Google's Mic Drop April Fool spectacularly backfires: Firm apologises for Gmail prank that may have cost users their jobs

April Fool's pranks have the habit of being more annoying than they are funny, and Google is seemingly leading the pack this year.

A prank which saw the search giant introduce a new 'joke' function to Gmail has spectacularly backfired, leaving users furious and the firm forced to apologize.

Earlier today, Google announced via its blog that it was introducing a 'Mic Drop' feature in the form of an additional 'send' button, right next to the standard send button, which allowed Gmail users to instantly end any email conversation by 'dropping the mic'.

Once users composed their email and hit this second send button, an animated GIF of a minion dropping a microphone and walking off (now the internationally accepted short hand for 'conversation over') suddenly accompanied their message.

Trouble started when users didn't see the pop-up warning and accidentally hit this new send button, inadvertently attaching whimsical animations to important work-related emails.

Some Gmail users didn't see the pop-up warning and accidentally attached whimsical animations to important work-related emails before flooding Google with complaints, forcing the tech giant to apologize and say: 'Looks like we pranked ourselves this year. 'We’re truly sorry. The feature has been turned off'

Dropping the mic... and the ball! The animated GIF of a minion dropping a microphone and walking off - now the internationally accepted short hand for 'conversation over' - was accidentally attached to important work emails by unsuspecting users who didn't notice the pop-up warning

It then muted responses to whatever email the user had sent 

Google explained: 'Simply reply to any email using the new 'Send + Mic Drop' button. Everyone will get your message, but that's the last you'll ever hear about it. Yes, even if folks try to respond, you won't see it.' 

As an increasing number of companies use Gmail as a platform for corporate emails, many users were left unimpressed by the jape, having accidentally sent a Mic Drop reply to potential employers, colleagues and others.

The most popular threads currently on the Gmail help forum are iterations of 'how to remove Mic Drop feature.'

One incensed user, who described using Gmail for work, wrote: 'I can't afford for you clowns to mess around with my business.

'I use Google for everything, but I need to rethink my online solutions. 

'You can't even be bothered to get rid of that stupid conversation view for mobile - after how many years of complaints?

'And now this. Clearly you can't be trusted with my email if this is the level of respect you give to your users.' 

While another forum user complained the prank may have potentially cost them a job, calling it 'perhaps the most stupid thing [Google] could possibly come up with'.

'I have been interviewing with this company for three months now and mistakenly sent the email directly to guess who? The HR! Why would you do that? I so want this job; was due to start on Monday!'

The function was due to be active for today only, but has since been removed, with Google citing a 'bug'.

In a reconciliatory tone posted in an update, Google software engineer Victor-bogdan Anchidin, wrote: 'Well, it looks like we pranked ourselves this year.

'Due to a bug, the Mic Drop feature inadvertently caused more headaches than laughs. We're truly sorry. 

'The feature has been turned off. If you are still seeing it, please reload your Gmail page.'

MailOnline contacted Google to get to the bottom of the prank, but received no additional comment.