I have tried doing this and it shows a window empty so not sure what to do.
``you can do this by editing the etc/default/grub file
sudo gedit etc/default/grub - make the edit so it looks like this GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT=""
Also trying to press escape and ctrl + alt + f1 etc does nothing too.
Another one. https://www.addictivetips.com/ubuntu-linux-tips/shut-down-a-linux-pc-that-wont-turn-off/
Hope the problem will be fixed soon.
sudo nano /etc/default/grub
To save and exit:
ctrl+x to exit, then the y key to say yes to save, then the enter key to save the current configuration.
Don't forget the;
sudo update-grub
before restarting.
Alright, now it is showing a bunch of text scrolling up and down when shutting down and turning on but it is still doing the same issue. It is not shutting down or restarting. Thanks for trying everyone but it is still not fixed.
The link I posted specified that you Remove "Quiet Splash" In order to watch the scrolling output for Reached target shutdown - and see if the process freezes at that point.
It did not say that was fix.
Oh ok. The last thing I saw was "[Ok] Reached target Power off" then the screen went black. Maybe there is a command I can do to force shutdown instead it might be more useful?
There are several described in the links above, have you tried?
I will have to try them all.
I have tried the following commands:
sudo init 0
sudo halt
sudo shutdown now
poweroff
None of them work. I guess I will just have to resort to using the hold-down button each time. Or maybe I should try Pop_OS!
Thanks for everyone trying to help anyway. 
Just tried this one too and that doesn't work either. It seems a very stubborn issue. 
I don't know it this will help
https://forums.linuxmint.com/viewtopic.php?t=270377
it has similarities with Aravisian's solution but with acpi=force. Just like what it was said in the link, I also think its your machine that don't want to shutdown. It happened to me before but it fixes on its own so goodluck to you.
I had the same/a similar issue and it turned out my laptop didn't like the kernel version. I made this post where I was helped and the problem was solved: Laptop with Zorin 16 doesn't shut down or sleep - #28 by UselessBoi
Basically I just installed the 5.11.0-40-generic kernel and set it to be the default version to boot into using Grub Customizer. You can try that if you want and see if that fixes your problem
Our internet went down here.
Problems abound, everywhere.
I am guessing it could be the kernel too. Thanks for the help/suggestion!
Hopefully... an earlier kernel and not a later one.
Ubuntu introduced a dependency bug in the kernels upwards of 5.12 that causes installation to fail on Distros based on Ubuntu 20.04. Although this would be extremely easy to fix, they still have not bothered to do so.
You can try an earlier kernel more easily.
sudo apt install linux-headers-5.8.0-63-generic linux-modules-5.8.0-63-generic linux-modules-extra-5.8.0-63-generic linux-image-5.8.0-63-generic
For a later kernel, I would need to assit you with a guide - and it is risky.
The 5.14 and 5.15 kernels have shown larger problems.
If I do this will it keep it on this kernel forever or when the next kernel update happens will it update to that one?
It will not update until it sees a kernel newer than the one installed. I would say go to kernel 5.11.0-40 or 38. They all have had their issues, but 27 and 38 seemed about the most stable for users.
Marked solution. 73
