Headphones mode disconnects when navigating away

I use the private listening every day for years with no problem, recently as I'm watching something on my tcl roku tv connected to iPhone 16 pro max through my airpods, if I use my phone to check weather or open any app the audio disconnects every time. I've tried resetting router, the tv, deleted app and nothing fixes the problem. It's been going on for 6 months, even when I had the iPhone 14 pro max. I thought a new phone might solve the problem but it didn't. Anyone else have this issue?