diff --git a/plugins/search/src/components/SearchFilter/SearchFilter.Autocomplete.test.tsx b/plugins/search/src/components/SearchFilter/SearchFilter.Autocomplete.test.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..7a8bfe2624
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/search/src/components/SearchFilter/SearchFilter.Autocomplete.test.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,365 @@
+/*
+ * Copyright 2021 The Backstage Authors
+ *
+ * Licensed under the Apache License, Version 2.0 (the "License");
+ * you may not use this file except in compliance with the License.
+ * You may obtain a copy of the License at
+ *
+ *     http://www.apache.org/licenses/LICENSE-2.0
+ *
+ * Unless required by applicable law or agreed to in writing, software
+ * distributed under the License is distributed on an "AS IS" BASIS,
+ * WITHOUT WARRANTIES OR CONDITIONS OF ANY KIND, either express or implied.
+ * See the License for the specific language governing permissions and
+ * limitations under the License.
+ */
+
+import { ApiProvider } from '@backstage/core-app-api';
+import { TestApiRegistry } from '@backstage/test-utils';
+import { screen, render, waitFor, within } from '@testing-library/react';
+import userEvent from '@testing-library/user-event';
+import React from 'react';
+import { searchApiRef } from '../../apis';
+import { SearchContextProvider, useSearch } from '../SearchContext';
+import { SearchFilter } from './SearchFilter';
+
+const SearchContextFilterSpy = ({ name }: { name: string }) => {
+  const { filters } = useSearch();
+  const value = filters[name];
+  return (
+    <span data-testid={`${name}-filter-spy`}>
+      {Array.isArray(value) ? value.join(',') : value}
+    </span>
+  );
+};
+
+describe('SearchFilter.Autocomplete', () => {
+  const query = jest.fn().mockResolvedValue({});
+  const mockApis = TestApiRegistry.from([searchApiRef, { query }]);
+  const emptySearchContext = {
+    term: '',
+    types: [],
+    filters: {},
+  };
+
+  const name = 'field';
+  const values = ['value1', 'value2'];
+
+  it('renders as expected', async () => {
+    render(
+      <ApiProvider apis={mockApis}>
+        <SearchContextProvider>
+          <SearchFilter.Autocomplete name={name} values={values} />
+        </SearchContextProvider>
+      </ApiProvider>,
+    );
+
+    const autocomplete = screen.getByRole('combobox');
+    const input = within(autocomplete).getByRole('textbox');
+    userEvent.click(input);
+
+    await waitFor(() => {
+      screen.getByRole('listbox');
+    });
+
+    expect(screen.getByRole('option', { name: values[0] })).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.getByRole('option', { name: values[1] })).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
+  it('renders as expected with async values', async () => {
+    render(
+      <ApiProvider apis={mockApis}>
+        <SearchContextProvider>
+          <SearchFilter.Autocomplete
+            name={name}
+            asyncValues={async () => values}
+          />
+        </SearchContextProvider>
+      </ApiProvider>,
+    );
+
+    const autocomplete = screen.getByRole('combobox');
+    const input = within(autocomplete).getByRole('textbox');
+    userEvent.click(input);
+
+    await waitFor(() => {
+      screen.getByRole('listbox');
+    });
+
+    expect(screen.getByRole('option', { name: values[0] })).toBeInTheDocument();
+    expect(screen.getByRole('option', { name: values[1] })).toBeInTheDocument();
+  });
+
+  it('does not affect unrelated filter state', async () => {
+    render(
+      <ApiProvider apis={mockApis}>
+        <SearchContextProvider
+          initialState={{
+            ...emptySearchContext,
+            ...{ filters: { unrelated: 'value' } },
+          }}
+        >
+          <SearchFilter.Autocomplete name={name} values={values} />
+          <SearchContextFilterSpy name={name} />
+          <SearchContextFilterSpy name="unrelated" />
+        </SearchContextProvider>
+      </ApiProvider>,
+    );
+
+    // The spy should show the initial value.
+    expect(screen.getByTestId('unrelated-filter-spy')).toHaveTextContent(
+      'value',
+    );
+
+    // Select a value from the autocomplete filter.
+    const autocomplete = screen.getByRole('combobox');
+    const input = within(autocomplete).getByRole('textbox');
+    userEvent.click(input);
+    await waitFor(() => {
+      screen.getByRole('listbox');
+    });
+    userEvent.click(screen.getByRole('option', { name: values[1] }));
+
+    // Wait for the autocomplete filter's value to change.
+    await waitFor(() => {
+      expect(screen.getByTestId(`${name}-filter-spy`)).toHaveTextContent(
+        values[1],
+      );
+    });
+
+    // Unrelated filter spy should maintain the same value.
+    expect(screen.getByTestId('unrelated-filter-spy')).toHaveTextContent(
+      'value',
+    );
+  });
+
+  describe('single', () => {
+    it('renders as expected with defaultValue', async () => {
+      render(
+        <ApiProvider apis={mockApis}>
+          <SearchContextProvider>
+            <SearchFilter.Autocomplete
+              name={name}
+              values={values}
+              defaultValue={values[1]}
+            />
+            <SearchContextFilterSpy name={name} />
+          </SearchContextProvider>
+        </ApiProvider>,
+      );
+
+      const autocomplete = screen.getByRole('combobox');
+      const input = within(autocomplete).getByRole('textbox');
+
+      await waitFor(() => {
+        expect(input).toHaveValue(values[1]);
+        expect(screen.getByTestId(`${name}-filter-spy`)).toHaveTextContent(
+          values[1],
+        );
+      });
+    });
+
+    it('renders as expected with initial context', async () => {
+      render(
+        <ApiProvider apis={mockApis}>
+          <SearchContextProvider
+            initialState={{
+              ...emptySearchContext,
+              ...{ filters: { [name]: values[0] } },
+            }}
+          >
+            <SearchFilter.Autocomplete name={name} values={values} />
+            <SearchContextFilterSpy name={name} />
+          </SearchContextProvider>
+        </ApiProvider>,
+      );
+
+      const autocomplete = screen.getByRole('combobox');
+      const input = within(autocomplete).getByRole('textbox');
+
+      await waitFor(() => {
+        expect(input).toHaveValue(values[0]);
+        expect(screen.getByTestId(`${name}-filter-spy`)).toHaveTextContent(
+          values[0],
+        );
+      });
+    });
+
+    it('sets filter state when selecting a value', async () => {
+      render(
+        <ApiProvider apis={mockApis}>
+          <SearchContextProvider>
+            <SearchFilter.Autocomplete name={name} values={values} />
+            <SearchContextFilterSpy name={name} />
+          </SearchContextProvider>
+        </ApiProvider>,
+      );
+
+      // Select the first option in the autocomplete.
+      const autocomplete = screen.getByRole('combobox');
+      const input = within(autocomplete).getByRole('textbox');
+      userEvent.click(input);
+      await waitFor(() => {
+        screen.getByRole('listbox');
+      });
+      userEvent.click(screen.getByRole('option', { name: values[0] }));
+
+      // The value should be present in the context.
+      await waitFor(() => {
+        expect(screen.getByTestId(`${name}-filter-spy`)).toHaveTextContent(
+          values[0],
+        );
+      });
+
+      // Click the "Clear" button to remove the value.
+      const clearButton = within(autocomplete).getByLabelText('Clear');
+      userEvent.click(clearButton);
+
+      // That value should have been unset from the context.
+      await waitFor(() => {
+        expect(screen.getByTestId(`${name}-filter-spy`)).toHaveTextContent('');
+      });
+    });
+  });
+
+  describe('multiple', () => {
+    it('renders as expected with defaultValue', async () => {
+      render(
+        <ApiProvider apis={mockApis}>
+          <SearchContextProvider>
+            <SearchFilter.Autocomplete
+              multiple
+              name={name}
+              values={values}
+              defaultValue={values}
+            />
+            <SearchContextFilterSpy name={name} />
+          </SearchContextProvider>
+        </ApiProvider>,
+      );
+
+      await waitFor(() => {
+        expect(screen.getByText(values[0])).toBeInTheDocument();
+        expect(screen.getByText(values[1])).toBeInTheDocument();
+        expect(screen.getByTestId(`${name}-filter-spy`)).toHaveTextContent(
+          values.join(','),
+        );
+      });
+    });
+
+    it('renders as expected with initial context', async () => {
+      render(
+        <ApiProvider apis={mockApis}>
+          <SearchContextProvider
+            initialState={{
+              ...emptySearchContext,
+              ...{ filters: { [name]: values } },
+            }}
+          >
+            <SearchFilter.Autocomplete multiple name={name} values={values} />
+            <SearchContextFilterSpy name={name} />
+          </SearchContextProvider>
+        </ApiProvider>,
+      );
+
+      await waitFor(() => {
+        expect(screen.getByText(values[0])).toBeInTheDocument();
+        expect(screen.getByText(values[1])).toBeInTheDocument();
+        expect(screen.getByTestId(`${name}-filter-spy`)).toHaveTextContent(
+          values.join(','),
+        );
+      });
+    });
+
+    it('respects tag limit configuration', async () => {
+      render(
+        <ApiProvider apis={mockApis}>
+          <SearchContextProvider>
+            <SearchFilter.Autocomplete
+              multiple
+              limitTags={1}
+              name={name}
+              values={values}
+            />
+          </SearchContextProvider>
+        </ApiProvider>,
+      );
+
+      const autocomplete = screen.getByRole('combobox');
+      const input = within(autocomplete).getByRole('textbox');
+
+      // Select the second value.
+      userEvent.click(input);
+      await waitFor(() => {
+        screen.getByRole('listbox');
+      });
+      userEvent.click(screen.getByRole('option', { name: values[1] }));
+      await waitFor(() => {
+        expect(
+          screen.getByRole('button', { name: values[1] }),
+        ).toBeInTheDocument();
+      });
+
+      // Select the first value.
+      userEvent.click(input);
+      await waitFor(() => {
+        screen.getByRole('listbox');
+      });
+      userEvent.click(screen.getByRole('option', { name: values[0] }));
+      await waitFor(() => {
+        expect(
+          screen.getByRole('button', { name: values[0] }),
+        ).toBeInTheDocument();
+      });
+
+      // Blur the field and only one tag should be shown with a +1.
+      input.blur();
+      expect(
+        screen.queryByRole('button', { name: values[0] }),
+      ).not.toBeInTheDocument();
+      expect(screen.getByText('+1')).toBeInTheDocument();
+    });
+
+    it('sets filter state when selecting a value', async () => {
+      render(
+        <ApiProvider apis={mockApis}>
+          <SearchContextProvider>
+            <SearchFilter.Autocomplete multiple name={name} values={values} />
+            <SearchContextFilterSpy name={name} />
+          </SearchContextProvider>
+        </ApiProvider>,
+      );
+
+      const autocomplete = screen.getByRole('combobox');
+
+      // Select both values in the autocomplete.
+      const input = within(autocomplete).getByRole('textbox');
+      userEvent.click(input);
+      await waitFor(() => {
+        screen.getByRole('listbox');
+      });
+      userEvent.click(screen.getByRole('option', { name: values[0] }));
+      userEvent.click(input);
+      await waitFor(() => {
+        screen.getByRole('listbox');
+      });
+      userEvent.click(screen.getByRole('option', { name: values[1] }));
+
+      // Both options should be present in the context.
+      await waitFor(() => {
+        expect(screen.getByTestId(`${name}-filter-spy`)).toHaveTextContent(
+          values.join(','),
+        );
+      });
+
+      // Click the "Clear" button to remove the value.
+      const clearButton = within(autocomplete).getByLabelText('Clear');
+      userEvent.click(clearButton);
+
+      // There should be no content in the filter context.
+      await waitFor(() => {
+        expect(screen.getByTestId(`${name}-filter-spy`)).toHaveTextContent('');
+      });
+    });
+  });
+});
diff --git a/plugins/search/src/components/SearchFilter/SearchFilter.Autocomplete.tsx b/plugins/search/src/components/SearchFilter/SearchFilter.Autocomplete.tsx
index e8e62b1929..bf0745864b 100644
--- a/plugins/search/src/components/SearchFilter/SearchFilter.Autocomplete.tsx
+++ b/plugins/search/src/components/SearchFilter/SearchFilter.Autocomplete.tsx
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
  * limitations under the License.
  */
 
-import React, { ChangeEvent, useState } from 'react';
+import React, { ChangeEvent, useEffect, useState } from 'react';
 import { Chip, TextField } from '@material-ui/core';
 import {
   Autocomplete,
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ export const AutocompleteFilter = (props: SearchAutocompleteFilterProps) => {
     asyncValues,
     asyncDebounce,
     className,
+    defaultValue,
     multiple,
     name,
     values: givenValues,
@@ -51,7 +52,23 @@ export const AutocompleteFilter = (props: SearchAutocompleteFilterProps) => {
     givenValues,
     asyncDebounce,
   );
-  const { setFilters } = useSearch();
+  const { filters, setFilters } = useSearch();
+  const filterValue =
+    (filters[name] as string | string[] | undefined) || (multiple ? [] : null);
+
+  useEffect(() => {
+    const defaultIsEmpty = !defaultValue;
+    const defaultIsEmptyArray =
+      Array.isArray(defaultValue) && defaultValue.length === 0;
+
+    if (!defaultIsEmpty && !defaultIsEmptyArray) {
+      setFilters(prevFilters => ({
+        ...prevFilters,
+        [name]: defaultValue,
+      }));
+    }
+    // eslint-disable-next-line react-hooks/exhaustive-deps
+  }, []);
 
   // Set new filter values on input change.
   const handleChange = (
@@ -92,10 +109,11 @@ export const AutocompleteFilter = (props: SearchAutocompleteFilterProps) => {
     <Autocomplete
       multiple={multiple}
       className={className}
-      id={`${multiple ?? 'multi-'}select-filter-${name}--select`}
+      id={`${multiple ? 'multi-' : ''}select-filter-${name}--select`}
       options={values || []}
       loading={loading}
       limitTags={limitTags}
+      value={filterValue}
       onChange={handleChange}
       onInputChange={(_, newValue) => setInputValue(newValue)}
       renderInput={renderInput}
diff --git a/plugins/search/src/components/SearchFilter/SearchFilter.test.tsx b/plugins/search/src/components/SearchFilter/SearchFilter.test.tsx
index 8f716caf4b..aa1b7e5e88 100644
--- a/plugins/search/src/components/SearchFilter/SearchFilter.test.tsx
+++ b/plugins/search/src/components/SearchFilter/SearchFilter.test.tsx
@@ -207,6 +207,34 @@ describe('SearchFilter', () => {
       ).toBeInTheDocument();
     });
 
+    it('Renders values when provided asynchronously', async () => {
+      render(
+        <SearchContextProvider initialState={initialState}>
+          <SearchFilter.Select name={name} asyncValues={async () => values} />
+        </SearchContextProvider>,
+      );
+
+      await waitFor(() => {
+        expect(screen.getByRole('button')).toBeInTheDocument();
+        expect(
+          screen.getByRole('button').getAttribute('aria-disabled'),
+        ).not.toBe('true');
+      });
+
+      userEvent.click(screen.getByRole('button'));
+
+      await waitFor(() => {
+        expect(screen.getByRole('listbox')).toBeInTheDocument();
+      });
+
+      expect(
+        screen.getByRole('option', { name: values[0] }),
+      ).toBeInTheDocument();
+      expect(
+        screen.getByRole('option', { name: values[1] }),
+      ).toBeInTheDocument();
+    });
+
     it('Renders correctly based on filter state', async () => {
       render(
         <SearchContextProvider