diff --git a/src/main.ts b/src/main.ts
index 9348706..236974a 100644
--- a/src/main.ts
+++ b/src/main.ts
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ export default class OmnivorePlugin extends Plugin {
 
     this.addCommand({
       id: "sync",
-      name: "Sync",
+      name: "Sync new changes",
       callback: () => {
         this.fetchOmnivore()
       },
@@ -102,6 +102,9 @@ export default class OmnivorePlugin extends Plugin {
     this.addSettingTab(new OmnivoreSettingTab(this.app, this))
 
     this.scheduleSync()
+
+    // sync when the app is loaded
+    await this.fetchOmnivore()
   }
 
   onunload() {}
@@ -454,13 +457,14 @@ class OmnivoreSettingTab extends PluginSettingTab {
 
     new Setting(containerEl)
       .setName("Filter")
-      .setDesc("Select an Omnivore search filter type")
+      .setDesc("Select an Omnivore search filter type. Changing this would reset the 'Last sync' timestamp")
       .addDropdown((dropdown) => {
         dropdown.addOptions(Filter)
         dropdown
           .setValue(this.plugin.settings.filter)
           .onChange(async (value) => {
             this.plugin.settings.filter = value
+            this.plugin.settings.syncAt = ""
             await this.plugin.saveSettings()
           })
       })
@@ -475,7 +479,8 @@ class OmnivoreSettingTab extends PluginSettingTab {
               text: "https://docs.omnivore.app/using/search",
               href: "https://docs.omnivore.app/using/search",
             }),
-            " for more info on search query syntax. Make sure your Filter (in the section above) is set to advanced when using a custom query."
+            " for more info on search query syntax. Make sure your Filter (in the section above) is set to advanced when using a custom query.",
+            " Changing this would reset the 'Last Sync' timestamp"
           )
         })
       )
@@ -487,13 +492,14 @@ class OmnivoreSettingTab extends PluginSettingTab {
           .setValue(this.plugin.settings.customQuery)
           .onChange(async (value) => {
             this.plugin.settings.customQuery = value
+            this.plugin.settings.syncAt = ""
             await this.plugin.saveSettings()
           })
       )
 
     new Setting(containerEl)
       .setName("Last Sync")
-      .setDesc("Last time the plugin synced with Omnivore")
+      .setDesc("Last time the plugin synced with Omnivore. The 'Sync' command fetches articles updated after this timestamp")
       .addMomentFormat((momentFormat) =>
         momentFormat
           .setPlaceholder("Last Sync")
diff --git a/src/settings/index.ts b/src/settings/index.ts
index 5e98d5e..59cde7d 100644
--- a/src/settings/index.ts
+++ b/src/settings/index.ts
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ export const DEFAULT_SETTINGS: OmnivoreSettings = {
   dateHighlightedFormat: 'yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss',
   dateSavedFormat: 'yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss',
   apiKey: '',
-  filter: 'HIGHLIGHTS',
+  filter: 'ALL',
   syncAt: '',
   customQuery: '',
   template: DEFAULT_TEMPLATE,
diff --git a/src/util.ts b/src/util.ts
index 3e2e7b2..510cf80 100644
--- a/src/util.ts
+++ b/src/util.ts
@@ -116,9 +116,9 @@ export const getQueryFromFilter = (
 ): string => {
   switch (filter) {
     case "ALL":
-      return ""
+      return "in:all"
     case "HIGHLIGHTS":
-      return `has:highlights`
+      return `has:highlights in:all`
     case "ADVANCED":
       return customQuery
     default: