Google's Gmail April Fools' Day Prank Goes Horribly Wrong

Advertisement
By Ketan Pratap | Updated: 1 April 2016 17:03 IST
Google's Gmail April Fools' Day Prank Goes Horribly Wrong
Google, following its long tradition of April Fools' Day jokes, introduced a new prank in Gmail on Friday. Things however didn't work out the way Google had intended, and the prank finally was pulled amidst uproar.

Google introduced a new feature in Gmail dubbed Mic Drop that allowed users to reply to any email with a new 'Send + Mic Drop' button - which replaced the commonly used Send + Archive button. On choosing the drop the mic feature in Gmail, the email included a gif image of a minion character popularised by the movie Despicable Me (and its subsequent releases) as "an explanatory image."

(Also see: The Best April Fools' Pranks of 2016)

In a blog post, Google acknowledged the issue and said, "Well, it looks like we pranked ourselves this year." Google added that the feature was hit by a bug that saw Mic Drop feature inadvertently causing "more headaches than laughs."

"We're truly sorry. The feature has been turned off. If you are still seeing it, please reload your Gmail page," said Google.

Advertisement

Some users reported displeasure with Gmail's April fool feature as it got them in a tight position. One of the users on Gmail's Help Forum said, "Thanks to Mic Drop I just lost my job."

Another user wanted Google's help in undoing the feature. "This sounds like such a joke, but unfortunately it is not. I sent out an important email to 30 recipients and I inadvertently clicked the "Mic Drop" Send. I completely did not mean to [..] Is there any way I can un-do my mic drop feature?" wrote a Gmail user on the forum thread.

Advertisement

A worst-case scenario was simulated in a few mock-ups by Andy Baio on Twitter (via The Verge) who showed a mail chain being ruined by Gmail's April fool's day prank, and a funeral home being inappropriate.

Google has in the past years had some great fun with its April fool's day pranks but this was the first time that the company got itself criticised for such an attempt.

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on X, Facebook, WhatsApp, Threads and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel. If you want to know everything about top influencers, follow our in-house Who'sThat360 on Instagram and YouTube.

Further reading: April Fool, April Fools Day, Gmail, Google
Advertisement

Related Stories

Popular Mobile Brands
  1. iPhone 17 Might Offer the Screen Upgrade We've Been Waiting For
  2. Mystery Redmi Smartphone Allegedly Surfaces on FCC Certification Site
  1. Kedarnath Yatra Helicopter Booking Online Scam: Uttarakhand Police STF Reportedly Cracks Down on Cybercriminals
  2. Microsoft's Xbox Handheld Plans Reportedly Shelved; Company to Optimise Windows 11 Gaming Performance
  3. Disney+ Expands Subscriber Perks, Including Movie Premieres
  4. Google, DOJ to Make Final Push in US Search Antitrust Case
  5. Realme GT 7, Realme GT 7T With 7,000mAh Batteries Go on Sale in India: Price, Specifications, Sale Offers
  6. Vivo T4 Ultra Launch in India Teased; Company Hints at Periscope Telephoto Camera With 100x Zoom
  7. Perplexity Labs Launched With Ability to Generate Spreadsheets, Reports and Create Web Apps
  8. Oppo Find N5 Flip Reportedly in Development, Schematics Hint at Updated Design With New Camera Layout
  9. Vivo TWS Air 3 With Spatial Audio, Up to 45-Hour Battery Life Launched: Price, Specifications
  10. iPhone 17 Said to Feature Larger Screen With Long-Awaited Refresh Rate Upgrade
Gadgets 360 is available in
Download Our Apps
Available in Hindi
© Copyright Red Pixels Ventures Limited 2025. All rights reserved.