diff --git a/lumen/filters/base.py b/lumen/filters/base.py
index 535739f10..7889e8407 100644
--- a/lumen/filters/base.py
+++ b/lumen/filters/base.py
@@ -63,6 +63,9 @@ class Filter(MultiTypeComponent):
 
     def __init__(self, **params):
         super().__init__(**params)
+        self._setup_sync()
+
+    def _setup_sync(self):
         if self._sync_with_url:
             pn.state.location.sync(self, {'value': self.field}, on_error=self._url_sync_error)
 
@@ -241,6 +244,14 @@ class BaseWidgetFilter(Filter):
 
     __abstract = True
 
+    def __init__(self, **params):
+        self.widget = None
+        super().__init__(**params)
+
+    def _setup_sync(self):
+        if self._sync_with_url and self.widget is not None:
+            pn.state.location.sync(self.widget, {'value': self.field}, on_error=self._url_sync_error)
+
     def _url_sync_error(self, values):
         value = values['value']
         if value is self.widget.value:
@@ -323,6 +334,7 @@ def __init__(self, **params):
             self.widget.value = val
         elif self.default is not None:
             self.widget.value = self.default
+        self._setup_sync()
 
     @classmethod
     def _validate_widget(cls, widget: str, spec: Dict[str, Any], context: Dict[str, Any]) -> str:
@@ -407,6 +419,7 @@ def __init__(self, **params):
             value = tuple(self.default)
         self.widget = widget(name=self.label, options=options, value=value)
         self.widget.link(self, value='value', visible='visible', disabled='disabled', bidirectional=True)
+        self._setup_sync()
 
     @property
     def query(self) -> Any:
@@ -443,6 +456,7 @@ def __init__(self, **params):
             self.param.set_param(**param_overrides)
         self.widget = widget_type(**self._widget_kwargs(as_date=self._as_date))
         self.widget.link(self, value='value', visible='visible', disabled='disabled', bidirectional=True)
+        self._setup_sync()
 
     def _widget_kwargs(self, as_date: bool) -> Dict[str, Any]:
         field_schema = self.schema.get(self.field, {})
diff --git a/lumen/tests/test_dashboard.py b/lumen/tests/test_dashboard.py
index 29bec53ef..bd59ed050 100644
--- a/lumen/tests/test_dashboard.py
+++ b/lumen/tests/test_dashboard.py
@@ -82,11 +82,11 @@ def test_dashboard_with_url_sync_filters(set_root, document):
     layout = dashboard.layouts[0]
     f1, f2 = list(layout._pipelines.values())[0].filters
     f1.value = (0.1, 0.7)
-    assert pn.state.location.search == '?A=%5B0.1%2C+0.7%5D'
+    assert pn.state.location.query_params == {'A': [0.1, 0.7], 'C': []}
     pn.state.location.search = '?A=%5B0.3%2C+0.8%5D'
     assert f1.value == (0.3, 0.8)
     f2.value = ['foo1', 'foo2']
-    assert pn.state.location.search == '?A=%5B0.3%2C+0.8%5D&C=%5B%22foo1%22%2C+%22foo2%22%5D'
+    assert pn.state.location.query_params == {'A': [0.3, 0.8], 'C': ['foo1', 'foo2']}
     pn.state.location.search = '?A=%5B0.3%2C+0.8%5D&C=%5B%22foo1%22%2C+%22foo2%22%2C+%22foo3%22%5D'
     assert f2.value == ['foo1', 'foo2', 'foo3']
 
@@ -98,14 +98,14 @@ def test_dashboard_with_url_sync_filters_with_default(set_root, document):
     layout = dashboard.layouts[0]
     f1, f2 = list(layout._pipelines.values())[0].filters
     f1.value = (0.1, 0.7)
-    assert pn.state.location.search == '?C=%5B%27foo1%27%5D&A=%5B0.1%2C+0.7%5D'
+    assert pn.state.location.query_params == {'C': ['foo1'], 'A': [0.1, 0.7]}
     pn.state.location.search = '?A=%5B0.3%2C+0.8%5D'
     assert f1.value == (0.3, 0.8)
     assert f2.value == ['foo1']
     assert f1.widget.value == (0.3, 0.8)
     assert f2.widget.value == ['foo1']
     f2.value = ['foo1', 'foo2']
-    assert pn.state.location.search == '?A=%5B0.3%2C+0.8%5D&C=%5B%22foo1%22%2C+%22foo2%22%5D'
+    assert pn.state.location.query_params == {'C': ['foo1', 'foo2'], 'A': [0.3, 0.8]}
     pn.state.location.search = '?A=%5B0.3%2C+0.8%5D&C=%5B%22foo1%22%2C+%22foo2%22%2C+%22foo3%22%5D'
     assert f2.value == ['foo1', 'foo2', 'foo3']
     assert f2.widget.value == ['foo1', 'foo2', 'foo3']
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ def test_dashboard_with_url_sync_filters_with_overwritten_default(set_root, docu
     f1, f2 = list(layout._pipelines.values())[0].filters
     f1.value = (0.1, 0.7)
     f2.value = []  # overwriting default with empty list
-    assert pn.state.location.search == '?C=%5B%5D&A=%5B0.1%2C+0.7%5D'
+    assert pn.state.location.query_params == {'C': [], 'A': [0.1, 0.7]}
     assert f2.widget.value == []
 
 @sql_available