Apple TV 4K Phillips smart tv with easy link Denon 800h. Can’t make HDMI ARC work👹

Hello I have Apple TV 4K Phillips smart tv with easy link and Denon 800h receiver All hdmi are on yet none will turn on/off with one remote, volume control works with both the Apple and Denon rc. In the Apple screen Home theatre is OFF and will not change IVE tried unplugging restarting arrrggghhh so frustrating especially as ppl had this problem three years ago. I ran my tv sound with a cheap pioneer amp via headphone out but got frustrated having no volume control (and skyways leaving it on) so decided to upgrade only to find I’m now using THREE different rc’s to turn the system on/off as since connecting Apple TV to the receiver it no longer links to the tv,

would it be better to connect the Apple TV directly to the tv and the receiver to the tv separately.

The denon was a wild splurge for me due to Covid but I’m really regretting it at present (‘sept for extras like FM Radio and Spotify which are nice 😊)

any positive advice very welcome