Sony recently approved the requirements for Update the PlayStation 5’s internal memory with an M.2 solid state drive (SSD) and it’s very confusing. On paper, there are several SSDs that meet Sony’s requirements, but only a few drives am currently working on PS5– and the ones that do are pretty expensive. In some cases, users are expected to improve the SSD’s cooling capabilities by adding a heat sink – an extra step more in line with hardcore PC building that undermines the plug-and-play simplicity of home consoles.

Fortunately, there is another way to add more space to your PS5 with an external hard drive that is much easier to remove.

To be fair, using an external hard drive is different from increasing your console’s internal storage, but moving some of your games to an external hard drive will save space on your PS5’s main SSD. The only major downside is that you can’t play PS5 games from an external storage device, but you can save them there for easy access if you want to reinstall them. PS4 games, on the other hand, can be played from an external drive on PS5 and work perfectly, making it a viable option if your main goal is to get more games installed on your PS5.

External storage requirements for PS5

Of course, you can’t plug an old hard drive into your PS5; only certain hard drives are compatible as advanced storage options. In particular, you’ll need a drive with one of the following SuperSpeed ​​USB connection types:

• SuperSpeed ​​USB 5 Gbit / s (USB 3.0 / USB 3.1 Gen1 / USB 3.2 Gen1)
• SuperSpeed ​​USB 10 Gbit / s (USB 3.1 Gen2 / USB 3.2 Gen2 / USB 3.2 Gen1x2)
• SuperSpeed ​​USB 20 Gbit / s (USB 3.2 Gen2x2)

Size also plays a role. The expanded storage drive must have at least 250 GB of space and the largest supported size is 8 TB.

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But even if your hard drive meets these specs, Sony understands that some drives just won’t work on PS5. Do some research and purchase specifically for PS5-compatible drives if you are planning on purchasing one.

Don’t worry if your USB hard drive doesn’t work as an extended storage device for your PS5. you can Instead, use it to create an external backup of your console. This can be done on any USB storage device large enough to hold the data to be backed up. You can’t play games from a backup drive, but you can safely store data locally, which is handy if your PS5 ever experiences a hardware failure or memory corruption and could free up additional space on your PS5’s internal SSD.

How to use an external USB drive as extended storage on PS5

So once you have a PS5 compatible hard drive, it’s time to start using it as an expanded storage device. To do this, you need to properly connect, format, and configure the drive on your PS5. Here’s what to do:

Connect the drive to your PS5

The first step is very simple: plug the drive into a USB port on the back of your PS5 console. The drive needs to be connected directly to the PS5 – it will not work if you connect it through a USB hub. Likewise, you can only use one external hard drive at a time. Several can be linked, but only one is active as an extended storage location.

Format the drive

Next we need to format the drive so that the PS5 can use it. Go to on your PS5 Settings> Storage> USB Expansion Storage, and choose “Format as USB expansion storage. ”

Warning: This will erase ALL of the data previously stored on the drive, so back up these files on your PC before proceeding. This will also make the drive incompatible with other devices until you format it again.

Install games on the drive

You are now ready to transfer games to your hard drive and install them. Remember, PS4 games are playable from expanded memory, but PS5 games are not.

To move PS4 games to the external drive:

1. Highlight the game you want to move on your PS5’s library screen.
2. Press the “Options” button on your controller and then select “Go to USB expansion storage.”

You can also choose to automatically download PS4 games to the external drive by going to. walk Settings> Storage> Extended Storage and toggle “Install PS4 games on USB expansion storage.”

How to move PS5 games to the external drive:

1. Highlight the game you want to move on your PS5’s library screen.
2. Press the “Options” button on your controller and then select “Copy.”
3. Follow all the instructions on the screen.

Photo: Joshua Blanchard (Getty Images)

Last summer, Taco Bell suddenly stopped long-term stand-bys such as quesarito, fiesta potatoes and the 7-layer burrito. Two of them were not banished forever – the Quesarito lives as one In-app exclusive and Potatoes seem to be back forever– but the classic 7-layer burrito has simply disappeared into the ether.

This is bad news for vegetarians, vegans, and anyone trying to eat less meat, however TikTok user damntastyvegan recently shared a simple workaround: Order a Cheesy Bean and Rice Burrito “Fresco style”- which swaps mayo-based sauces and dairy products for diced tomatoes – and adds potatoes, rice and guacamole. With this order, you get a delicious, filling, 100% vegan 7-layer burrito for just over $ 2 – at least where the damn vegan is.

As a vegan, I applaud this hack. As a Taco Bell enthusiast, I have a little catch: if it’s vegan, it’s not a real 7-layer. According to the Taco Bell website, a 7-layer burrito contains the following ingredients:

• Beans
• sour cream
• tomatoes
• 3 cheese mixture
• rice
• Green salad
• guacamole

Veganizing a 7-layer burrito removes 2 of the layers and adds potatoes that are not part of the original product. It’s still a great burrito – it’s just not really the same burrito. (I think vegans only get 6 layers.)

If just the OG 7-layer burrito is enough, you can simply modify an existing menu item to create one. Depending on your preferences, you can either use one Cheese Bean and Rice Burrito (as the TikTok recommends) or a Burrito Supreme. How to customize it according to Reddit users from / r / tacobell, the internet one-stop shop for all information about Taco Bell:

• Cheese Bean and Rice Burrito: No creamy jalapeño sauce, no nacho cheese; Add tomatoes, sour cream, lettuce, guacamole and 3-cheese mixture
• Highest Burrito: No beef, no onions, no red sauce, no cheddar; Add guacamole, rice and 3 cheese mixture

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The main difference here is the price – the Cheesy Bean and Rice Burrito is cheaper than the Supreme and requires fewer modifications. Other than that, I always found the dollar menu items small; If you’re super hungry, a modified Burrito Supreme might be the right choice.

Regardless of which permanent menu item you choose, customer-specific orders are easier in the Taco Bell app. Once you have your 7 layer order perfected, just save it for future use. You can even name it how Reddit user joec_95123 did it for his modified Burrito Supreme: “I set up exactly this order as ‘Recreated 7-Layer’ in the app.” Follow his example and you are only a few taps away from your beloved burrito – even if it is not on the menu .

Photo: skimin0k (Shutterstock)

Work your hands or feet enough and getting calluses is inevitable. Now that I’m a weight lifter, I have Calluses on my palms and fingers; When I played roller derby, I had them in certain places on my feet. The usual advice – gently rubbing your calluses with a pumice stone or an abrasive cloth – is completely inadequate for severe calluses.

Because of this, I’m a huge fan of two specific types of tools, each slightly more specialized than what you might find in the skin care department of your local store, and each immensely more suitable for treating severe calluses.

Why you need a corneal file

Your first stop on the way to smoother, less injury-prone hands and feet is a foot file, also known as a corneal rasp. To be clear, you’re not looking for something that works with sandpaper or pumice stone; You want a metal tool. It should look like a cheese grater.

In fact, it looks like a cheese grater that it is made by Microplane. I have one of their foot files and it looks almost exactly like the one I use for lemon peel. Fortunately, it’s a different color than what we have in the kitchen, which helps me break it up more easily as a personal care tool rather than a cheese grater for my feet. (They even call it a “foot grater” on their website. I’m so sorry.)

If you’re not ready for microplane foot rails, like a lighter callus file This one here will also blow pumice stones or emery boards out of the water. I’ve heard good things about them too PedEieven though I’ve never used one myself.

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Why you need an electric corneal grinder

Do you already have a corneal file, but need to go one step further? I recently got an electric corneal grinder and I’m kicking myself for not buying one earlier in my lifting career.

This is the model that I have. It is battery operated and is charged via USB. It has removable heads so you can choose coarser or finer grits. Most importantly, it can grind through a hard callus in minutes instead of requiring countless post-bath sessions with a file.

If the calluses are not on the feet but on the hands, there is another advantage: the sanding surface is small enough to also work on the calluses at the base of the ankles, the ones with a large one. hard to reach, flat file in microplane style.

As we mentioned in ours earlier Instructions on how to deal with lifting calluses, it is safe, and even preferable, to sand off any crusty skin that you can handle. If the tools you were using made it difficult to keep the problem under control, try a callus file or an electric callus remover.

Photo: By Olha Solodenko (Shutterstock)

Having your own lemon tree at home is often a luxury that we assume is reserved for people living in citrus-friendly areas like sunny California or humid Florida. That doesn’t mean those in the Northeast, Midwest, or other regions of the country can’t simply indulge in their own freshly squeezed lemonade. With a little attention, you can grow a lemon tree right in your home.

How to Grow and Care for a Lemon Tree (Without Moving to Florida).

The best lemon trees to grow indoors

Lemon trees that thrive outdoors with lots of space won’t work well in an enclosed setting, so knowing the specifics of the different breeds and their sizes is important. In general, a dwarf tree is best for smaller spaces. Dwarf fruit trees can grow up to two to three meters tall, which is certainly larger than the average houseplant but smaller than the average lemon tree. Dwarf trees can also grow in pots and containers indoors instead of in soil, and they are easier to prune and their size is easier to maintain because the roots are shorter than other varieties. Best of all, they ripen faster, so you get fruit sooner than you expect.

Choosing the right type of tree also depends on what type of flavor you like and how much work you want to put into it. If you want a tree that requires less maintenance and produces lemons on the sweeter side, go for the Zwergmeyer lemon tree. Meyer lemons are a mix of sour lemons and sweet oranges that make them sweeter than your average lemon. They get by without great heat and are easy to care for. Dwarf eureka lemons grow all year round, but are rather tart. Eureka lemon trees need a lot of light to thrive, however, so make sure they are near a south-facing window when growing these lemons indoors.

How to choose the right planter for your lemon tree

The right plant pot is essential for the healthy growth of your lemon tree – and the most important element is its drainage holes. You don’t want the plant to stand in water as this can encourage root rot. Terracotta pots are particularly suitable for drainage, but you can also use plastic or glazed pots with sufficient drainage holes.

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Apartment therapy recommends that the plant pot be at least twice as large as the root ball of the plant – this gives the roots enough space to grow and carry fruit. The soil should be a mixture that also drains well. If you’re making your own soil, Apartment Therapy suggests mimicking your natural soil by mixing equal parts potting soil and sand.

Caring for an indoor lemon tree

Lemon trees grown indoors are in a different care class than outdoors. For example as Garden know-how explains, “If the variety of lemon you are growing normally has a hardiness zone of 7, the lemon tree is in a container a winter hardiness zone of 8. ”Therefore you should water and fertilize accordingly. Water at least two to three times a week – sometimes daily during the growing season– and make sure you soak the plant enough that you can see water escaping through the drainage holes. Keeping the plant moist (but not soaked) will give the roots the right amount of moisture to keep the leaves healthy; You should never let the plant dry out completely.

Fertilizer is another key element for your lemon tree. Planting company Pennington says that “lemon trees need plenty of nitrogen as well as other essential nutrients, including magnesium and iron.” Fertilize every three to four months, being careful not to disturb the shallow roots, which can damage the plant.

Here’s How To Tell If Your Indoor Lemon Tree Is Having Problems

There are signs that your potted tree may be in danger. Pay attention to yellow leaveswhich can be a sign of sodden roots (meaning the pot is not draining properly). You should also pay special attention to your lemon tree in the winter months, as it is very susceptible to the cold.

Also pay attention to “Sucker branches“That begin to grow at the root of the plant and can take over the tree – prune as soon as you see them. If you follow these steps, you’ll have juicy lemons year round.