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From Windows Media Player hypnosis to an excuse to share 'sexy' Bill Gates, here are the best Microsoft memes.
As Microsoft is turning 50, and while it would be tempting to create a meme for each of its 50 years, that's a task even Copilot would find daunting; after all, Internet memes didn't exist 50 years ago, right?Instead, I’ve gathered some of my favorite memes, along with picks from the Windows Central staff. Narrowing them down wasn’t easy, given the sheer volume of great ones out there (and seriously, can we please normalize 16:9 ratio memes going into 2025?).Microsoft memes are universally understood because most of us working class folk spend a good chunk of our lives staring at Windows screens, and that's just Windows Update...Poking fun at these tools of our corporate overlords is a collective coping mechanism, and generally something people from all walks of life understand. But anyway, less talk, more memes!
Learning to count, the Microsoft way...
Counting operating systems with style.
(Image credit: Cyanide and Happiness)
Microsoft's idea of counting has always been avant-garde. Windows 95, 98, and 2000 were named as such after their release years, but hey, XP and Windows Vista sounded new and fancy. Of course, everyone hated Vista, so Windows 7 was a carefully crafted do-over, a clean slate to win back our trust. And then... they just skipped 9 altogether, reportedly to avoid older software mistaking it for 95 or 98.What will Windows 12 be called? Probably... erm... Windows 12. Sometimes, they keep us guessing, and sometimes, they don’t.
Security so good even you won't get into your settings
You shall not pass!
(Image credit: Reddit)
Windows Defender, the security system so good, the only thing it defends your PC from is you.
When Microsoft Edge got... Edgy
This is not a real tweet, we repeat, it's not a real tweet.
(Image credit: X/Twitter)
As funny as it would be if Microsoft actually tweeted this, it's completely fabricated but is regularly shared as something that actually happened. Browser competitor OperaGX is the culprit.
You want to shutdown? That's the fun part, you can't.
Messages seen before madness
(Image credit: Reddit)
Few things are as inevitable as death, taxes, and Windows updates. Especially when you just want to shut down your laptop and go to bed.
Apple rehashing Microsoft tech and being applauded for it
Apple reinventing the wheel, or rather everyone elses technology.
(Image credit: Hijinks Ensue/Joel Watson (2012))
"Who needs a keyboard for a tablet?" the Internet mocked Microsoft for coming up with a keyboard for the Surface back in 2012, resulting in the above comic from Joel Watson on how Apple would inevitably repackage the idea to a more receptive audience. They did, just three years later.
The true test of a millenial...
This is why I needed glasses as a child
(Image credit: Reddit)
We say YouTube Shorts and TikTok are rotting our children's brains, but really, were we any better staring at the Windows Media Player after school?
Developers, Developers, Developers
You have to see the video to truly appreciate it. There have been a number of remixes of Steve Ballmer's rant from the 25th anniversary, including 'Steve Ballmer Monkey Dance.'Perhaps he'll do a reprisal for the 50th anniversary?
Blue Screen of Death (BSOD)
The Blue Screen of Death has been the bread and butter meme throughout the years, but surged in popularity with last year's infamous CrowdStrike outage. With screens across the world affected by the BSOD, it was prime meme time and we even compiled the best CrowdStrike memes separately.
Everyone loves to hate Microsoft Teams
Nothing strikes fear into my heart more than a "Hey" on Teams.
(Image credit: Reddit)
As many have switched to hybrid or home working since the 2020 Covid outbreak, Microsoft Teams has become an even bigger source of frustration... and memes.
Please, can we just have MSN Messenger back?
All qualifications are useless, just learn Excel
You can have a PhD, but can you use VLOOKUP?
(Image credit: @iamnotanartist)
Rule number one of Excel: Never tell anyone you know how to use Excel. Or so my partner, the self-proclaimed spreadsheet sorcerer, tells me. Google Sheets, on the other hand? Well, shout that from the rooftops; nobody cares.
Sexy Bill Gates
Bill Gates, making hearts flutter since 1975.
(Image credit: Reddit)
There were too many 'Dreamy Bill Gates' memes to choose from, but I settled on this as my favorite and one to leave you with nightmares for later. Insert more puns about RAM and hard drives here...
More from Microsoft's 50th Anniversary
You could pick any element of Microsoft's history and find meme-worthy moments, whether it’s the nostalgia of MSN Messenger, the death of Skype, or the infamous Xbox "Red Ring of Death. Or the ever-changing Start Menu that keeps us on our toes, there’s no shortage of material to laugh about and reflect on. Windows95man himself is a walking meme who happens to be a DJ!As we celebrate all things Microsoft in the lead-up to its 50th anniversary, from listing the top 7 Microsoft games to asking if Windows Mixed Reality was really that bad? We want to hear from you. What’s your standout Microsoft moment from the past 50 years?
Let us know in the comments!
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