Error 101: Writing humor into error messages

Sometimes the internet giveth; many times it doesn’t.

UX writing IS brand. How a user experiences a product through ease of use, flow, clarity, and humor (if your brand allows for it) is all part of how they interact with your brand. So if you’re one of the lucky brands that allows for some light jokes, error messages are a great place to add a little bit of flare.

You don’t want to frustrate a user when they encounter an error, but a little touch of humor can go a long way. Here are a few jokes to inspire your next error message copy.

1. 404 Error - Page Not Found

404: The page you’re looking for took a coffee break. It'll be back... probably.
In the meantime, have you tried turning this device off and on again or putting it in rice?

2. 500 Error - Internal Server Error

500: Oops. Our server had an existential crisis and needs a moment.
Error logs have been sent. Therapy is on the way.

3. 403 Error - Forbidden

403: You shall not pass! (But seriously, you don’t have permission to be here.)
If you think you should, find a wizard… or your admin.

4. 401 Error - Unauthorized

401: This area is for authorized personnel only. Nice try, hacker.
If you think this is a mistake, prove you’re human. Or a nice bot.

5. Database Connection Error

Database Error: Our data hamster is tired. We're feeding it extra snacks now.
Come back later when it's back to running in circles.

6. API Timeout Error

Timeout: Our servers are thinking really hard about this one.
Try refreshing, or gently encourage them to hurry up.

7. Generic Catch-All Error

Hmmm, something went wrong. Try us later.
It was probably our fault. Either way, we're on it!