How to Make a Fake Error Message in Windows

Do you want to create a custom Windows error message? Whether you're an application developer or someone who wants to prank their coworker, knowing how to create a custom error message is an essential ability. To learn how to create a custom Windows error message, follow this guide.

Method 1
Method 1 of 2:

Single Error Dialog

  1. Image titled Step2 51.png
    1
    Open the Notepad app.
    • Press the ⊞ Win+R keys simultaneously.
    • Type notepad into the Run dialog.
    • Hit ↵ Enter or click OK.
  2. Image titled Step3 54.png
    2
    Copy and paste the following code into Notepad:
    • x=msgbox("Your Message Here", Button+Icon, "Your Title Here")
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  3. Image titled Step4 42.png
    3
    Customize the button(s) of your error message. Replace Button in the code you pasted into Notepad with one of the following:
    • 0 - OK
    • 1 - OK and Cancel
    • 2 - Abort, Retry and Ignore
    • 3 - Yes, No and Cancel
    • 4 - Yes and No
    • 5 - Retry and Cancel
  4. Image titled Step5 34.png
    4
    Customize the icon of your error message. Replace Icon in the code that you pasted into Notepad with one of the following:
    • 0 = No Icon
    • 16 = Critical Icon (a.k.a. "X" icon)
    • 32 = Question Icon (a.k.a. "?" icon)
    • 48 = Warning Icon (a.k.a. "!" icon)
    • 64 = Info Icon (a.k.a. "i" icon)
  5. Image titled Step6 29.png
    5
    Customize the title of your error message. Replace Your Title Here in the code you pasted into Notepad with what you want the title of the error message to be.
  6. Image titled Step7 14.png
    6
    Customize the contents of your error message. Replace Your Message Here in the code you pasted into Notepad with what you want the error message to say.
  7. Image titled Step8 13.png
    7
    Open the Save As window. Press Ctrl+S on your keyboard.
  8. Image titled Step9 8.png
    8
    Expand the combo box next to Save as type and select All Files.
  9. Image titled Step10 7.png
    9
    Type a name for your file followed by a period and vbs.
  10. Image titled Step11 3.png
    10
    Choose a location to save the file to.
  11. Image titled Step12 2.png
    11
    Save the file. Click Save.
  12. 12
    Display the error message. Double-click the file that was created.
    Image titled Step13 2.png
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Method 2
Method 2 of 2:

Sequence of Error Dialogs

Create a sequence of error messages. Messages will display one at a time, and closing a message will display the following one.

  1. Image titled Step2 51.png
    1
    Open the Notepad app.
    • Press the ⊞ Win+R keys simultaneously.
    • Type notepad into the Run dialog.
    • Hit ↵ Enter or click OK.
  2. Image titled Step3 54.png
    2
    Copy and paste the following code into Notepad:
    • x=msgbox("Your Message Here", Button+Icon, "Your Title Here")
  3. Image titled Step4 42.png
    3
    Customize the button(s) of your error message. Replace Button in the code you pasted into Notepad with one of the following:
    • 0 - OK
    • 1 - OK and Cancel
    • 2 - Abort, Retry and Ignore
    • 3 - Yes, No and Cancel
    • 4 - Yes and No
    • 5 - Retry and Cancel
  4. Image titled Step5 34.png
    4
    Customize the icon of your error message. Replace Icon in the code that you pasted into Notepad with one of the following:
    • 0 - No Icon
    • 16 - Critical Icon (a.k.a. "X" icon)
    • 32 - Question Icon (a.k.a. "?" icon)
    • 48 - Warning Icon (a.k.a. "!" icon)
    • 64 - Info Icon (a.k.a. "i" icon)
  5. Image titled Step6 29.png
    5
    Customize the title of your error message. Replace Your Title Here in the code you pasted into Notepad with what you want the title of the error message to be.
  6. Image titled Step7 14.png
    6
    Customize the contents of your error message. Replace Your Message Here in the code you pasted into Notepad with what you want the error message to say.
  7. Image titled Switch line position notepad.png
    7
    Switch to a subsequent line position.
  8. Image titled Make another message.png
    8
    Create another error message (if desired). Repeat these steps, starting from Step 3.
    • This error message will display after the previously created one has been closed.
  9. Image titled Step8 13.png
    9
    Open the Save As window. Press Ctrl+S on your keyboard.
  10. Image titled Step9 8.png
    10
    Expand the combo box next to Save as type and select All Files.
  11. Image titled Step10 7.png
    11
    Type a name for your file followed by a period and vbs.
  12. Image titled Step11 3.png
    12
    Choose a location to save the file to.
  13. Image titled Step12 2.png
    13
    Save the file. Click Save.
  14. 14
    Display the error message. Double-click the file that was created.
    Image titled Step13 2.png
    15. Advertisement

Community Q&A

  • Question
    Is there a way to make a custom icon for the error?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    No, you can try using different numbers, but most likely a real error will pop up.
  • Question
    How do I make it do actions to my computer?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    You can't do that. It's a fake error, meaning it won't do anything to your computer.
  • Question
    How do I create an input text box in the message?
    Community Answer
    Community Answer
    Do this: InputVariableName=InputBox("Prompt","Title","Value which is optional")
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References

  1. https://www.wikihow.com/Make-an-Error-Message-in-Microsoft-Windows-%28No-Downloads%29 (Adapted introduction from this article)

About This Article

Tested by:
wikiHow Technology Team
wikiHow is a “wiki,” similar to Wikipedia, which means that many of our articles are co-written by multiple authors. To create this article, 52 people, some anonymous, worked to edit and improve it over time. This article has been viewed 542,773 times.
723 votes - 77%
Co-authors: 52
Updated: January 28, 2023
Views: 542,773
Categories: Computer Pranks
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