The mouse pointer becomes four triangles (usually, it is an arrow head) and cannot click anything, (though it still can move) while the keyboard works well. How is that shape of mouse pointer? How can I restore it?
With what application is this?
I have seen it, can’t remember with which application. There are a few, I guess.
It has meaning, it indicates some function.
Maybe click and move the content of the active window? Or the whole window?
Don’t know.
… click outside the application window to get a different cursor?
I don’t know with what application that unusual mouse pointer is. It happened when I left my computer for a few hours and came back and clicked my mouse to wake up my screen.
The problem has occurred only twice. When it happened, I just logout using keyboard and then login. I don’t know how to reproduce it.
It moves the whole window when you hold e.g. the super key and click a titlebar to drag it, or e.g. the selection in GIMP but with a smaller version next to the crosshair.
Maybe pressing ESC will clear it and return the normal pointer?
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You didn’t mention your OS, but Plasma has a keystroke that will toggle thru the various open apps, Alt-Tab. Also HTOP from the terminal will show what is using resources.
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Also in Plasma, pressing F12 should give you the Yakuake drop-down Terminal, assuming it’s installed (I think it is, by default, or at least was).
Blind shoot in the air: Don’t press the mouse button to wake up, instead just move your mouse.
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I guess by OS you mean desktop environment, I am using Xfce 4.18 which also has Alt-Tab. I didn’t find which app caused the problem using Alt-Tab. Next time, I will try HTOP.
The mouse pointer becomes a circle of four triangles when the right-click button is held down.
This is a context menu indicator in some systems.
Release the right-click button to restore the normal arrow pointer.
If the issue persists, check for stuck keys or mouse button issues.
if you need more help you can ask me freely