creates can lead to some funny exchanges, especially if you keep insisting that nothing is wrong with your messages.

• You: “uoY era tahw gnioD?”
• Friend: “Huh? What does that even mean?”
• You: “nihtyrevE si enif, tsuj gnikaT a kelos!”
• Friend: “Are you okay? Your messages are backward!”
• You: “sdrawkcaB? s’tI thgir no ym dne!”
• Friend: “😂 Okay, now I get it! You’re doing this on purpose!”

7. Double-Texting Prank

In this prank, you’ll send the same message twice, but with slight variations. The idea is to make your friend feel like they’re experiencing déjà vu or that there’s a glitch in the system. For example, you can text them, “Hey, what’s up?” followed immediately by, “Hi, what’s up?” They’ll likely do a double-take and wonder if their phone is malfunctioning.

• You: “Hey, what’s up?”
• Friend: “Not much, just chilling.”
• You: “Hi, what’s up?”
• Friend: “Did you just ask me the same thing twice? 😆”
• You: “No, did I? I just said ‘Hey, what’s up?’”
• Friend: “Haha, you’re messing with me, aren’t you?”

8. Texting in Another Language Prank

If you and your friend both speak a common language, suddenly switch to a language they don’t understand or use random foreign phrases. This will confuse them, especially if you insist that it’s the way you normally speak. You can even mix in random words from different languages to add to the confusion.

• You: “Hola, ¿cómo estás?”
• Friend: “Um, I don’t speak Spanish. What did you say?”
• You: “Ce n’est pas espagnol, c’est français!”
• Friend: “Now you’re just mixing languages! What are you doing? 😂”
• You: “Oop, mi teléfono está glitching. 😜”

9. “Guess What Happened?” Prank

This classic prank involves teasing your friend with an exciting or shocking statement, leading them on with anticipation. You can start with a vague message like “You won’t believe what just happened!” and keep them on the edge of their seat as you gradually reveal that nothing actually happened. The buildup makes the eventual punchline even more amusing.

• You: “OMG, guess what just happened!”
• Friend: “What? Tell me! 😲”
• You: “You won’t believe it… This is huge!”
• Friend: “What is it? I’m dying to know!”
• You: “I just… found a dollar on the street. 😄”
• Friend: “Seriously?! 😂 You got me so hyped for nothing!”

10. Fake Emergency Prank

Pretend that something dramatic or urgent has occurred, and get your friend worried for a moment. For instance, you could text them, “We need to talk… it’s really important,” only to reveal later that it’s something trivial, like asking for their opinion on what to have for dinner. This prank works best when you know your friend can handle a bit of suspense and will laugh it off afterward.

• You: “We need to talk. It’s really important.”
• Friend: “What’s wrong? Are you okay? 😧”
• You: “It’s about something serious… I can’t decide what to eat for dinner.”
• Friend: “You’re kidding, right? 😂 I thought something was really wrong!”
• You: “Nope, just a dinner crisis! 😆”

11. “You’re on Speaker” Prank

This prank involves pretending that your friend’s messages are being read aloud on speakerphone in front of other people. You might text them, “Just a heads-up, you’re on speaker with my parents,” and watch as they suddenly start editing what they say, only to reveal that it’s all a joke. It’s a playful way to see how they would react in a more formal situation.

• You: “Just so you know, you’re on speaker with my parents.”
• Friend: “What?! Why didn’t you tell me earlier?! 😱”
• Friend: “Hello, Mr. and Mrs. [Your Last Name]. Nice to meet you!”
• You: “Haha, relax! You’re not on speaker at all.”
• Friend: “OMG, you had me so nervous! 😂”

12. Fake Gift Prank

Pretend that you’ve sent them an amazing gift, only to reveal something silly or completely unexpected. You could say something like, “I sent you the best gift ever, check your door in 5 minutes!” and when they rush to look, tell them it’s a virtual high-five. This prank is perfect for adding some humor and light-heartedness to their day.

• You: “Hey, I sent you the best gift ever! Check your door in 5 minutes!”
• Friend: “No way! What is it? I’m so excited!”
• You: “Go look!”
• Friend: “There’s nothing here…?”
• You: “Surprise! It’s a virtual high-five! ✋”
• Friend: “Wow, you really got me with that one! 😂”

13. Fake Breakup or Make-up Prank

If you’re in a relationship, or you know your friend is invested in your love life, you can playfully prank them with a fake breakup or make-up scenario. Text them something like, “It’s over,” and when they start to worry, reveal that you’re talking about a game you were playing or a show you were watching. This prank plays on the drama they might expect, only to turn it into something completely harmless.

• You: “It’s over…”
• Friend: “What happened? Are you okay? 😥”
• You: “Yeah, I just finished the last episode of my favorite show.”
• Friend: “Wait, what? I thought you meant something else! 😂”
• You: “Gotcha! Just finished a binge-watch session.”

14. Fake Job Offer Prank

Tell your friend you’ve just received an incredible job offer, something outrageous like becoming the CEO of a major company or getting hired as a professional candy taster. Keep up the act for a while, describing how unbelievable it all is, before finally revealing that it’s all made up. This prank is great for friends who enjoy a bit of playful banter and won’t mind being fooled.

• You: “Guess what? I just got offered the CEO position at [Big Company]!”
• Friend: “No way! That’s incredible! 🎉”
• You: “Yeah, they said they loved my skills in managing snacks and TV shows.”
• Friend: “Wait… are you serious? 😂”
• You: “Haha, got you! Just a prank!”

15. Random Word Insertion Prank

In this prank, you randomly insert unrelated words into your sentences as if they belong there, leaving your friend completely baffled. The key is to make the conversation seem normal at first, then gradually start adding in the random words. The more casual you are about it, the more confused your friend will be as they try to make sense of your messages.

• You: “Hey, I was thinking about getting lunch later.”
• Friend: “Sure, where do you want to go?”
• You: “I’m in the mood for pizza… or maybe a giraffe.”
• Friend: “Wait, what? Did you say giraffe? 😂”
• You: “Yeah, you know, with extra pepperoni and a side of mailbox.”
• Friend: “What are you even talking about? 😂 You’re messing with me!”

16. Acronym Overload Prank

Start using acronyms in your conversation that don’t actually exist, but act like they’re totally normal. When your friend asks what they mean, give them a ridiculous explanation. This prank is a fun way to see how long it takes before your friend catches on.

• You: “BRB, just FYD.”
• Friend: “FYD? What’s that?”
• You: “Feeding your dog, duh!”
• Friend: “LOL, never heard that one before. What are you doing later?”
• You: “IDK, might go GTS with my BFF.”
• Friend: “GTS? You’re making these up, aren’t you? 😂”
• You: “Grocery shopping, obviously! 😜”

17. Unending Rhyme Prank

In this prank, respond to everything your friend says with a sentence that rhymes. The goal is to keep the rhymes going for as long as possible without breaking the flow. Your friend will likely be amused (or amazed) at your rhyming skills and may even try to rhyme back.

• Friend: “What are you up to?”
• You: “Just eating stew, what about you?”
• Friend: “Haha, nothing much, just chilling.”
• You: “That’s thrilling, I’m just willing to relax.”
• Friend: “Okay, Dr. Seuss, you’re on fire today!”
• You: “Just inspired, not tired, let’s keep it wired!”
• Friend: “Wow, you really won’t stop, will you? 😂”

18. Text Replacement Prank

Suggest a text replacement to your friend, where every time they type a common word, it gets automatically replaced with something silly or absurd. For example, suggest they replace “yes” with “bananas” or “okay” with “unicorn.” Once they agree, start having a normal conversation and watch as their replies get progressively more hilarious due to the replacements.

• You: “Let’s do a fun challenge! Replace ‘yes’ with ‘bananas’ in your texts.”
• Friend: “Bananas, I’m in! 😂”
• You: “Great! Did you finish that project?”
• Friend: “Bananas, I just sent it off.”
• You: “Are you coming to the party later?”
• Friend: “Bananas! I’ll be there with bells on.”
• You: “Haha, this is so much fun! 😂”
• Friend: “Bananas, you’re right! This is so funny!”

19. Meme Conversation Prank

For this prank, try responding to your friend exclusively with memes and GIFs for an entire conversation. No matter what they say, reply only with a meme or GIF that vaguely relates to their message. The challenge is to keep the conversation going as long as possible without using any actual text. Your friend will likely be entertained and maybe a little exasperated as they try to get you to break character.

• Friend: “Hey, how’s your day going?”
• You: [Sends a GIF of a person giving a thumbs up]
• Friend: “Cool, did you get that project done?”
• You: [Sends a meme of a busy office worker]
• Friend: “Haha, looks like you’re working hard. Want to grab dinner later?”
• You: [Sends a GIF of someone eating a huge meal]
• Friend: “You’re just going to respond with memes all day, aren’t you? 😂”
• You: [Sends a meme of a cat nodding]
• Friend: “Alright, I give up! You win! 😂”

20. Sending Weird Memes Prank

This prank involves sending your friend a series of increasingly strange and unrelated memes. Start with a relatively normal meme, then gradually escalate to the most bizarre or nonsensical ones you can find. The key is to act like nothing is unusual, as if these memes perfectly match the conversation. Your friend will likely be confused and amused by the randomness.

• You: “Check this out!” [Sends a funny cat meme]
• Friend: “Haha, love it!”
• You: “How about this one?” [Sends a meme of a dancing banana]
• Friend: “Uh, okay… that’s weird.”
• You: “This one’s my favorite!” [Sends a meme of a potato dressed as a superhero]
• Friend: “What is even happening right now? 😂”
• You: “Just sharing the good stuff! 😜”

21. Fake Account Hack Prank

In this prank, you pretend that your account has been hacked, sending bizarre or out-of-character messages to your friend. You can start by typing in a way that seems off or using phrases that are clearly not something you would say. As your friend becomes increasingly confused or worried, you can escalate the prank by claiming that someone else has taken over your phone. Finally, reveal that it was all a joke, and enjoy their reaction!

• You: “Hey there, fellow human. How are you on this fine day?”
• Friend: “Uh, what? Are you okay?”
• You: “This is not [Your Name]. I have taken over their account. 😈”
• Friend: “What?! Who is this? Give the phone back!”
• You: “I demand payment in cookies and chocolate.”
• Friend: “Seriously, what is going on? Is this a prank?”
• You: “Haha, got you! It’s me, just having some fun. 😄”
• Friend: “OMG, you really had me going! 😂”

22. Fake “Wrong Number” Prank

Pretend to be someone else by texting your friend as if you’ve accidentally messaged the wrong number. Start the conversation as if you’re trying to reach someone else, and continue to act oblivious even when your friend tries to clarify who they are. You can take it a step further by sending messages that are increasingly personal or strange, before finally revealing that it’s been you all along.

• You: “Hey, is this Sarah? I’m outside your house.”
• Friend: “Uh, no, this isn’t Sarah. Who is this?”
• You: “Come on, stop messing around, Sarah! It’s me, Jason.”
• Friend: “I’m not Sarah! You’ve got the wrong number!”
• You: “Oh, sorry, my bad. By the way, do you know where I can get a good pumpkin spice latte?”
• Friend: “What? Who are you? 😂”
• You: “Just kidding, it’s me! Got you good!”
• Friend: “I knew it! That was too weird! 😂”

23. Creepy Story Prank

This prank involves sending your friend a creepy, suspenseful story bit by bit, as if something strange or unsettling is happening to you in real-time. You can start with something innocuous, like hearing a strange noise, and gradually build up the tension. Just as they’re starting to get genuinely concerned, you can suddenly stop responding for a while, leaving them in suspense. Finally, reveal that it was all a joke.

• You: “Hey, something really weird just happened.”
• Friend: “What? What happened?”
• You: “I heard footsteps in my house, but I’m home alone…”
• Friend: “Are you sure? That’s creepy!”
• You: “Now the lights just flickered… This is so strange.”
• Friend: “OMG, are you okay? What’s going on?”
• You: “I’m going to check it out. Hang on…”
• Friend: “Wait, no! Don’t go alone! 😨”
• You: [You stop responding for a few minutes]
• Friend: “Hello? Are you there? What happened? Answer me!”
• You: “Sorry, I was just getting a snack. 😜”
• Friend: “WHAT?! You scared me half to death! 😂”

24. Fake Creepy Message Prank

Send a text to your friend that seems like it came from a mysterious or ominous source. You could pretend to be a secret admirer, a mysterious stranger, or even use a fake number app to send the message from an unknown number. Start with something vague and slightly eerie, and gradually increase the tension. Just before your friend gets too worried, reveal that it’s just you having some fun.

• You (from a fake number): “I see you…”
• Friend: “Who is this? How did you get my number?”
• You: “Don’t worry, I’m just watching over you.”
• Friend: “Seriously, this isn’t funny! Who are you?”
• You: “I’m closer than you think.”
• Friend: “Stop it! I’m calling the police!”
• You: “Relax, it’s just me! 😂”
• Friend: “OMG, I was so freaked out! You’re terrible! 😂”

25. Fake “I’m Outside” Prank

This prank involves texting your friend to say that you’re outside their house when you’re really not. Watch as they rush to the door or window to check, only to find no one there. You can keep up the act by describing what their house looks like or mentioning something that would make them believe you’re really there. When they finally catch on, reveal the prank and enjoy a good laugh together.

• You: “Hey, I’m outside your house. Come out!”
• Friend: “Wait, really? I didn’t know you were coming over!”
• You: “Yeah, I’m right by the big tree in your front yard.”
• Friend: “I don’t see anyone… Are you hiding?”
• You: “Nope, just standing here waiting. Do you see me waving?”
• Friend: “Okay, now I know you’re joking! 😂”
• You: “Gotcha! I’m not actually there. Just wanted to see how fast you’d check.”
• Friend: “You’re the worst! I totally fell for that! 😂”