Laptop Is Plugged In but Not Charging? 8 Steps to Solve Your Issue

Your work can go haywire if your laptop is plugged in but not charging. You obviously can’t use the computer once the battery is dead. But in many cases, you can figure out where the charging issue lies to correct it.

We’ll show you what to do when your laptop battery isn’t charging while plugged in. Whether you have a Dell, Lenovo, HP, or another machine, these tips will help.

1. Check the Physical Cable Connections

Before you move to deep troubleshooting, first check for the basics. Make sure you have inserted the laptop charging cable firmly into the laptop’s charging port. Then double-check its connection to the wall—consider trying another outlet in case the current one isn’t working.

Don’t forget to review the connection where the cable plugs into the AC adapter brick, also. That could have become loose if someone tripped over it.

Keep in mind that we’re trying to fix your laptop not charging even though it’s plugged in. If this isn’t your issue, we’ve also looked at how to fix an incorrect battery percentage in Windows 10.

2. Remove the Battery and Connect to Power

Next, you should determine if the battery is working or not. If your laptop has a removable battery, completely remove it from your machine. You should always shut down your computer before doing this (if it’s not already dead) and unplug the charger.

Once you remove the battery, hold the power button for several moments to clear any remaining charge in the system. After that’s done, connect the charger and try to turn your laptop on.

If it works normally, then the problem lies with your battery. Re-seat the battery in its compartment and make sure all the contacts are lined up. If this doesn’t fix the problem, you most likely have a dead battery that you’ll need to replace.

In case your laptop doesn’t have a removable battery, you can try opening up your machine and removing it yourself. However, doing so will likely void your warranty, and you can cause more damage to your computer if you make a mistake. It’s safer to take your computer to a technician who can analyze the battery using professional tools.

3. Make Sure You’re Using the Right Charger and Port

Moving on, you can next check that power (and enough of it) is getting to your computer.

Make sure that you have your charger plugged into the right port on your laptop. Many laptops only have one spot for the charging plug, but if you have a newer computer, it might use USB-C to charge. Try all the USB-C ports on your laptop, as some might be for data transfer only.

For the best results, you should use the original charger that came with your laptop. Fake chargers can harm your battery and cause lasting damage. Third-party models might not use the right wattage, which can result in your laptop charging extremely slowly or not at all. This is especially true with USB-C cables, as some aren’t meant to charge devices as big as a laptop.

4. Review Your Cable and Ports for Damage

Even though you did a cursory check for cable connection issues earlier, it’s a good idea to review the power cord more thoroughly now.

Look down the entire length of the power cord for fraying or other damage. Try grabbing it to see if any parts feel bulgy or otherwise misshapen. It’s also a good idea to smell the AC adapter part of the charger—if you smell burning, something has likely gone wrong inside the box, and you’ll need to replace it.

Finally, take a look at the port for the charger on your laptop. You should have a fairly snug fit when you connect the charger. If it feels loose, try jiggling it around a bit to see if you can get a good connection.

Also check for debris inside the port, which can prevent you from making a good connection. You can clean this out with a toothbrush, toothpick, or any other small object.

Speaking of this, to prevent damage in the future, you should keep some slack in the cable, so it doesn’t put unnecessary stress on the charging port. Avoid letting the AC adapter brick dangle off a table, which will pull down on the connector and can ruin the connection over time.

5. Reduce Resource Usage

There’s a chance that your battery not charging even when it’s plugged in isn’t related to hardware. If your computer is working extremely hard, your charger might not be replenishing the battery quickly enough.

For instance, if your computer is getting hot, the fan has to work harder to cool it, which will take more battery power. When you have many power-hungry programs and processes running at once, they will suck up more battery power at a high rate. Open the Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) to check current resource usage.

If you suspect this is the root of your charging issue, try closing some programs and/or shutting down your PC to let it cool down. Once it’s back to normal, power on and see if your charger can keep up with the battery at a usual workload.

6. Check Windows and Lenovo Power Options

Other software issues can also cause your laptop battery not to charge. While Windows power plans don’t have any specific options that would prevent your battery from charging, you may have your system configured to shut down at a certain battery level or similar.

Visit the Windows power settings page by going to Settings > System > Power & sleep and clicking Additional power settings on the right side. There, click Change plan settings next to your current plan.

You can click Change advanced power settings if you want to look through those, but it’s easiest just to select Restore default settings for this plan. See if that makes any difference.

If you have a Lenovo laptop, there’s a manufacturer specific app that can cause a charging problem. Use the Start menu to search for Lenovo Vantage (called Lenovo Settings on older systems).

Once it’s open, click Power on the Hardware Settings panel, then scroll down to find Charge Threshold.

If the Custom battery charge threshold slider is enabled, you can select a minimum and maximum battery percentage for charging.

For example, if you chose 50 percent for Start charging when below and 80 percent for Start charging at, your computer would start charging when it dropped to 50 percent and stop when it got back up to 80 percent.

This could cause your computer to stop charging as you expect, so try disabling this if it’s enabled.

7. Update or Reinstall Battery Drivers

Since your battery is an external device, Windows uses certain drivers to interface with it properly. If your computer is still plugged in and not charging, updating or removing those drivers can kick-start the charging process.

Right-click on the Start button or press Win + X, then select Device Manager from the resulting menu. Expand the Batteries section and you should see two entries: Microsoft AC Adapter and Microsoft ACPI-Compliant Control Method Battery.

Right-click on each of these and choose Update driver; chances are that this won’t find any updates, but it’s worth a try. You can try updating the drivers manually, but your computer manufacturer probably doesn’t provide a specific one for the battery.

If updating doesn’t do anything, right-click on each of the battery drivers and choose Uninstall device. This will cause your computer to stop interfacing with the battery, but the driver will reinstall when you reboot, so don’t worry.

After rebooting, let Windows reinstall the battery driver, and it will hopefully start charging again. If that doesn’t work, repeat the process, but once you’ve shut down after the uninstall, unplug your charger, remove the battery, then put everything back and turn your PC back on.

8. Try Another Charger

At this point, you’ve tried everything that doesn’t cost money. A last-ditch solution is to order a new computer charger (or use one from a friend if they happen to have the same laptop) and see if that works.

While you’ll find cheap third-party chargers on Amazon and other retailers, we recommend using an official charger if at all possible. Third-party parts often aren’t up to the quality standards of genuine components, and in the case of a charger, using a cheap one could damage your computer or even cause a fire.

If a genuine charger isn’t an option, consult reviews to make sure that any charger you choose is safe.

Plugged in and Now Charging

Hopefully, some of the above steps fixed your laptop charging issue. If it’s still a problem, a part inside your computer may be damaged, causing the battery not to work properly. You should bring it to a computer repair shop to have an expert take a look at it—they might recommend a replacement battery.

Keep in mind that batteries wear out with age. After a certain number of cycles, no battery will hold as much of a charge as it used to. But unless your battery is completely shot, it should charge at least somewhat.

For more tools, see the best utilities to analyze your laptop’s battery health.

Read the full article: Laptop Is Plugged In but Not Charging? 8 Steps to Solve Your Issue

How to Cancel YouTube TV

Live TV streaming services are great in many ways: they offer much of what we like about cable, just over the internet. Unfortunately, they also have some of the same issues that made people cancel their cable subscriptions in the first place.

Prices always seem to be rising and it’s usually because the service added new channels you have no interest in watching. So, if you’re finding that the monthly price isn’t worth it for what you’re watching, here’s how to cancel YouTube TV.

How to Cancel YouTube TV on Your Computer

One of the easiest ways to cancel YouTube TV is to use your computer. It doesn’t matter whether you’re using a Windows PC or an Apple Mac, as the instructions will work on either. It doesn’t even matter what browser you’re using—while you need to use Chrome to watch YouTube TV in a browser, you can manage your account with any browser you like.

To get started, head to the YouTube TV website. If you haven’t already, sign into the Google account you use for YouTube TV. Now click your user icon in the upper-right of the screen, then click Settings.

On the next page, click Membership on the left. Now in the account settings on the right side of the screen, you should see your YouTube TV membership. Directly underneath is a link labeled Deactivate membership.

After clicking that link, you’ll see options to either pause or cancel your membership. Select CANCEL MEMBERSHIP and confirm your selection one more time to cancel your YouTube TV subscription.

How to Cancel YouTube TV on a Mobile Device

It’s a slightly different process to cancel your YouTube TV subscription on Android devices and iOS devices. On an Android device, open the YouTube TV app, then tap your photo or user icon in the upper-right of the screen.

Now, tap Settings, then Membership. Tap Deactivate membership and, just like on a Mac or PC, you’ll have the option to pause or cancel your membership. Tap Cancel one more time and confirm to cancel your subscription.

There are two major differences with the iOS version of YouTube TV, and they’re tied together. The main difference is that if you signed up on iOS, your billing for the YouTube TV service is through Apple, not YouTube TV itself. Because of this, you’ll need to cancel YouTube TV in a different way and you don’t have the option to pause your subscription.

To get started, open the iOS Settings app, then tap iTunes & App Store. At the top of the screen, tap your Apple ID, then tap View Apple ID. Here, scroll down and tap the Subscriptions button. Find and tap the YouTube TV entry, then tap Cancel Subscription or Cancel Free Trial, depending on your account type.

If you don’t see your subscription here, you likely signed up another way and can cancel YouTube TV using one of the other methods we’ve listed here.

Are You Looking for Another Streaming TV Service?

Just because you canceled YouTube TV, that doesn’t mean that you’re necessarily going back to cable. A different live TV streaming service may be a better option for you than YouTube TV. For an overview, take a look at our roundup of the best live TV streaming services for cord cutters.

That said, even though there are lower-cost live TV streaming options, they still might not be for you. Either the cost may not be beyond your budget, or you may just not feel like paying for TV you usually just leave on in the background. If that’s the case, see our guide to the best free and paid streaming TV services for some great alternatives.

Read the full article: How to Cancel YouTube TV

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Laptop Is Plugged In but Not Charging? 8 Steps to Solve Your Issue

Your work can go haywire if your laptop is plugged in but not charging. You obviously can’t use the computer once the battery is dead. But in many cases, you can figure out where the charging issue lies to correct it.

We’ll show you what to do when your laptop battery isn’t charging while plugged in. Whether you have a Dell, Lenovo, HP, or another machine, these tips will help.

1. Check the Physical Cable Connections

Before you move to deep troubleshooting, first check for the basics. Make sure you have inserted the laptop charging cable firmly into the laptop’s charging port. Then double-check its connection to the wall—consider trying another outlet in case the current one isn’t working.

Don’t forget to review the connection where the cable plugs into the AC adapter brick, also. That could have become loose if someone tripped over it.

Keep in mind that we’re trying to fix your laptop not charging even though it’s plugged in. If this isn’t your issue, we’ve also looked at how to fix an incorrect battery percentage in Windows 10.

2. Remove the Battery and Connect to Power

Next, you should determine if the battery is working or not. If your laptop has a removable battery, completely remove it from your machine. You should always shut down your computer before doing this (if it’s not already dead) and unplug the charger.

Once you remove the battery, hold the power button for several moments to clear any remaining charge in the system. After that’s done, connect the charger and try to turn your laptop on.

If it works normally, then the problem lies with your battery. Re-seat the battery in its compartment and make sure all the contacts are lined up. If this doesn’t fix the problem, you most likely have a dead battery that you’ll need to replace.

In case your laptop doesn’t have a removable battery, you can try opening up your machine and removing it yourself. However, doing so will likely void your warranty, and you can cause more damage to your computer if you make a mistake. It’s safer to take your computer to a technician who can analyze the battery using professional tools.

3. Make Sure You’re Using the Right Charger and Port

Moving on, you can next check that power (and enough of it) is getting to your computer.

Make sure that you have your charger plugged into the right port on your laptop. Many laptops only have one spot for the charging plug, but if you have a newer computer, it might use USB-C to charge. Try all the USB-C ports on your laptop, as some might be for data transfer only.

For the best results, you should use the original charger that came with your laptop. Fake chargers can harm your battery and cause lasting damage. Third-party models might not use the right wattage, which can result in your laptop charging extremely slowly or not at all. This is especially true with USB-C cables, as some aren’t meant to charge devices as big as a laptop.

4. Review Your Cable and Ports for Damage

Even though you did a cursory check for cable connection issues earlier, it’s a good idea to review the power cord more thoroughly now.

Look down the entire length of the power cord for fraying or other damage. Try grabbing it to see if any parts feel bulgy or otherwise misshapen. It’s also a good idea to smell the AC adapter part of the charger—if you smell burning, something has likely gone wrong inside the box, and you’ll need to replace it.

Finally, take a look at the port for the charger on your laptop. You should have a fairly snug fit when you connect the charger. If it feels loose, try jiggling it around a bit to see if you can get a good connection.

Also check for debris inside the port, which can prevent you from making a good connection. You can clean this out with a toothbrush, toothpick, or any other small object.

Speaking of this, to prevent damage in the future, you should keep some slack in the cable, so it doesn’t put unnecessary stress on the charging port. Avoid letting the AC adapter brick dangle off a table, which will pull down on the connector and can ruin the connection over time.

5. Reduce Resource Usage

There’s a chance that your battery not charging even when it’s plugged in isn’t related to hardware. If your computer is working extremely hard, your charger might not be replenishing the battery quickly enough.

For instance, if your computer is getting hot, the fan has to work harder to cool it, which will take more battery power. When you have many power-hungry programs and processes running at once, they will suck up more battery power at a high rate. Open the Task Manager (Ctrl + Shift + Esc) to check current resource usage.

If you suspect this is the root of your charging issue, try closing some programs and/or shutting down your PC to let it cool down. Once it’s back to normal, power on and see if your charger can keep up with the battery at a usual workload.

6. Check Windows and Lenovo Power Options

Other software issues can also cause your laptop battery not to charge. While Windows power plans don’t have any specific options that would prevent your battery from charging, you may have your system configured to shut down at a certain battery level or similar.

Visit the Windows power settings page by going to Settings > System > Power & sleep and clicking Additional power settings on the right side. There, click Change plan settings next to your current plan.

You can click Change advanced power settings if you want to look through those, but it’s easiest just to select Restore default settings for this plan. See if that makes any difference.

If you have a Lenovo laptop, there’s a manufacturer specific app that can cause a charging problem. Use the Start menu to search for Lenovo Vantage (called Lenovo Settings on older systems).

Once it’s open, click Power on the Hardware Settings panel, then scroll down to find Charge Threshold.

If the Custom battery charge threshold slider is enabled, you can select a minimum and maximum battery percentage for charging.

For example, if you chose 50 percent for Start charging when below and 80 percent for Start charging at, your computer would start charging when it dropped to 50 percent and stop when it got back up to 80 percent.

This could cause your computer to stop charging as you expect, so try disabling this if it’s enabled.

7. Update or Reinstall Battery Drivers

Since your battery is an external device, Windows uses certain drivers to interface with it properly. If your computer is still plugged in and not charging, updating or removing those drivers can kick-start the charging process.

Right-click on the Start button or press Win + X, then select Device Manager from the resulting menu. Expand the Batteries section and you should see two entries: Microsoft AC Adapter and Microsoft ACPI-Compliant Control Method Battery.

Right-click on each of these and choose Update driver; chances are that this won’t find any updates, but it’s worth a try. You can try updating the drivers manually, but your computer manufacturer probably doesn’t provide a specific one for the battery.

If updating doesn’t do anything, right-click on each of the battery drivers and choose Uninstall device. This will cause your computer to stop interfacing with the battery, but the driver will reinstall when you reboot, so don’t worry.

After rebooting, let Windows reinstall the battery driver, and it will hopefully start charging again. If that doesn’t work, repeat the process, but once you’ve shut down after the uninstall, unplug your charger, remove the battery, then put everything back and turn your PC back on.

8. Try Another Charger

At this point, you’ve tried everything that doesn’t cost money. A last-ditch solution is to order a new computer charger (or use one from a friend if they happen to have the same laptop) and see if that works.

While you’ll find cheap third-party chargers on Amazon and other retailers, we recommend using an official charger if at all possible. Third-party parts often aren’t up to the quality standards of genuine components, and in the case of a charger, using a cheap one could damage your computer or even cause a fire.

If a genuine charger isn’t an option, consult reviews to make sure that any charger you choose is safe.

Plugged in and Now Charging

Hopefully, some of the above steps fixed your laptop charging issue. If it’s still a problem, a part inside your computer may be damaged, causing the battery not to work properly. You should bring it to a computer repair shop to have an expert take a look at it—they might recommend a replacement battery.

Keep in mind that batteries wear out with age. After a certain number of cycles, no battery will hold as much of a charge as it used to. But unless your battery is completely shot, it should charge at least somewhat.

For more tools, see the best utilities to analyze your laptop’s battery health.

Read the full article: Laptop Is Plugged In but Not Charging? 8 Steps to Solve Your Issue

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The Best Wedding Websites for Save the Date Cards and Magnets

Starting in the mid-2000s, “Save the Date” announcements for weddings have grown in popularity. These types of notifications let brides and grooms inform their guests of their upcoming nuptials way ahead of time.

By sending a Save the Date card, postcard, or handy magnet, your guests have plenty of notice to make sure they’re free. These are especially convenient for weddings during peak times like the holiday season or if the ceremony will require travel.

If you’re planning your wedding, here are the best websites for buying Save the Date products, in no special order.

1. The Knot

The Knot is a terrific wedding planning website. You can set up a free custom website, get a personalized spending plan, create your registry, see vendor recommendations, and much more. So along with these planning tools, you can buy products as well.

From start to finish, check out The Knot’s Save the Date and Change the Date cards as well as invitations and thank you’s.

You can browse through pages upon pages of Save the Date cards and postcards in every color and style imaginable. If you want to narrow down the choices, use your wedding colors. If you prefer a seasonal card, pick spring, summer, fall, or winter. You can also select the style and number of photos you want and then filter the choices further by card or postcard.

To see a few cards in person, you can order samples to help you decide. And be sure to check out the Free Samples section along with any discount codes displayed on the site.

The Knot is not just a great place to order your wedding products, but also a wonderful spot to help you plan that big day. And for more help, check out these mobile wedding planners.

2. Zazzle

Zazzle offers all sorts of customizable products from posters and mousepads to mugs and wall clocks. And the site has a neat Weddings section with everything you need for the day you say, “I do.”

Check out place cards, napkins, and menus for the reception along with gifts for the bridesmaids, groomsmen, and parents. As for the stationery products, Zazzle has wedding announcements, invitations, RSVP cards, thank you cards, and of course, Save the Date cards.

You can browse Save the Date photo cards and postcards or narrow down the options. Pick from things like the foil, type, format, orientation, shape, or size. Once you see the results, you can sort by popularity or price.

Want a unique Save the Date? There are magnets and calendars to let your guests know about the upcoming ceremony. The magnet selection is impressive with all shapes and sizes. As for the calendars, you’ll find postcard, magnet, and wall calendars, with tons of styles and colors.

If you’re looking for excellent chocies, affordable prices, and regular discounts on not just Save the Dates but other wedding products, check out Zazzle.

3. Basic Invite

Basic Invite is a site offering invitations for occasions like weddings, graduations, new baby celebrations, and other special events.

For weddings, you can look through the enormous collection of announcements, invitations, enclosure cards, and thank you’s. You’ll also find bridal shower products, items for your reception, and gifts for the bridal party. And if your wedding date has changed, be sure to check out the Change the Date cards.

For Save the Date options, you can pick from cards, postcards, and magnets. Like other sites, you can filter your choices. Pick the size, color, orientation, number of photos, or a theme.

And speaking of theme filters, there are more to choose from than you can imagine! If you’re having a beach, floral, country, or nautical wedding, you’re covered. Looking for a New Orleans, Hawaiian, roaring 20s, or Vegas theme? They’ve got it!

Another great option for your Save the Date announcement is uploading your own design, which is available for both cards and magnets.

So, if your wedding has a distinctive theme or design, make sure you look at the Save the Date options on Basic Invite.

4. MagnetStreet

Don’t let the name fool you, MagnetStreet sells many wedding, business, life moment, school-related products that go beyond magnets.

The Weddings section of the site is packed with invitations, programs, reception products, thank you cards, and wedding gifts. You’ll also find helpful items in the Wedding Blog & Ideas area like wedding color trends, a planning checklist, budget calculator, and wedding quotes.

Now for those Save the Date products; you can pick from magnets, cards, or postcards. With each type of Save the Date, you can narrow your options by foil color, the number of photos, collection, style, color, or orientation. You also have an option to upload your own design, like on a Basic Invite.

Make sure that you head to the Free Samples section of MagnetStreet as well. You can currently choose from two sample kits to try out their products. You can also get free Save the Date samples making MagnetStreet definitely worth a visit!

5. Zola

Zola is a wedding-specific site, like The Knot. It offers free planning tools, wedding websites, a registry, and stationery products including Save the Dates and Change the Dates.

You’ll find a beautiful selection of cards, postcards, and magnets in the Save the Date section. And as you may have guessed, you can use filters to narrow down your choices. Pick a style, color, and the number of photos. Then choose if you want only those designs available as magnets, with foil, or that offer letterpress printing.

Zola has another filter that you may find interesting which is for items designed by featured artists. This is a great way to add something distinctive to your Save the Date product or even something more creative for your wedding invitation.

For another excellent website that gives you wedding planning and products all in one spot, head to Zola. And be on the lookout for special pricing and free shipping offers!

Send Your Save the Date

Save the Date products are becoming a norm when planning weddings. Make sure you give your guests enough time to plan to attend your ceremony and celebration by sending a Save the Date card.

With the COVID-19 pandemic of 2020, Change the Date products are not just popular but essential, and all these sites offer those too if you need them.

Best of luck planning your big day! And for more help doing that, check out these apps for wedding invitations on a budget.

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React Native – Is it the right tool for Mobile App Development

Approaching the digital era, most people use mobile devices, leading to developers leveling up their game. Building a mobile application can range from being simple to complex. That is why mobile developers need to prioritize their coding language’s capacity – if it can take care of the complexity of the mobile app processes and its […]

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Nintendo Switch vs. Switch Lite: Which Console Should You Buy?

The Nintendo Switch is a great video game console from Nintendo. You can attach it to your TV or take it out with you for portable play. That means you can play great games like Mario Kart and Super Smash Bros. wherever you are.

However, you might have noticed that the console comes in two flavors: the Nintendo Switch and the Nintendo Switch Lite. There are some very important differences between these two, including the portability, size, and battery life.

We’re going to explore what the Switch and Switch Lite are and compare the two so you can decide which is best for you.

What Is the Nintendo Switch?

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The Nintendo Switch is an eighth-generation video game console that was first released in March 2017, competing with the Xbox One and PlayStation 4. The Switch can connect to your TV like a traditional games console by sliding into a dock, but it can also be used handheld as a portable device.

The two controllers, known as Joy-Cons, can detach from the console. This is great not only for TV-based gaming but also for placing the Switch on a surface and playing in tabletop mode. A revised version of the Nintendo Switch was released in August 2019 with an improved battery life.

What Is the Nintendo Switch Lite?

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The Nintendo Switch Lite was released in September 2019. Though similar to the Nintendo Switch, the main difference is that it’s purely a handheld games console. It cannot be docked to the TV, nor does it have detachable controllers.

The Nintendo Switch Lite is more portable than its hybrid counterpart, featuring a smaller screen size and lighter weight. This means it’s easier to slip the Switch Lite into your pocket or bag.

To account for the reduced functionality, the Nintendo Switch Lite retails at a lower price. In fact, many have taken advantage of the cheaper cost—around 30 percent of Switch owners also have the Switch Lite.

Switch vs. Switch Lite: Play Modes

The most significant difference between the two consoles is that the Switch is a hybrid device that can be used in TV mode, tabletop mode, and handheld mode. The Switch Lite operates in handheld mode only. For TV mode, the Switch comes with a dock and HDMI cable, allowing you to place the console in the dock and output to a TV.

For tabletop mode, the Switch has a kickstand that pulls out so that the console freely stands up on a surface. The controllers on the Switch, known as Joy-Cons, can be detached to support these modes. On the Switch Lite, the controllers are fixed to the console.

The Switch Lite isn’t compatible with the dock, nor does it have a kickstand. The only mode compatible with both the Switch and the Switch Lite is handheld, where the controllers are attached.

Switch vs. Switch Lite: Portability and Display

Both the Switch and the Switch Lite are designed to be portable. That said, if you favor a smaller size and lighter weight, the Switch Lite is the better option. The Switch weighs 0.88 lbs with controllers attached, while the Switch Lite weighs just 0.61 lbs.

The Switch has a 6.2-inch touch screen, while the Switch Lite has a 5.5-inch touchscreen. Despite the difference in screen size, both consoles output at a 1280×720 resolution in handheld mode (also known as 720p). However, when the Switch is docked, it’s capable of a 1080p resolution.

The Switch is 4-inches tall, 9.4-inches long, and 0.55-inches deep when the controllers are attached. The Switch Lite is 3.6-inches tall, 8.2-inches long, and 0.55-inches deep.

Switch vs. Switch Lite: Games

There are loads of great Nintendo Switch games featuring Nintendo franchise hits such as The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, Super Mario Odyssey, and Animal Crossing: New Horizons. These games are available on physical cartridges or digitally via the Nintendo eShop, and many support both local and online multiplayer.

All games are compatible with the Switch and the Switch Lite. However, there is a caveat to this. A few games, like 1-2-Switch and Ring Fit Adventure, require you to detach the Joy-Con controllers from the console to play. Since this isn’t possible on the Switch Lite, you would need to buy separate controllers in order to play them.

Switch vs. Switch Lite: Controllers and Colors

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There’s a sizeable range of Nintendo Switch controllers available to buy. These include different color Joy-Cons, Pro Controllers, and GameCube style controllers. They all work on the Switch and the Switch Lite, though wired controllers will need an adapter for portable play (and is therefore required on the Lite).

The color of the Switch can be customized by switching out the standard blue and red Joy-Cons for colors like pink/green, purple/orange, and blue/yellow. There is also the occasional themed console, which includes a different dock design, like the Nintendo Switch – Animal Crossing Edition.

The Switch Lite comes in a range of colors like coral, yellow, and in themes like Pokémon-inspired Nintendo Switch Lite – Zacian and Zamazenta Edition . However, since the Joy-Cons aren’t removable, you can’t customize the color of the Switch Lite like you can on the Switch.

Switch vs. Switch Lite: Battery Life

When the Switch first launched, it had a battery life of 2.5 to 6.5 hours in handheld mode. That range is so wide because the battery life depends on the games you play. For example, when playing The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, it could manage only 3 hours.

The newest model of the Switch now gives 4.5 to 9 hours of battery life, and around 5.5 hours in Zelda. Any Switch you buy new should be the 2019 updated model; check for the model number HAC-001(-01) to make sure.

On the other hand, the Switch Lite has a battery life of 3 to 7 hours. For comparison, when playing The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild, you can achieve up to 4 hours of usage.

Switch vs. Switch Lite: Rumble, Motion Camera, and Other Features

Unlike the Switch, the Switch Lite doesn’t have rumble for haptic feedback, nor an infrared motion camera. Otherwise, the internals of the system are nearly identical.

Both the Switch and the Switch Lite have a custom NVIDIA Tegra processor, and 32GB of internal storage, expandable up to 2 TB using micro SD cards. Each console has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth support, and, importantly, a 3.5 mm audio jack.

Switch vs. Switch Lite: Price

As is clear, the Switch Lite has reduced features compared to the standard Switch, so it makes sense that the Switch Lite would be cheaper. Prices for both consoles fluctuate depending on stock and demand, but the Switch is typically around $100 more than the Switch Lite.

That $100 difference isn’t to be sniffed at. If you just want a portable console for travel to play all the Nintendo hits, the Switch Lite is a superb choice. However, if you also want the ability to hook it up to your TV, you must get the Switch.

Customize the Switch Interface

Whether you decide to get the Switch or the Switch Lite, you’re bound to have an excellent time. Nintendo knows how to produce a great console packed full of fun games.

Once you have the console, take some time to customize the Nintendo Switch user interface.

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Love Online Shopping? 5 Postal Scams You Should Avoid

These days, postal services use all kinds of channels to update you on your deliveries. Unfortunately, scammers can take advantage of these communications to trick you out of your money or install malware.

Let’s analyze how a scammer can impersonate your delivery service and how to avoid it.

1. Spreading Malware With Fake Postal Apps

Android banking trojan impersonates @lisalaposte and spreads via SMS

-targets #France ??
-sends SMS
-intercepts received SMS
-steals victims’ contact lists
-this Trojan is also known as FakeSpy/Roaming Mantis/MaqHao/XLoader #ESETresearch @LukasStefanko 1/3 pic.twitter.com/9qn4n3A62E

— ESET research (@ESETresearch) April 16, 2020

Postal services will sometimes use apps to help manage and trace your packages. You can enter tracking numbers into them to see where your parcel is, or arrange for something to be delivered via the app.

They’re very convenient, which is why scammers use these apps to spread malware. They choose a country to operate in and design a phishing SMS message that mimics that country’s postal service.

The SMS message will state that the company has released a new version of its delivery app, and gives a download link. Of course, the link doesn’t lead to the official app at all; instead, it goes to a malware payload.

FakeSpy is an excellent example of this kind of attack. A malicious group called Roaming Mantis used this method to distribute malware called FakeSpy. When installed, FakeSpy asked for messaging permissions and the ability to work at 100 percent even if the phone is sleeping.

If the user granted these permissions to Fakespy, it would harvest sensitive information from the phone. Then, using the messaging permissions that the user gave it, it sends its download page to more victims. Even when the user puts the phone to sleep, FakeSpy would be hard at work harvesting data.

2. Spreading Malware Using Fake Attachments

This method of attack abuses how postal companies send you emails if your package suffers delays. Of course, it’s stressful to hear that an important delivery won’t arrive on time, which a scammer can capitalize on to trick users.

In terms of operation, postal service email scams aren’t too different than other email-based scams. The scammer will send you an email with malware attached and attempt to convince you to download the attachment.

How the scammer constructs the framework of the attack varies. Some will claim that the deliveryman missed you and that the package is now in a warehouse. They then prompt the user to click on the infected attachment, claiming the warehouse address is inside. Others may say they couldn’t verify your details and will point to the infected attachment so you can double-check your credentials.

The scammer may also use current affairs to cause panic among victims. For example, when the coronavirus began to take hold, scammers sent out emails saying that, unless the victim sends back their details in the infected attachment ASAP, their package will be held in lockdown

3. Tricking Users With Fake Websites

When we’re in a rush to get something done, we tend to miss out on tiny details that identify what websites are legitimate and which are fake. Scammers capitalize on this by creating impostor websites that look just like the real thing. They can then trick people into visiting these websites and hand over money and personal details.

For postal services, a scammer may set up a fake website that asks for names, addresses, and phone numbers to create a personal profile about you. These pieces of information are used in identity fraud, and handing over the data may lead to them using your information for future scams.

Others may ask for phoney delivery charges, including VAT and customs charges. If the victim obeys, the scammers run with the money while the victim believes they’ve paid for an important delivery.

For example, some scammers take advantage of change-of-address services to make money. A change-of-address service lets you temporarily redirect mail from one address to another, which is handy when moving house. As such, people looking for such a service are highly likely to be in the throes of moving home—a stressful period.

Scammers create pages that look similar to official change-of-address services, then try to get them high on Google’s rankings. When people search to redirect their mail, they click through onto the fake website and enter their details. The phoney site asks for a large payment to perform the service, which the victim pays.

Of course, because the website was fake, their mail isn’t redirected despite the victim paying up. It may take weeks, or even months before the victim discovers they’ve been conned.

4. Stealing Personal Information Using Phone Calls

In a similar vein as above, sometimes a scammer will call your home directly. They’ll use number spoofing to appear as if they’re calling from your country’s postal service. Once you pick up, they’ll say that an error occurred when processing a package and that they need to double-check your details to ensure the delivery can take place.

Of course, they don’t have any package waiting for you; instead, they can use this angle to ask you for your name, address, phone numbers, and other personal information. This information can be collected and used in future scams, such as identity theft.

If you’re worried that the representative on the other end of the line isn’t who they say they are, never fear; there are telltale signs that you’re on the phone with a scammer. Keep an eye out for these traits if you suspect someone is trying to scam you over the phone.

5. Mailing Fake “Missed Delivery” Cards

"Watch out scam"Top one with Royal Mail logo Genuine. Bottom one "Fake" No logo theywill bill you £45 if you ring number.. be vigilant.? pic.twitter.com/bBIyBZBWbR

— Dezzie… (@dezzietheblue) July 26, 2017

Some postal services will use a calling card if they couldn’t deliver your parcel. This card will state when the delivery took place, what the delivery is, and how to schedule a re-delivery. Unfortunately, these cards are easy to clone and used for scams.

For instance, in the UK, there’s the “Something For You” card. If the Post Office couldn’t deliver your parcel, they leave a red card with information on how to get it.

Scammers have created a near-identical copy to this card to direct people towards their scam. The only real difference is the lack of any official Post Office imagery or insignia—everything else looks similar.

These fake cards give the user a number to call to schedule the re-delivery. If the user dials it, their call redirects to a premium rate line. Once the call is over, the victim racks up a hefty phone bill for calling the premium rate service.

How to Protect Yourself From Postal Service Scams

The above scams all have one thing in common: they try to impersonate your postal service. As such, if you learn how your own service operates, you can detect these scams before they can trick you.

When you receive correspondence from your postal service, be sure to look out for any warning signs. A postal service shouldn’t contact you to “double-check” your delivery details, nor will they try to push you to download an attachment.

Likewise, if you receive a missed delivery card that doesn’t “seem right,” be careful—doubly so if you didn’t order anything online! If your postal service normally lets you reschedule deliveries online, and you get a card that suddenly demands you phone them instead, double-check the phone number online, and if possible confirm with the sender.

Staying Safe From Delivery Scams

With online deliveries becoming a booming industry, scammers gravitate towards delivery fraud to trick others into handing over their details or their money. Now you know the most notorious kinds of delivery scams and how to dodge them.

If you love buying things on eBay, be sure to read about the eBay scams you need to be aware of.

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