TV keeps switching from optical to TV speakers

[TaterSalad333]

I have a Samsung QN65Q6OTAFXZA that I’ve had for about a year, bought brand new. Just a month or so ago the tv auto switches the sound output randomly from optical to tv speakers and I have no idea why. 
I even replaced the soundbar but no fix 

[antikythera]

Maybe the cable is damaged then can you try a different one?

[Ginga_p]

Is the tv set to output optical rather than tv speakers in sound settings

[Becky900]

I have been experiencing the same issue in just the last month although my tv was purchased in 2019. Prior to this no problems. Has Samsung reached out with a solution?

[shaunpc999]

I have an AU8000. The TV audio output keeps randomly switching to TV Speaker regardless of whether I have it set to optical or HDMI output. I have disabled HDMI-CEC and anything else I can think of. After reading the forums it has become apparent that Samsung does not have a fix for this and can't be bothered to find one. I do not think my next TV will be a Samsung.

[JayNava]

Same problem with a Sonos Arc sound bar that used to work with no issue until a few months ago. WTF Samsung?!?!

[Dang Dawng]

This is for a Samsung QN65Q80 connected to a Denon receiver.  I had the sound going through a non-ARC port HDMI cable and everything worked fine. Then it started switching to TV speakers, and when I changed it back to HDMI under sound settings, it would automatically switch itself back to TV speakers after 10 sec. Super annoying!

After trial-and-error, what worked was going to settings>external device manager,  then turning off Anynet+. HDMI was not available under sound settings, so I used the optical output (I already had the cable hooked up). So that works without the audio volume on the screen. 

[Des154]

I have a QE50Q60AA connected to a HW-F551 sound bar. Until a couple of days ago all worked well then suddenly the sound switches between TV speaker and HDMI Receiver every few seconds. I did notice a brief message about a software update at about the same time. Anyone know what is going on?