diff --git a/Source/Engine/Serialization/JsonConverters.cs b/Source/Engine/Serialization/JsonConverters.cs
index 04a20fdb4..f225c29d8 100644
--- a/Source/Engine/Serialization/JsonConverters.cs
+++ b/Source/Engine/Serialization/JsonConverters.cs
@@ -442,7 +442,7 @@ namespace FlaxEngine.Json
         /// <inheritdoc />
         public override object ReadJson(JsonReader reader, Type objectType, object existingValue, Newtonsoft.Json.JsonSerializer serializer)
         {
-            var result = Activator.CreateInstance(objectType);
+            var result = existingValue ?? Activator.CreateInstance(objectType);
             if (reader.TokenType == JsonToken.String)
             {
                 JsonSerializer.ParseID((string)reader.Value, out var id);
@@ -483,6 +483,34 @@ namespace FlaxEngine.Json
         }
     }
 
+    internal class ControlReferenceConverter : JsonConverter
+    {
+        /// <inheritdoc />
+        public override unsafe void WriteJson(JsonWriter writer, object value, Newtonsoft.Json.JsonSerializer serializer)
+        {
+            var id = (value as IControlReference)?.UIControl?.ID ?? Guid.Empty;
+            writer.WriteValue(JsonSerializer.GetStringID(&id));
+        }
+
+        /// <inheritdoc />
+        public override object ReadJson(JsonReader reader, Type objectType, object existingValue, Newtonsoft.Json.JsonSerializer serializer)
+        {
+            var result = existingValue ?? Activator.CreateInstance(objectType);
+            if (reader.TokenType == JsonToken.String && result is IControlReference controlReference)
+            {
+                JsonSerializer.ParseID((string)reader.Value, out var id);
+                controlReference.UIControl = Object.Find<UIControl>(ref id);
+            }
+            return result;
+        }
+
+        /// <inheritdoc />
+        public override bool CanConvert(Type objectType)
+        {
+            return objectType.Name.StartsWith("ControlReference", StringComparison.Ordinal);
+        }
+    }
+
     /*
     /// <summary>
     /// Serialize Guid values using `N` format
diff --git a/Source/Engine/Serialization/JsonSerializer.cs b/Source/Engine/Serialization/JsonSerializer.cs
index f13be1e8f..59b13c549 100644
--- a/Source/Engine/Serialization/JsonSerializer.cs
+++ b/Source/Engine/Serialization/JsonSerializer.cs
@@ -194,6 +194,7 @@ namespace FlaxEngine.Json
             settings.Converters.Add(new SoftObjectReferenceConverter());
             settings.Converters.Add(new SoftTypeReferenceConverter());
             settings.Converters.Add(new BehaviorKnowledgeSelectorAnyConverter());
+            settings.Converters.Add(new ControlReferenceConverter());
             settings.Converters.Add(new MarginConverter());
             settings.Converters.Add(new VersionConverter());
             settings.Converters.Add(new LocalizedStringConverter());
diff --git a/Source/Engine/UI/ControlReference.cs b/Source/Engine/UI/ControlReference.cs
index dba3a3397..0bcd54374 100644
--- a/Source/Engine/UI/ControlReference.cs
+++ b/Source/Engine/UI/ControlReference.cs
@@ -1,84 +1,183 @@
 // Copyright (c) 2012-2024 Wojciech Figat. All rights reserved.
 
 using System;
+using System.ComponentModel;
+using System.Globalization;
+using System.Runtime.CompilerServices;
 using FlaxEngine.GUI;
 
-namespace FlaxEngine;
-
-/// <summary>
-/// Interface for control references access.
-/// </summary>
-public interface IControlReference
+namespace FlaxEngine
 {
     /// <summary>
-    /// Gets or sets the reference to <see cref="FlaxEngine.UIControl"/> actor.
+    /// Interface for control references access.
     /// </summary>
-    public UIControl UIControl { get; set; }
+    public interface IControlReference
+    {
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Gets or sets the reference to <see cref="FlaxEngine.UIControl"/> actor.
+        /// </summary>
+        public UIControl UIControl { get; set; }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Gets the type of the control the interface uses.
+        /// </summary>
+        public Type ControlType { get; }
+    }
 
     /// <summary>
-    /// Gets the type of the control the interface uses.
+    /// UI Control reference utility. References UI Control actor with a typed control type.
     /// </summary>
-    public Type ControlType { get; }
+    /// <typeparam name="T">Type of the UI control object.</typeparam>
+#if FLAX_EDITOR
+    [TypeConverter(typeof(TypeConverters.ControlReferenceConverter))]
+#endif
+    public struct ControlReference<T> : IControlReference, IComparable, IComparable<ControlReference<T>>, IEquatable<ControlReference<T>> where T : Control
+    {
+        private UIControl _uiControl;
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Gets the typed UI control object owned by the referenced <see cref="FlaxEngine.UIControl"/> actor.
+        /// </summary>
+        [HideInEditor]
+        public T Control
+        {
+            get
+            {
+                if (_uiControl != null && _uiControl.Control is T t)
+                    return t;
+                Debug.Write(LogType.Warning, "Trying to get Control from ControlReference but UIControl is null, or UIControl.Control is null, or UIControl.Control is not the correct type.");
+                return null;
+            }
+        }
+
+        /// <inheritdoc />
+        public UIControl UIControl
+        {
+            get => _uiControl;
+            set
+            {
+                if (value == null)
+                {
+                    _uiControl = null;
+                }
+                else if (value.Control is T t)
+                {
+                    _uiControl = value;
+                }
+                else
+                {
+                    Debug.Write(LogType.Warning, "Trying to set ControlReference but UIControl.Control is null or UIControl.Control is not the correct type.");
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        /// <inheritdoc />
+        public Type ControlType => typeof(T);
+
+        /// <inheritdoc />
+        public override string ToString()
+        {
+            return _uiControl?.ToString() ?? "null";
+        }
+
+        /// <inheritdoc />
+        public override int GetHashCode()
+        {
+            return _uiControl?.GetHashCode() ?? 0;
+        }
+
+        /// <inheritdoc />
+        public int CompareTo(object obj)
+        {
+            if (obj is IControlReference other)
+                return CompareTo(other);
+            return 0;
+        }
+
+        /// <inheritdoc />
+        public int CompareTo(ControlReference<T> other)
+        {
+            return _uiControl == other._uiControl ? 0 : 1;
+        }
+
+        /// <inheritdoc />
+        public bool Equals(ControlReference<T> other)
+        {
+            return _uiControl == other._uiControl;
+        }
+
+        /// <inheritdoc />
+        public override bool Equals(object obj)
+        {
+            return obj is ControlReference<T> other && _uiControl == other._uiControl;
+        }
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// The implicit operator for the Control.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <param name="reference">The control reference.</param>
+        /// <returns>The control object.</returns>
+        [MethodImpl(MethodImplOptions.AggressiveInlining)]
+        public static implicit operator T(ControlReference<T> reference) => reference.Control;
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// The implicit operator for the UIControl.
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <param name="reference">The control reference.</param>
+        /// <returns>The control actor.</returns>
+        [MethodImpl(MethodImplOptions.AggressiveInlining)]
+        public static implicit operator UIControl(ControlReference<T> reference) => reference.UIControl;
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Checks if the object exists (reference is not null and the unmanaged object pointer is valid).
+        /// </summary>
+        /// <param name="obj">The object to check.</param>
+        /// <returns>True if object is valid, otherwise false.</returns>
+        [MethodImpl(MethodImplOptions.AggressiveInlining)]
+        public static implicit operator bool(ControlReference<T> obj) => obj._uiControl;
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Checks whether the two objects are equal.
+        /// </summary>
+        [MethodImpl(MethodImplOptions.AggressiveInlining)]
+        public static bool operator ==(ControlReference<T> left, ControlReference<T> right) => left._uiControl == right._uiControl;
+
+        /// <summary>
+        /// Checks whether the two objects are not equal.
+        /// </summary>
+        [MethodImpl(MethodImplOptions.AggressiveInlining)]
+        public static bool operator !=(ControlReference<T> left, ControlReference<T> right) => left._uiControl != right._uiControl;
+    }
 }
 
-/// <summary>
-/// UI Control reference utility. References UI Control actor with a typed control type.
-/// </summary>
-[Serializable]
-public struct ControlReference<T> : IControlReference where T : Control
+#if FLAX_EDITOR
+namespace FlaxEngine.TypeConverters
 {
-    private UIControl _uiControl;
-
-    /// <summary>
-    /// Gets the typed UI control object owned by the referenced <see cref="FlaxEngine.UIControl"/> actor.
-    /// </summary>
-    [HideInEditor]
-    public T Control
+    internal class ControlReferenceConverter : TypeConverter
     {
-        get
+        /// <inheritdoc />
+        public override object ConvertTo(ITypeDescriptorContext context, CultureInfo culture, object value, Type destinationType)
         {
-            if (_uiControl != null && _uiControl.Control is T t)
-                return t;
-            Debug.Write(LogType.Warning, "Trying to get Control from ControlReference but UIControl is null, or UIControl.Control is null, or UIControl.Control is not the correct type.");
-            return null;
+            if (value is string valueStr)
+            {
+                var result = Activator.CreateInstance(destinationType);
+                if (result is IControlReference control)
+                {
+                    Json.JsonSerializer.ParseID(valueStr, out var id);
+                    control.UIControl = Object.Find<UIControl>(ref id);
+                }
+                return result;
+            }
+            return base.ConvertTo(context, culture, value, destinationType);
+        }
+
+        /// <inheritdoc />
+        public override bool CanConvertTo(ITypeDescriptorContext context, Type destinationType)
+        {
+            if (destinationType.Name.StartsWith("ControlReference", StringComparison.Ordinal))
+                return true;
+            return base.CanConvertTo(context, destinationType);
         }
     }
-
-    /// <inheritdoc />
-    public UIControl UIControl
-    {
-        get => _uiControl;
-        set
-        {
-            if (value == null)
-            {
-                _uiControl = null;
-            }
-            else if (value.Control is T t)
-            {
-                _uiControl = value;
-            }
-            else
-            {
-                Debug.Write(LogType.Warning, "Trying to set ControlReference but UIControl.Control is null or UIControl.Control is not the correct type.");
-            }
-        }
-    }
-
-    /// <inheritdoc />
-    public Type ControlType => typeof(T);
-
-    /// <summary>
-    /// The implicit operator for the Control.
-    /// </summary>
-    /// <param name="reference">The ControlReference</param>
-    /// <returns>The Control.</returns>
-    public static implicit operator T(ControlReference<T> reference) => reference.Control;
-
-    /// <summary>
-    /// The implicit operator for the UIControl
-    /// </summary>
-    /// <param name="reference">The ControlReference</param>
-    /// <returns>The UIControl.</returns>
-    public static implicit operator UIControl(ControlReference<T> reference) => reference.UIControl;
 }
+#endif