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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.
Steps
-
Open the Notepad app .
- Press the ⊞ Win + R keys simultaneously.
- Type notepad into the Run dialog.
- Hit ↵ Enter or click OK .
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Copy and paste the following code into Notepad:
- x=msgbox("Your Message Here", Button+Icon, "Your Title Here")
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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
-
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)
-
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.
-
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.
-
Open the Save As window. Press Ctrl + S on your keyboard.
-
Expand the combo box next to Save as type and select All Files .
-
Type a name for your file followed by a period and vbs .
-
Choose a location to save the file to.
-
Save the file. Click Save .
-
Display the error message. Double-click the file that was created.
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Create a sequence of error messages. Messages will display one at a time, and closing a message will display the following one.
-
Open the Notepad app .
- Press the ⊞ Win + R keys simultaneously.
- Type notepad into the Run dialog.
- Hit ↵ Enter or click OK .
-
Copy and paste the following code into Notepad:
- x=msgbox("Your Message Here", Button+Icon, "Your Title Here")
-
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
-
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. "❌" icon)
- 32 - Question Icon (a.k.a. "❓" icon)
- 48 - Warning Icon (a.k.a. "❗" icon)
- 64 - Info Icon (a.k.a. "ℹ️" icon)
-
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.
-
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.
-
Switch to a subsequent line position.
-
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.
-
Open the Save As window. Press Ctrl + S on your keyboard.
-
Expand the combo box next to Save as type and select All Files .
-
Type a name for your file followed by a period and vbs .
-
Choose a location to save the file to.
-
Save the file. Click Save .
-
Display the error message. Double-click the file that was created.
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Community Q&A
Search
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QuestionIs there a way to make a custom icon for the error?Community AnswerNo, you can try using different numbers, but most likely a real error will pop up.
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QuestionHow do I make it do actions to my computer?Community AnswerYou can't do that. It's a fake error, meaning it won't do anything to your computer.
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QuestionHow do I create an input text box in the message?Community AnswerDo this: InputVariableName=InputBox("Prompt","Title","Value which is optional")
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Tips
Tips from our Readers
The advice in this section is based on the lived experiences of wikiHow readers like you. If you have a helpful tip you’d like to share on wikiHow, please submit it in the field below.
- Put +4096 after the icon number. Then you'll get a system modal (all apps will stop working until you respond).
- To go to the next line, use +vbnewline+.
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References
- https://www.wikihow.com/Make-an-Error-Message-in-Microsoft-Windows-%28No-Downloads%29 (Adapted introduction from this article)
About This Article
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 615,393 times.
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