diff --git a/test/api/unit/libs/content.test.js b/test/api/unit/libs/content.test.js
index 3dac94d4af..36a626151f 100644
--- a/test/api/unit/libs/content.test.js
+++ b/test/api/unit/libs/content.test.js
@@ -34,7 +34,7 @@ describe('contentLib', () => {
   });
 
   it('generates a hash for a filter', () => {
-    const hash = contentLib.hashForFilter(['backgroundsFlat', 'gear.flat']);
+    const hash = contentLib.hashForFilter('backgroundsFlat,gear.flat');
     expect(hash).to.equal('-1791877526');
   });
 
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ describe('contentLib', () => {
 
   it('serves filtered content', () => {
     const resSpy = generateRes();
-    contentLib.serveContent(resSpy, 'en', ['backgroundsFlat', 'gear.flat'], false);
+    contentLib.serveContent(resSpy, 'en', 'backgroundsFlat,gear.flat', false);
     expect(resSpy.send).to.have.been.calledOnce;
   });
 
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ describe('contentLib', () => {
     });
 
     it('caches filtered requests', async () => {
-      const filter = ['backgroundsFlat', 'gear.flat'];
+      const filter = 'backgroundsFlat,gear.flat';
       const hash = contentLib.hashForFilter(filter);
       expect(fs.existsSync(`${contentLib.CONTENT_CACHE_PATH}en${hash}.json`)).to.be.false;
       contentLib.serveContent(resSpy, 'en', filter, true);
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ describe('contentLib', () => {
     });
 
     it('serves filtered cached requests', async () => {
-      const filter = ['backgroundsFlat', 'gear.flat'];
+      const filter = 'backgroundsFlat,gear.flat';
       const hash = contentLib.hashForFilter(filter);
       fs.writeFileSync(
         `${contentLib.CONTENT_CACHE_PATH}en${hash}.json`,
diff --git a/website/server/controllers/api-v3/content.js b/website/server/controllers/api-v3/content.js
index c742bed3ff..5c8d6ab347 100644
--- a/website/server/controllers/api-v3/content.js
+++ b/website/server/controllers/api-v3/content.js
@@ -12,8 +12,8 @@ const MOBILE_FILTER = ['achievements', 'questSeriesAchievements', 'animalColorAc
   'premiumHatchingPotions', 'wackyHatchingPotions', 'backgroundsFlat', 'questsByLevel', 'gear.tree', 'tasksByCategory',
   'userDefaults', 'timeTravelStable', 'gearTypes', 'cardTypes'];
 
-const ANDROID_FILTER = [...MOBILE_FILTER, 'appearances.background'];
-const IOS_FILTER = [...MOBILE_FILTER, 'backgrounds'];
+const ANDROID_FILTER = [...MOBILE_FILTER, 'appearances.background'].join(',');
+const IOS_FILTER = [...MOBILE_FILTER, 'backgrounds'].join(',');
 
 /**
  * @api {get} /api/v3/content Get all available content objects
@@ -74,20 +74,17 @@ api.getContent = {
       language = proposedLang;
     }
 
-    let filterList = [];
     const filter = req.query.filter || '';
     // apply defaults for mobile clients
     if (filter === '') {
       if (req.headers['x-client'] === 'habitica-android') {
-        filterList = ANDROID_FILTER;
+        filter = ANDROID_FILTER;
       } else if (req.headers['x-client'] === 'habitica-ios') {
-        filterList = IOS_FILTER;
+        filter = IOS_FILTER;
       }
-    } else {
-      filterList = filter.split(',');
     }
 
-    serveContent(res, language, filterList, IS_PROD);
+    serveContent(res, language, filter, IS_PROD);
   },
 };
 
diff --git a/website/server/libs/content.js b/website/server/libs/content.js
index 4cb0b3b690..94321cdf72 100644
--- a/website/server/libs/content.js
+++ b/website/server/libs/content.js
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ export function hashForFilter (filter) {
 export function serveContent (res, language, filter, isProd) {
   // Build usable filter object
   const filterObj = {};
-  filter.forEach(item => {
+  filter.split(',').forEach(item => {
     if (item.includes('.')) {
       const [key, subkey] = item.split('.');
       if (!filterObj[key]) {