Data Successfully Wiped
The fake data wiped prank shows the DOS-style screen every PC owner dreads: reformatting complete, all files removed, drive erased. Everything is fine. It's a browser page, and it runs on any desktop or laptop.
Formatting… 100%
Wipe complete.
Press F11 for maximum realism. Tap or press Esc to exit.
For the best results, add this to the device's home screen. It then opens with no address bar, no tabs and no URL, so there is nothing left to give it away.
Where Boot Device Not Found implies the drive has failed, this one implies someone deliberately erased it, which is a different and worse kind of panic. On a phone instead? The factory reset screen does the same job for iOS and Android. Want a lock rather than a wipe? Try the fake ransomware screen.
How to use the data successfully wiped prank
- Open this page on the Windows PC or laptop, press Launch Full-Screen Prank, and press F11 if any browser bar still shows.
- Watch the format command type itself out and the row of # marks fill. It takes a few seconds, then stops on 0 files remaining.
- Leave the finished screen up for whoever sits down next. It stays put, and the display is kept awake where the browser allows it.
- Click, tap or press Esc to clear it, and explain before anyone starts a recovery.
What the data wiped prank types on screen
It opens on a C:\> prompt with a quick format command, then reports reading the partition table, erasing the MBR and overwriting the file system while a bar of # marks fills. It finishes with 47,238 files erased, a list of removed folders such as system32 and documents, DATA SUCCESSFULLY WIPED and 0 files remaining on drive C:.
Every line is fixed text, identical on every computer. The page does not look at the drive or list a single real file.
Best computers for a fake disk wipe
Because it uses a C: drive and Windows folder names, it reads best on a Windows machine. On a Mac it still runs, but someone who knows their computer will spot that a Mac has no C: drive. On a phone the text wraps and the joke falls apart, so use the factory reset screen there.
Who should never see the data wiped screen
This screen says the loss has already happened, which is why it hits harder than a warning. Skip it for anyone who has lost files for real, been through a dead drive or a ransomware attack, or keeps work, coursework or family photos on that machine without a backup. For them the first seconds are not funny. Never run it on a work computer.
If you do use it, stay close and reveal within a few seconds, before anyone pulls the plug or calls for help. There is more on reading the room in what makes a good prank.
Frequently asked questions
Has my hard drive actually been wiped?
No. Nothing has been touched. It's a full-screen web page mimicking a disk-format screen. A web page has no ability to format a drive or delete files, and would need permissions the browser will never grant. Close the tab and every file is exactly where it was.
How do you do the fake disk-format prank?
Open this page on the PC or laptop, press F11 for fullscreen, then walk away. The "wipe complete" message plays by itself, so you do not need to be there when they find it.
Does the data wiped prank work on Mac?
It runs on a Mac, but the text formats a Windows-style C: drive, so someone who knows their Mac may spot it. It is most convincing on a Windows desktop or laptop.
Is anything actually deleted or changed?
Nothing whatsoever. No files are read, moved, renamed or removed, and nothing is written to disk. The counters and file names on screen are pre-written text, not a listing of anything real on the computer.
Why is this one so effective?
Because it reports a completed action rather than a problem in progress. There's no "cancel" to reach for and nothing to interrupt. It presents the loss as already done, which produces a much sharper reaction than a warning would.
Can I get in trouble for using it?
The page is harmless and legal, but this is among the cruelest pranks on the site and deserves care. Never use it on someone whose livelihood or irreplaceable files live on that machine, and never let it run long enough for them to start a recovery or call for help. Reveal it fast.
Will restarting fix it?
There's nothing to fix, but yes. A restart ends the prank and boots normally, which immediately proves the drive is intact.
How do I get out of it?
Press Esc or F11 to exit fullscreen and close the tab. No recovery tools, no reinstall, no backup restore, because nothing happened.