In most cases, pressing the power button on your Windows computer only puts the computer to sleep. It does not turn it off. To power off or restart your computer you will need to follow one of these steps:
Option 1 – From Start Menu
This is the recommended way to restart or shutdown your computer. This is for Windows 11.
1. Click on Start which will bring up the Start Menu
2. Click on the Power icon
3. Click on Restart – Restart will stops all system processes, including the Windows kernel, and then restarts the system from scratch.
Or click on Shutdown which will power off the computer. You would need the press the power button to restart the computer.
Option 2 – CTRL+ALT+DEL
Use if you can’t access the Start Menu try this option.
Press these keys and release: Control (CTRL) + ALT + Delete (DEL). This opens the Windows Security Screen.
On the bottom right of the Windows Security Screen look for the Power icon and click. Select Restart or Shutdown.
Option 3 – Hard Shutdown
If the other options don’t work this will force a hard shutdown.
Press and hold the power button on your computer for a count of 10, then release. This will do a hard shutdown your computer. This option may cause data loss, and is not recommended repeatedly as Windows will have to do a repair startup.
Press the power button to start it back up, and log in.