What Are Software Easter Eggs? + 5 Hidden Gems You Can Try Today

In the world of software development, most features are built with a clear purpose: usability, productivity, performance. But sometimes, engineers slip in little surprises, hidden messages, animations, or games.

These aren’t bugs. They’re Easter eggs.

Much like their chocolate counterparts, software Easter eggs are hidden treats left by developers—harmless, whimsical, and usually discovered by accident.

Let’s explore what they are, why they exist, and five of the most iconic examples in tech history.

What Is a Software Easter Egg?

A software Easter egg is an intentional hidden message, feature, or inside joke placed within a program or app. It’s not part of the core functionality. You typically need to follow a specific sequence of steps or inputs to activate it.

Easter eggs are common in:

• Operating systems (like Windows and Android)

• Video games

• Productivity software (Microsoft Office, Google Docs)

• Developer tools and APIs

• Even websites and search engines

They’re a cultural staple of developer humor and a reminder that even the most powerful platforms are made by humans, with a sense of fun.

Why Do Developers Hide Easter Eggs?

Some reasons developers add Easter eggs:

• To leave a creative signature in the product

• To reward curious or geeky users

• As inside jokes for teams or communities

• As throwbacks to earlier product versions or cultural references

While some companies embrace Easter eggs, others have phased them out due to concerns around security, professionalism, or hidden code policies.

5 Software Easter Eggs You Can Try Right Now

Here are five of the most legendary (and still accessible) Easter eggs in the software world:

1. Google Search – “Do a barrel roll”

Try typing do a barrel roll into Google Search.

The entire screen rotates 360 degrees in a playful homage to the Star Fox video game series.

2. Android – The Dessert Game (Every Version)

Every major Android version (Pie, Oreo, Lollipop, etc.) had a hidden animation or game.

How to access:

• Go to Android settings > About Phone

• Tap “Android version” multiple times

• A hidden animation/game opens

One version had an Android-themed Flappy Bird. Another had jelly beans you could flick around.

3. Microsoft Excel 97 – Flight Simulator

This one's a deep cut.

In Microsoft Excel 97, users could activate a flight simulator by navigating to a specific cell and entering a sequence.

Steps involved:

• Opening Excel 97

• Pressing F5, typing X97:L97, hitting Enter

• Pressing Tab

• Holding Ctrl + Shift, clicking the Chart Wizard icon

A 3D flight simulator opened, hidden inside your spreadsheet.

(This was removed in future versions.)

4. Google Chrome – Dinosaur Game

When your Chrome browser says “No Internet,” try hitting the space bar.

It launches an endless runner game featuring a T-Rex dodging cacti and birds.

5. Visual Studio – Magic Unicorn

In Microsoft Visual Studio (2012+), typing clippy in the quick launch bar used to summon a tiny ASCII unicorn (a tribute to the old Office Assistant).

More fun: Typing @ into the search bar sometimes revealed additional surprises.

These tiny visual gags were meant to surprise developers working late hours.

A Brief Timeline of Famous Software Eggs

Are Easter Eggs Still Allowed?

While early tech culture embraced Easter eggs, many large companies have grown wary of them due to:

• Security audits (hidden code = risk)

• Regulatory compliance

• Enterprise customers expecting transparency

But you’ll still find harmless, visible eggs, especially in consumer software, games, or open source tools.

Why Easter Eggs Matter

Easter eggs aren’t just fluff. They show:

• Personality in products

• Craftsmanship from developers

• Community between users and creators

In an era of ultra-polished enterprise software, Easter eggs remind us that software can be fun, weird, and very human.

Want to Build Your Own Internal Tools With Easter Eggs?

Whether you’re building internal dashboards or sharing startup documents, you can still add surprise and delight.

Use Plox to securely share docs, pitch decks, and sensitive files…and maybe even sneak in a little Easter egg of your own.