I've got an issue with my laptop where the power button (or starter button, I'm not sure what to call it) isn't responding at all. I have to either suspend or shut the laptop down using the terminal instead of the icon like before. It used to work but suddenly stopped for some reason. Just to clarify, I'm talking about the software power button, not the physical one.
4 Answers
The behavior of the power button can depend greatly on the desktop environment. For example, if you're using GNOME or KDE Plasma, you can check the settings to adjust what happens when you click it. Sometimes just updating the command linked to that button can fix it. If all else fails, consider reinstalling the DE or using a backup if you have one.
Normally, you shouldn't have to power down your Linux system using the power button. I suggest using the UI for shutting down. You can configure the action of the power button in your desktop environment settings. I typically use the terminal for shutdown too, since I have a script for backing up data.
It's essential to mention details like your distro and any hardware specifics when asking for help. But the good news is that you fixed your issue by restarting the system through the terminal. A lot of tech problems can be solved this way! Glad to hear everything's working now!
First off, what desktop environment and distribution are you using? Have you made any recent updates or changes to the settings? Those details can really help narrow down the issue.

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