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Cool things you can do on a computer right now
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If you're in the mood for instant entertainment, look no further than your computer. No matter what you like to do for fun, you've got endless options. Have computer fun by checking out new games, chatting with your friends, learning something new, exploring computers as a hobby, watching funny videos, or even creating your own content. As long as your computer works, you'll never have to be bored again. Here are 45 ways to have fun on your computer!

Fun Things to do When You're Bored Online

  • Find your favorite content online! There are plenty of videos, movies, podcasts, and articles worth discovering.
  • Learn something new on the internet. There are nearly endless courses and how-to guides online. Cooking, building, drawing—it’s all there.
  • Explore the wonderful world of computer hardware and software. Maybe you want to upgrade your computer or learn to code in a popular programming language.
1

Watch videos on YouTube

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  1. YouTube has videos of anything you'd like to see, from silly videos of cats making weird noises to footage of the Apollo Mission. Search for a topic you're into or check out a popular channel and subscribe.
    • YouTube is also a great way to check out music videos. Search for your favorite songs, artists, and albums to check out their corresponding visuals.
    • If you're into gaming, check out YouTube Gaming at https://gaming.youtube.com. Here you'll find gaming-specific content, including live streams of gamers playing your favorite titles.
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5

Listen to a podcast

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  1. Listen to a podcast. Podcasts are like free radio shows that cover tons of different topics. You can find podcasts on streaming platforms like Apple Music and Spotify, but you can also find them by using Check out PodcastOne or PodBay for a wide variety of free podcasts that you can listen to. From pro wrestler Stone Cold Steve Austin to novelist Bret Easton Ellis, it seems like everyone's got a podcast these days.[1] Some of the most popular podcasts include:
    • RadioLab
    • The Read
    • This American Life
    • The Moth
    • Bodega Boys
    • The Nerdist
    • Hardcore History
    • Stuff You Should Know
    • Savage Lovecast
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7

Play a video game

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27

Chat with friends

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  1. Yeah, yeah, you already thought of this, but maybe there's a new way to chat you haven't tried. Share links, pictures, and videos that will make your friends laugh. Start a meme thread. Some messaging programs, like Discord, have built-in games to play while you talk to your friends online.[4]
    • Facebook Messenger, Skype, WhatsApp, and Kik are some popular options for chatting online.
    • If you're feeling lonely, try video chatting with your friends. It can help to make it feel like you're actually hanging out. Message an old friend and get together on Facebook video chat or Skype. Just don't video chat with people you don't know well.
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28

Use Facebook

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  1. Use Facebook or open a Facebook account. Facebook is a great way to kill some time. You can upload content, check out other people's updates, and talk to your friends instantly. It's a great way to get in touch and have fun on the computer.
    • If you're bored with your Feed, do some deep digging into someone you don't know. Your best friend's second cousin's girlfriend's Facebook page probably has a bunch of stuff on it that you've never seen.
    • Add your own content. Studies show that people who spend more time looking at other people's content and less time adding their own are more depressed and bored than people who do.[5] Update your status, add some pictures, and write on other peoples' walls.
33

Personalize your desktop

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  1. Feeling bored? Give your computer a makeover. Computer savvy people call it a desktop theme. You can start by right-clicking your Windows desktop and selecting Personalize, or selecting System Preferences on a Mac. You can also customize other elements of your computer, such as window colors, sound schemes, mouse cursors, and desktop icons.
    • Surf Google Images or proper wallpaper sites when you're online to find awesome-looking wallpaper for your computer. Sharks wearing birthday hats? Sweet. Or maybe a pretty shot of your favorite celebrity, or a cool pattern.
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38

Edit a video

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  1. Windows and Mac come with built-in video editing software. Use Clipchamp on Windows or iMovie for macOS. Here are a few ideas:
    • Record a how-to guide. Turn on your webcam and guide your audience through something you know how to do. Whether it’s making espresso or knitting a sweater, there’re people out there that might want to see what you’re making.
    • Cut together clips of your family and friends. You can make a fun video featuring the people in your life. Add music and text to give it a cool or nostalgic feel.
    • Make a movie. Have a dream screenplay that you’ve always wanted to film? Now’s the time! With a cheap camera and free video editing software, anything is possible.
39

Record a song

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  1. . Most newer models of computers have built-in internal microphones and software installed that will allow you to record a song (or sounds at least) onto your computer and start manipulating it in minutes. You don't have to be super-talented, or even have an instrument on hand to record music. Just record yourself humming, then turn up the distortion on the settings and listen to the wild sounds you can make. Layer yourself reading random passages from the Bible, then another track of your dog snoring. Avant-garde masterpiece. If you have a Mac, check out Garage Band. If you're using Windows, try Audacity.
    • Record a podcast of yourself like an old school DJ, talking about your favorite songs in between each track in the playlist. Pick songs with a theme and make a playlist, then record a vocal track of chatting in between. Do it with a friend for extra fun.
    • Edit other songs together, like changing the speed of a Rihanna track to make it sound like death metal, or messing around with death metal to make it sound like ambient drone music. Slowing down tracks by 700% even became a meme recently, from dial-up sounds to Nickelback songs.[6]
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42

Learn to program

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  1. If you're tired of the "typical" ways of having fun on your computer, why not take your passion to the next level? Learning how to code allows you to design and write your own computer programs from the ground up. It's a little like learning a new language and can be a bit of a challenge, but it can be seriously rewarding (plus, it looks great on your resume.)
    • There are a lot of different programming languages out there. Though there's no "right" way to learn to program, here are five languages frequently recommended for beginners:
      • Python
      • C/C++
      • Java
      • Javascript
      • Ruby
    • Check out CodeAcademy.com for free interactive coding tutorials in a number of programming languages.
44

Try a new operating system

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  1. Did you know that you don't necessarily have to use the operating system your computer came with? It's true — Mac computers can run Windows, PCs can run macOS, and both can run Linux! Getting these setups can be tricky, so consult the support page of the program you use (or browse our help articles) if you run into problems.
    • To run Windows on a Mac, use:
      • Boot Camp (comes pre-installed or available for free download)
      • Parallels Desktop for Mac
    • To run a Mac OS on a PC, use:
      • A bootable USB drive[7]
      • A virtual machine app like VMWare.
    • Also consider alternatives like Ubuntu, Debian, and Haiku.
45

Upgrade your computer

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  1. Upgrade your computer. If you can't get the performance you want out of your computer the way it is, consider opening it up and changing your physical hardware. Depending on what you intend to do, this can actually be surprisingly easy (as long as you have a PC, as most Mac upgrades have to be done by Apple). However, since it's easy to damage the fragile components inside a computer, it's important only to try this if you know what you're doing.
    • Here are some components that can be modified or replaced to increase a computer's performance:
    • If you're feeling especially ambitious, try making computer maintenance a hobby. Some people like to take apart and rebuild their computers for fun — just like people who enjoy tooling around on cars. Best of all, this practical know-how will give you a natural knowledge of the inside of a computer that most people can only dream of.
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Community Q&A

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  • Question
    What should I do if I'm in a college class and I'm bored?
    Community Answer
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    You should probably try your best to pay attention to the lecture. Consider taking notes and making them look interesting so they're easier to study later on. If you're determined to distract yourself, you can always play a game or mess around on social media. Just try not to distract other students around you.
  • Question
    I don't have any social media, except Google +, so what do I do?
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    You could make a free account on Pinterest and check pins on your favorite book series.
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    What can I do on a computer in a library if I am bored?
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    Read a book online, play an online game, create a website and search the web for interesting topics.
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Tips

  • If you have kids that use your computer, look at their history. Sometimes it makes for a good laugh!
  • If you are a creative person and you like clothes, check out Polyvore, a site where you can experiment with fashion.
  • If all else fails, just search for fun software on Google and see if you can find anything fun to mess about on.

Tips from our Readers

  • Try listening to some podcasts, some popular ones include: The Anthropocene Reviewed, 99 Percent Invisible, and The Habitat.
  • If you're interested in free animation programs, try stykz.com!
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Warnings

  • Be careful when looking for freeware games on unfamiliar websites. Some "free" games are infected with viruses and/or malware. If in doubt, always research the site's public reputation (Wikipedia often has articles about websites and dangerous software), or restrict yourself to only "open source" games.
  • Remember that not all the information you find on the Internet is reliable. Books are just a tad bit safer!
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About This Article

Kyle Smith
Written by:
wikiHow Technology Writer
This article was co-authored by wikiHow staff writer, Kyle Smith. Kyle Smith is a wikiHow Technology Writer, learning and sharing information about the latest technology. He has presented his research at multiple engineering conferences and is the writer and editor of hundreds of online electronics repair guides. Kyle received a BS in Industrial Engineering from Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. This article has been viewed 1,204,736 times.
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Co-authors: 170
Updated: December 9, 2024
Views: 1,204,736
Categories: Computers | Fun Activities
Article SummaryX

1. Find free games online.
2. Check out YouTube content.
3. Watch movies and TV shows.
4. Listen to podcasts.
5. Look at or create digital art.
6. Learn how to code.
7. Customize your desktop.
8. Sign up for social media.
For tips on how to have fun on your computer while learning something new, read on!

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Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 1,204,736 times.

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