diff --git a/services/web/public/coffee/ide/pdf/controllers/PdfController.coffee b/services/web/public/coffee/ide/pdf/controllers/PdfController.coffee
index 52b243c79b..baa7398074 100644
--- a/services/web/public/coffee/ide/pdf/controllers/PdfController.coffee
+++ b/services/web/public/coffee/ide/pdf/controllers/PdfController.coffee
@@ -6,8 +6,8 @@ define [
 ], (App, Ace, HumanReadableLogs, BibLogParser) ->
 	App.controller "PdfController", ($scope, $http, ide, $modal, synctex, event_tracking, localStorage) ->
 
-		# enable per-user containers if querystring includes isolated=true
-		perUserCompile = window.location?.search?.match(/isolated=true/)? or undefined
+		# enable per-user containers by default
+		perUserCompile = true
 		autoCompile = true
 
 		# pdf.view = uncompiled | pdf | errors
@@ -319,8 +319,8 @@ define [
 			$scope.startedFreeTrial = true
 
 	App.factory "synctex", ["ide", "$http", "$q", (ide, $http, $q) ->
-		# enable per-user containers if querystring includes isolated=true
-		perUserCompile = window.location?.search?.match(/isolated=true/)? or undefined
+		# enable per-user containers by default
+		perUserCompile = true
 
 		synctex =
 			syncToPdf: (cursorPosition) ->
diff --git a/services/web/public/coffee/ide/wordcount/controllers/WordCountModalController.coffee b/services/web/public/coffee/ide/wordcount/controllers/WordCountModalController.coffee
index 2336de614d..5166a32ae1 100644
--- a/services/web/public/coffee/ide/wordcount/controllers/WordCountModalController.coffee
+++ b/services/web/public/coffee/ide/wordcount/controllers/WordCountModalController.coffee
@@ -5,7 +5,9 @@ define [
 		$scope.status = 
 			loading:true
 
-		perUserCompile = window.location?.search?.match(/isolated=true/)? or undefined
+		# enable per-user containers by default
+		perUserCompile = true
+
 		opts =
 			url:"/project/#{ide.project_id}/wordcount"
 			method:"GET"