45 Older People Failing At Technology So Terribly It’s Hard Not To Laugh

If you’ve ever tried to show your parents how to use a smartphone and ended up becoming their full-time “IT department,” this one’s for you.
Older people and technology are one of the funniest, most wholesome combinations on the planet. They grew up with rotary phones and TV antennas,
so it’s no surprise that TikTok, Face ID, and Wi-Fi passwords can feel like dark magic.

These hilarious tech fails aren’t about making fun of older generationsthey’re about celebrating the gap between floppy disks and the cloud,
and the sweet (and occasionally chaotic) moments that happen in between. From texting Google to printing screenshots, here are
45 older people failing at technology so badly, you’ll laugh, cringe, and want to call your grandparents just to check what they’re up to online.

45 Hilarious Older People Tech Fails You Can’t Unsee

1. Texting in the Google Search Bar

One grandma thought the giant text bar on her Android wasn’t for searching the webit was for texting. She typed,
“Hi sweetie, how are you? Love, Grandma,” hit enter, and proudly announced she had “sent a Google.” If Google ever replies, we’ll let her know.

2. The TV Remote That Controls the Universe

Dad doesn’t just hold the TV remotehe wields it like a weapon. When the screen turns black because the input changed, it’s not “HDMI 2,”
it’s that the TV is “broken again.” Bonus points if he presses every single button in a panic before anyone can stop him.

3. Screenshotting Instead of Downloading Photos

Instead of saving a photo properly, some older folks screenshot everythingtexts, photos, weather apps, you name it.
You’ll find a picture of their grandchild with the battery icon, time, and notification bar all lovingly preserved for history.

4. Using Facebook as Google

“How do I get to Costco from my house?” typed directly into a Facebook status. No map app. No search engine. Just raw confidence and a newsfeed full of confused comments.

5. All-Caps Texts Like They’re Yelling Across the Street

You know that one relative who sends every message LIKE THIS? They’re not mad; they just never figured out the caps lock key.
To them, lowercase letters are “too small to see anyway.”

6. Printing Out Emails to Read Them

Some older adults still treat email like snail mail. They print out messages so they can “read them properly at the table,”
then file them away in actual physical foldersbecause the inbox just doesn’t feel official enough.

7. Taking Photos With the Front Camera by Accident

The accidental front-camera selfie: a blurry, up-the-nose masterpiece with an expression that screams “What is this thing doing?!”
Their gallery is full of these cryptic portraits.

8. Talking to Voice Assistants Like They’re Real People

“Good morning, Siri. How are you feeling today?” One grandpa refused to ask Alexa anything without saying “please” and “thank you,”
then wondered why she didn’t remember his birthday.

9. Searching the Internet by Typing Full Sentences With Manners

Instead of “weather tomorrow,” it’s “Please tell me what the weather for tomorrow will be in full detail, thank you kindly.”
Honestly, if anyone deserves good search results, it’s them.

10. The Password Notebook That’s Not Very Secure

Instead of a password manager app, they keep a little spiral notebook labeled “PASSWORDS – DO NOT OPEN.”
Inside? Every login, every PIN, sometimes even their credit card number “just in case I forget it.”

11. Video Calling With Only Their Forehead

FaceTime with older relatives usually involves a close-up of a forehead, part of a ceiling fan, or one confused eye.
You spend the first three minutes saying, “Tilt the phone down. No, the other down.”

12. Replying to Spam Emails Politely

“I don’t think I applied for this inheritance, but thank you for thinking of me,” replied to a very sketchy email from a “prince.”
At least they’re not sending their bank details… this time.

13. Using a Mouse on the Laptop Screen

One older man placed the mouse directly against the laptop screen and tried sliding it up and down to move the cursor.
He wasn’t wrong; the logic was there. The execution, not so much.

14. The “Search” That’s Actually the Address Bar

They type “www.google.com” into Google every time, just to make sure they’re on Google. It’s like walking into the supermarket and asking where the supermarket is.

15. Sending a Text to the Landline

They’ll text your home phone and then say, “Didn’t you get my message?” No, but the landline probably had a spiritual experience.

16. Printing a Screenshot of an Error Message for Tech Support

Instead of taking a new photo or forwarding the problem, they print the error screen, circle it with a pen, and bring it to you like sacred documentation.

17. Logging Out of Facebook by Deleting the App

“I logged out like you said,” they say, proudly. What they did was delete the Facebook app entirely, and now we have a new problem.

18. Using the Phone Flashlight but Not Knowing How to Turn It Off

They walk around with the flashlight on in broad daylight, wondering why the battery keeps dying.
Meanwhile, they’re unintentionally signaling airplanes and blinding the cat.

19. Commenting on Every Photo With “Beautiful” Even if It’s a Meme

You post a meme about struggling to pay rent, and your aunt comments, “Beautiful, dear.” She means well, and honestly, we’ll take the support.

20. Asking “What Channel Is Netflix On?”

To them, everything that appears on the TV is a “channel.” Netflix, Hulu, YouTubeit doesn’t matter.
They’ll keep pressing the channel up button until they “find the Netflix channel again.”

21. Using the CD Tray as a Cup Holder

This classic never dies. That little pop-out tray on the old computer is obviously designed to hold coffee cups.
It does, until the whole thing gives up on life.

22. Printing Out Directions Instead of Using GPS

Even with a fully updated smartphone, they still print MapQuest-style directions and tape them to the dashboard.
The phone’s only job is to “be there in case of emergencies.”

23. Answering Every Unknown Number

While most of us hang up on unknown callers, older folks will answer every single one.
“What if it’s important?” they say, right before talking to a robot about their car’s extended warranty.

24. Treating Wi-Fi Like a Finite Resource

“Don’t use up all the Wi-Fi; I need it for my shows.” They think Wi-Fi is like hot waterif you stream too much, it’ll run out before their program starts.

25. Putting the Phone on Speaker Without Knowing It

You suddenly hear your own echo plus the TV blaring in the background. “Am I on speaker?” you ask. “I don’t think so,” they reply, yelling even louder.

26. Using Emojis Completely Out of Context

“Your uncle is in the hospital 😃.” Or “Your package arrived 💀🍆.” They pick emojis based on how cute they look, not what they mean.

27. Typing Their Whole Message in the Subject Line

Email from Mom: subject line says, “HI HONEY I AM AT THE DOCTOR IT WENT WELL LOVE YOU MOM,” and the body is completely empty. Economical, at least.

28. Holding the Phone Like a Slice of Pizza on Speaker

They put the phone flat in front of their mouth and shout at it like they’re giving a speech. The mic picks up everythingexcept their actual words.

29. Writing “Google.com” on a Sticky Note for Later

As if they might forget the name “Google,” they carefully write “Google.com – for searching things” on a Post-it and stick it to the monitor.
Honestly, that’s branding at its finest.

30. Taking Photos of the iPad Screen With Their Phone

Instead of using screenshots, they photograph the screen of one device with another.
So now you have a blurry picture of a screen showing a blurry picture of a website.

31. Scrolling With One Dramatic Flick at a Time

They scroll like they’re dealing cards in Vegasone big swipe, then wait, then another. Watching them move through a long article is a test of patience and finger strength.

32. Asking “Can You See Me?” Every Ten Seconds on Video Calls

Even when their face is perfectly clear, they’ll ask, “Can you see me now? How about now? What about now?”
It’s like a never-ending tech version of peekaboo.

33. Plugging in USBs Wrong Every Time

To be fair, this one isn’t just older people. But they will try to jam a USB in upside down three times in a row,
then declare, “It doesn’t fit this slot; the computer must be broken.”

34. Responding to Group Texts Like They’re Private

In a 12-person family group chat, your grandma replies: “I don’t like that dress on you, dear.” That dress was posted by your cousin. Yikes.

35. Using Their Full Name as Their Email Password

“It says it needs something easy for me to remember,” they explain. Now you’re gently trying to explain why “JohnSmith1947” is not exactly hacker-proof.

36. Buying a New Gadget but Never Taking It Out of the Box

They’ll buy a smart speaker, a tablet, even a fitness tracker, then leave it unopened because “I don’t want to break it.” It’s not broken, it’s just bored.

37. Believing Pop-Up Ads Are Official Government Messages

“The computer says I have a virus and must call this number immediately!” No, that’s not the FBI; that’s a pop-up from the sketchiest corner of the internet.

38. Using Speakerphone in Public Like It’s a Podcast

They’ll have a full-volume conversation in the grocery store on speaker. You, the cashier, and everyone in aisle 3 now know Aunt Linda’s medical history.

39. Assuming Every Notification Is an Emergency

“My phone says ‘Update Available’do I need to go to the store?” No, you just have to tap a button. Preferably not the one that says “Factory Reset.”

40. Taking a Photo of the QR Code From the TV

When a commercial tells them to “scan the QR code,” they take a photo of the TV with their phone and ask you what to do next.
You’re now the designated QR translator.

41. Forwarding Chain Emails Like It’s 2003 Forever

“If you don’t send this to 10 friends, you’ll have bad luck for seven years.” You haven’t seen a chain email in a decadeuntil your aunt resurrects them from the digital graveyard.

42. Logging Into Zoom on Multiple Devices at Once

They join the same Zoom meeting from their phone, tablet, and computer, creating a screaming echo chamber so loud it could summon spirits.

43. Taking Photos of Their Computer Screen to Show You a Website

Instead of copying a link, they take a photo of the monitor and text it to you: “Can you fix this website?”
Now you’re zooming into a grainy image of a URL like it’s a crime scene.

44. Using “LOL” to Mean “Lots of Love”

“Your grandma passed away, LOL.” Somewhere, a teenager is screaming, but your mom genuinely thinks she’s sending comfort and love.

45. Calling Instead of Texting Back Immediately

You send a short text: “What time is dinner?” Instead of replying, they immediately call, let it ring once, hang up, then call again.
For them, the phone is for talking, not typing.

Why These Tech Fails Are Funny, Sweet, and Weirdly Relatable

It’s easy to laugh at older people failing at technology, but under the humor is something surprisingly heartwarming.
Most of them didn’t grow up with smartphones, social media, or cloud storage. Yet they’re out here, bravely battling pop-ups, passwords,
and video calls just so they can see grandkids, stay in touch with friends, and feel connected to a world that moves at the speed of fiber optic cable.

Their mistakes highlight just how unnatural a lot of modern tech really is. When you watch someone try to swipe a non-touchscreen laptop
or ask what “the cloud” looks like in the sky, you’re reminded that none of this is as intuitive as we like to think.
We just had more time to grow into it.

Behind every “internet oops” is usually a good intention: staying in touch, staying informed, or just trying something new.
And the best part? Once they finally “get it,” they’ll proudly tell friends, “Oh yes, I use WhatsApp, Netflix, and that Amazon thing now,”
like they just unlocked a new life achievement.

Extra Stories & Experiences: Living Between Dial-Up and the TikTok Era

Spend enough time as the unofficial tech support for older relatives and you start collecting stories like trophies.
There’s the time you spent an hour on a call explaining that airplane mode is not, in fact, only for literal airplanes,
or the afternoon you taught your dad how to copy and pasteand he reacted like you’d just shown him a magic trick.

One common experience people share is the “first video call moment.” You finally convince your parents or grandparents to try a video chat app.
There’s confusion, there’s echo, there’s a lot of “Can you hear me?” Then suddenly, their face appears and they see yours.
Their eyes light up, they laugh, and every frustrating minute leading up to that moment feels instantly worth it. Tech may glitch,
but that connection is very real.

Another universal scene: the “tech lesson” that gets repeated every couple of weeks. You sit down calmly, ready to explain how to send a photo in a text message.
You walk them through it step by step. You even write it down. They nod, they say, “I’ve got it now.” Two weeks later: “Can you show me again?”
It’s Groundhog Day, but with more screenshots.

We also can’t forget the emotional side of this generation-gap comedy. For many older adults, learning technology feels intimidating.
They worry about “breaking something,” clicking the wrong thing, or falling for scams. Patience, reassurance, and a little humor go a long way.
When we laugh with them instead of at them, tech becomes less of a scary maze and more of a shared adventure.

Some of the best memories come from small victories. The grandpa who proudly sends his first GIF. The aunt who finally figures out how to use Spotify
and sends you a playlist called “Cool Songs (Probably).” The mom who learns how to mute and unmute herself on video calls
and treats it like she just passed a final exam.

Yes, they’ll still send accidental all-caps messages. Yes, they’ll still panic when the Wi-Fi goes down like the world is ending.
But they’re also proof that it’s never too late to learn, adapt, and hit “Join Meeting” with courage (and maybe the camera accidentally off).

So the next time your dad prints out an email or your grandma texts you, “I’m on The Google now,” take a breath and smile.
Those funny fails, tiny misunderstandings, and chaotic video calls are part of a much bigger story: families trying to stay connected
in a world that updates faster than any human can. And honestly? That’s the kind of content the internet needs more of.

Conclusion: Laugh, Help, Repeat

Older people failing at technology may give us endless material for memes, screenshots, and Bored Panda-style threads,
but it also gives us something else: excuses to connect. Every “Where did my icons go?” and “What channel is YouTube?”
is a chance to sit beside them, share a laugh, and bridge the distance between two very different tech eras.

So yes, keep laughing at the forehead FaceTime calls and the keyboard-smash passwords.
Screenshot the funniest moments (with permission!) and treasure them. Just remember that on the other side of every tech fail
is someone who’s tryingand that’s both hilarious and incredibly endearing.