diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/components/apps/components/inputs/AppMultiSelect.svelte b/frontend/src/lib/components/apps/components/inputs/AppMultiSelect.svelte
index 7b75d6391e..f6686b9a9b 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/components/apps/components/inputs/AppMultiSelect.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/components/apps/components/inputs/AppMultiSelect.svelte
@@ -60,11 +60,11 @@
 		}
 	}
 
-	$: resolvedConfig.defaultItems && handleDefaultItems()
+	$: resolvedConfig.defaultValues && handleDefaultValues()
 
-	function handleDefaultItems() {
-		if (Array.isArray(resolvedConfig.defaultItems)) {
-			const nvalue = resolvedConfig.defaultItems?.map((label) => {
+	function handleDefaultValues() {
+		if (Array.isArray(resolvedConfig.defaultValues)) {
+			const nvalue = resolvedConfig.defaultValues?.map((label) => {
 				return typeof label === 'string' ? label : `NOT_STRING`
 			})
 			value = [...new Set(nvalue)]
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/components/apps/components/inputs/AppMultiSelectV2.svelte b/frontend/src/lib/components/apps/components/inputs/AppMultiSelectV2.svelte
index 9f75764e29..e5c99d4996 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/components/apps/components/inputs/AppMultiSelectV2.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/components/apps/components/inputs/AppMultiSelectV2.svelte
@@ -16,7 +16,8 @@
 	import { offset, flip, shift } from 'svelte-floating-ui/dom'
 	import ResolveStyle from '../helpers/ResolveStyle.svelte'
 	import MultiSelect from '$lib/components/multiselect/MultiSelect.svelte'
-	import { isObjectOptionArray, isStringArray, type ObjectOption } from '../../../multiselect/types'
+	import type { ObjectOption } from '../../../multiselect/types'
+	import { parseConfigOptions } from './utils'
 
 	export let configuration: RichConfigurations
 	export let customCss: ComponentCustomCSS<'multiselectcomponent'> | undefined = undefined
@@ -56,7 +57,9 @@
 		}
 	}
 
-	$: resolvedConfig.defaultItems && parseDefaultItems()
+	$: if (resolvedConfig.defaultValues) {
+		selectOptionsByValue(resolvedConfig.defaultValues)
+	}
 
 	$: outerDiv &&
 		portalRef &&
@@ -75,65 +78,14 @@
 	}
 
 	function selectOptionsByValue(values: any[]) {
+		if (!Array.isArray(values)) {
+			outputs?.result.set([])
+		}
+
 		selectedOptions = findOptionsByValue(values)
 		outputs?.result.set([...(selectedOptions.map((option) => option.value) ?? [])])
 	}
 
-	function parseConfigOptions(resolvedConfigItems) {
-		if (!resolvedConfigItems) {
-			return []
-		}
-		if (isObjectOptionArray(resolvedConfigItems)) {
-			return parseLabeledItems(resolvedConfigItems)
-		} else if (isStringArray(resolvedConfigItems)) {
-			return parseStringItems(resolvedConfigItems)
-		}
-		return []
-	}
-
-	function parseLabeledItems(resolvedConfigItems: ObjectOption[]) {
-		return resolvedConfigItems?.map((item: ObjectOption) => {
-			if (!item || typeof item !== 'object') {
-				console.error(
-					'When labeled, MultiSelect component items should be an array of { label: string, value: string }.'
-				)
-				return {
-					label: 'not object',
-					value: 'not object'
-				}
-			}
-			return {
-				label: item?.label ?? 'undefined',
-				value:
-					typeof item?.value === 'object' ? JSON.stringify(item.value) : item?.value ?? 'undefined'
-			}
-		})
-	}
-
-	function parseStringItems(resolvedConfigItems: any[]): ObjectOption[] {
-		return resolvedConfigItems?.map((option: string) => {
-			if (option === null || option === undefined || typeof option !== 'string') {
-				console.error(
-					'When not labeled, MultiSelect component items should be an array of strings.'
-				)
-				return { label: 'not string', value: 'not string' }
-			}
-			if (option === '') {
-				return { label: 'empty string', value: 'empty string' }
-			}
-			return { label: option, value: option }
-		})
-	}
-
-	function parseDefaultItems() {
-		if (!Array.isArray(resolvedConfig.defaultItems)) {
-			outputs?.result.set([])
-			return
-		}
-
-		selectOptionsByValue(resolvedConfig.defaultItems)
-	}
-
 	function setOuterDivStyle(outerDiv: HTMLDivElement, portalRef: HTMLDivElement, style: string) {
 		outerDiv.setAttribute('style', style)
 		// find ul in portalRef and set style
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/components/apps/components/inputs/AppSelect.svelte b/frontend/src/lib/components/apps/components/inputs/AppSelect.svelte
index ce3a551131..5e953e7637 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/components/apps/components/inputs/AppSelect.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/components/apps/components/inputs/AppSelect.svelte
@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@
 	import Popover from '$lib/components/Popover.svelte'
 	import ResolveStyle from '../helpers/ResolveStyle.svelte'
 	import type { ObjectOption } from '$lib/components/multiselect/types'
+	import { parseConfigOptions } from './utils'
 
 	export let id: string
 	export let configuration: RichConfigurations
@@ -42,8 +43,8 @@
 	} = getContext<AppViewerContext>('AppViewerContext')
 
 	$componentControl[id] = {
-		setValue(nvalue: string) {
-			setValue(JSON.stringify(nvalue))
+		setValue(newValue: any) {
+			setValue(newValue)
 		}
 	}
 	if (controls) {
@@ -60,13 +61,12 @@
 	})
 
 	// The library expects double quotes around the value
-	let value: string | undefined = noDefault
-		? undefined
-		: outputs?.result.peak()
-		? JSON.stringify(outputs?.result.peak())
-		: undefined
+	let selectedValue: string | undefined
 
-	$: resolvedConfig.items && handleItems()
+	$: if (resolvedConfig.items) {
+		options = parseConfigOptions(resolvedConfig.items)
+		updateSelectedValue()
+	}
 
 	$: resolvedConfig.defaultValue != undefined && handleDefault()
 	let filterText = ''
@@ -74,35 +74,20 @@
 
 	let previsousFilter = ''
 
-	function handleItems() {
-		options = Array.isArray(resolvedConfig.items)
-			? resolvedConfig.items.map((item) => {
-					if (!item || typeof item !== 'object') {
-						console.error('Select component items should be an array of objects')
-						return {
-							label: 'not object',
-							value: 'not object'
-						}
-					}
-					return {
-						label: item?.label ?? 'undefined',
-						value: item?.value != undefined ? JSON.stringify(item.value) : 'undefined'
-					}
-			  })
-			: []
-
-		if (value != undefined && options.some((x) => x.value === value)) {
+	function updateSelectedValue() {
+		if (selectedValue != undefined && options.some((x) => x.value === selectedValue)) {
 			return
 		}
-		let rawValue
+		let newValue: string | undefined
 		if (resolvedConfig.defaultValue !== undefined) {
-			rawValue = resolvedConfig.defaultValue
+			newValue = resolvedConfig.defaultValue
 		} else if (options.length > 0 && resolvedConfig?.preselectFirst) {
-			rawValue = resolvedConfig.items[0].value
+			newValue = resolvedConfig.items[0].value
 		}
-		if (rawValue !== undefined && rawValue !== null) {
-			value = JSON.stringify(rawValue)
-			outputs?.result.set(rawValue)
+
+		if (newValue !== undefined && newValue !== null) {
+			selectedValue = newValue
+			outputs?.result.set(newValue)
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -128,13 +113,9 @@
 		setValue(value)
 	}
 
-	function setValue(nvalue: any) {
-		let result: any = undefined
-		try {
-			result = JSON.parse(nvalue)
-		} catch (_) {}
-		value = nvalue
-		outputs?.result.set(result)
+	function setValue(newValue: any) {
+		selectedValue = newValue
+		outputs?.result.set(newValue)
 
 		if (recomputeIds) {
 			recomputeIds.forEach((id) => $runnableComponents?.[id]?.cb?.forEach((f) => f()))
@@ -142,11 +123,11 @@
 	}
 
 	function onClear() {
-		value = undefined
+		selectedValue = undefined
 		outputs?.result.set(undefined, true)
 	}
 
-	function handleFilter(e) {
+	function handleFilter() {
 		if (resolvedConfig.create && filterText !== previsousFilter) {
 			previsousFilter = filterText
 			if (filterText.length > 0) {
@@ -156,21 +137,18 @@
 					(item) => item.label.toString().toLowerCase() === filterText.toLowerCase()
 				)
 				if (!exists) {
-					options = [
-						...prev,
-						{ value: JSON.stringify(filterText), label: filterText, created: true }
-					]
+					options = [...prev, { value: filterText, label: filterText, created: true }]
 				}
 			}
 		}
 	}
 
 	function handleDefault() {
-		if (resolvedConfig.defaultValue != undefined) {
-			const nvalue = resolvedConfig.defaultValue
-			value = JSON.stringify(nvalue)
-			outputs?.result.set(nvalue)
+		if (!!noDefault || resolvedConfig.defaultValue !== undefined) {
+			return
 		}
+		selectedValue = resolvedConfig.defaultValue
+		outputs?.result.set(resolvedConfig.defaultValue)
 	}
 </script>
 
@@ -215,7 +193,7 @@
 						<option value="" disabled selected>{resolvedConfig.placeholder}</option>
 					{/if}
 					{#each options as item (item.value)}
-						<option value={item.value} selected={item.value === value}>{item.label}</option>
+						<option value={item.value} selected={item.value === selectedValue}>{item.label}</option>
 					{/each}
 				</select>
 			{:else}
@@ -234,7 +212,7 @@
 					containerStyles={($darkMode
 						? SELECT_INPUT_DEFAULT_STYLE.containerStylesDark
 						: SELECT_INPUT_DEFAULT_STYLE.containerStyles) + css?.input?.style}
-					{value}
+					value={selectedValue}
 					class={css?.input?.class}
 					placeholder={resolvedConfig.placeholder}
 					disabled={resolvedConfig.disabled}
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/components/apps/components/inputs/utils.ts b/frontend/src/lib/components/apps/components/inputs/utils.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..5dc84dc088
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/components/apps/components/inputs/utils.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+import {
+	type ObjectOption,
+	isObjectOptionArray,
+	isStringArray
+} from '$lib/components/multiselect/types'
+import type { StaticAppInput } from '../../inputType'
+
+export function parseConfigOptions(resolvedConfigItems: StaticAppInput) {
+	if (!resolvedConfigItems) {
+		return []
+	}
+	if (isObjectOptionArray(resolvedConfigItems)) {
+		return parseLabeledItems(resolvedConfigItems)
+	} else if (isStringArray(resolvedConfigItems)) {
+		return parseStringItems(resolvedConfigItems)
+	}
+	return []
+}
+export function parseLabeledItems(resolvedConfigItems: ObjectOption[]) {
+	return resolvedConfigItems?.map((item: ObjectOption) => {
+		if (!item || typeof item !== 'object') {
+			console.error(
+				'When labeled, MultiSelect component items should be an array of { label: string, value: string }.'
+			)
+			return {
+				label: 'not object',
+				value: 'not object'
+			}
+		}
+		return {
+			label: item?.label ?? 'undefined',
+			value:
+				typeof item?.value === 'object' ? JSON.stringify(item.value) : item?.value ?? 'undefined'
+		}
+	})
+}
+export function parseStringItems(resolvedConfigItems: string[]): ObjectOption[] {
+	return resolvedConfigItems?.map((option: string) => {
+		if (option === null || option === undefined || typeof option !== 'string') {
+			console.error('When not labeled, MultiSelect component items should be an array of strings.')
+			return { label: 'not string', value: 'not string' }
+		}
+		if (option === '') {
+			return { label: 'empty string', value: 'empty string' }
+		}
+		return { label: option, value: option }
+	})
+}
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/components/apps/editor/component/components.ts b/frontend/src/lib/components/apps/editor/component/components.ts
index 6ce8fb9f05..3ac23aad6c 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/components/apps/editor/component/components.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/components/apps/editor/component/components.ts
@@ -2079,7 +2079,8 @@ This is a paragraph.
 					value: [
 						{ value: 'foo', label: 'Foo' },
 						{ value: 'bar', label: 'Bar' }
-					]
+					],
+					hasLabeledMode: true
 				} as StaticAppInput,
 				create: {
 					type: 'static',
@@ -2150,7 +2151,7 @@ This is a paragraph.
 					subFieldType: 'text',
 					value: ['Foo', 'Bar']
 				} as StaticAppInput,
-				defaultItems: {
+				defaultValues: {
 					type: 'static',
 					fieldType: 'array',
 					subFieldType: 'text',
@@ -2203,7 +2204,7 @@ This is a paragraph.
 					value: ['Foo', 'Bar'],
 					hasLabeledMode: true
 				} as StaticAppInput,
-				defaultItems: {
+				defaultValues: {
 					type: 'static',
 					fieldType: 'array',
 					subFieldType: 'simplestringselect',
diff --git a/frontend/src/lib/components/apps/editor/settingsPanel/ArrayStaticInputEditor.svelte b/frontend/src/lib/components/apps/editor/settingsPanel/ArrayStaticInputEditor.svelte
index 29bd8f9e5d..3bd716c881 100644
--- a/frontend/src/lib/components/apps/editor/settingsPanel/ArrayStaticInputEditor.svelte
+++ b/frontend/src/lib/components/apps/editor/settingsPanel/ArrayStaticInputEditor.svelte
@@ -232,7 +232,7 @@
 		dispatch('componentInputChange', newComponentInput)
 	}
 
-	/** Transforms items string[] to ObjectOption[ and vice versa. Mutating items will fire handleItemsChange. */
+	/** Transforms items string[] to ObjectOption] and vice versa. Mutating items will fire handleItemsChange. */
 	function handleLabeledChange() {
 		if (labeled && isStringArray(items.map((item) => item.value))) {
 			for (let i = 0; i < items.length; i++) {