Audio Keeps Switching Rapidly Between HDMI/Speakers

[MJWC]

We seem to have noticed a very strange issue with laptops recently, i will explain as best as i can and hopefully someone may have a solution:

 

Whenever we plug in an external display into the HDMI port, the connection is made, and the external display displays like normal, this never changes.

BUT, on the Windows 10 OS, where you see what your Audio Output source is, it will rapidly switch between Speakers (of the laptop) and the HDMI output (the external display is a smartboard, which has speakers).

Any tips or tricks we can try to resolve this?

[BGlanders]

I wonder if its a damaged hdmi port or cable? Might be the first thing to check. Try another cable on same board.. another laptop on the same board\cable combo.

 

A quick workaround might be to right click the speaker item in bottom right and choose sounds. On the playback tab disable the audio hardware you don't want to use and see if you still have intermittant audio?

[MJWC]

I wonder if its a damaged hdmi port or cable? Might be the first thing to check. Try another cable on same board.. another laptop on the same board\cable combo.

 

A quick workaround might be to right click the speaker item in bottom right and choose sounds. On the playback tab disable the audio hardware you don't want to use and see if you still have intermittant audio?

 

This seems to happen with a variety of our laptops, so we are certain it is not the HDMI ports, the cables have indeed also been replaced as a double check, it feels more a software issue, the display never has an issue, as in it stays on, no cut outs nothing, it is purely the audio side, where of course it will be jumping as the computer switches rapidly between Speakers and the HDMI output, almost as if it is detecting it over and over.

[BGlanders]

Are they all the same brand/model of laptop? Does it make a difference if on mains power or battery?

 

I'd probably remove any sound software apart from the basic driver and see if it still happens. Maybe even remove the driver and see if windows update gets a different one.

[chazzy2501]

if the laptops are using intel graphics and thus intel hdmi audio get the latest driver version from intel's website and install it. make sure it says intel audio in the device manager.

 

we don't have your issue but some projectors refuse to output sound and this fixes it. (projectors previously worked, just one day they're like... nah)

 

use the intel website one NOT the automatic driver downloaded one.