diff --git a/client/modules/IDE/actions/preferences.js b/client/modules/IDE/actions/preferences.js
index 5f2e0a7e..ab8d2c5c 100644
--- a/client/modules/IDE/actions/preferences.js
+++ b/client/modules/IDE/actions/preferences.js
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ export function setFontSize(value) {
     if (state.user.authenticated) {
       const formParams = {
         preferences: {
-          textSize: value
+          fontSize: value
         }
       };
       updatePreferences(formParams, dispatch);
diff --git a/client/modules/IDE/pages/IDEView.js b/client/modules/IDE/pages/IDEView.js
index c6a5bc47..a975b02e 100644
--- a/client/modules/IDE/pages/IDEView.js
+++ b/client/modules/IDE/pages/IDEView.js
@@ -21,20 +21,29 @@ class IDEView extends React.Component {
       const id = this.props.params.project_id;
       this.props.getProject(id);
 
-      if (this.props.preferences.autosave) {
+      // if autosave is on and the user is the owner of the project
+      if (this.props.preferences.autosave
+        && this.props.project.owner
+        && this.props.project.owner.id === this.props.user.id) {
         this.autosaveInterval = setInterval(this.props.saveProject, 30000);
       }
     }
   }
 
   componentDidUpdate(prevProps) {
-    if (!this.autosaveInterval &&
-      ((this.props.preferences.autosave && !prevProps.preferences.autosave) ||
-      (this.props.project.id && !prevProps.project.id))) {
-      this.autosaveInterval = setInterval(this.props.saveProject, 30000);
-    } else if (this.autosaveInterval && !this.props.preferences.autosave && prevProps.preferences.autosave) {
-      clearInterval(this.autosaveInterval);
-      this.autosaveInterval = null;
+    // if user is the owner of the project
+    if (this.props.project.owner && this.props.project.owner.id === this.props.user.id) {
+      // if the user turns on autosave
+      // or the user saves the project for the first time
+      if (!this.autosaveInterval &&
+        ((this.props.preferences.autosave && !prevProps.preferences.autosave) ||
+        (this.props.project.id && !prevProps.project.id))) {
+        this.autosaveInterval = setInterval(this.props.saveProject, 30000);
+      // if user turns off autosave preference
+      } else if (this.autosaveInterval && !this.props.preferences.autosave && prevProps.preferences.autosave) {
+        clearInterval(this.autosaveInterval);
+        this.autosaveInterval = null;
+      }
     }
   }
 
@@ -145,7 +154,8 @@ IDEView.propTypes = {
   }),
   getProject: PropTypes.func.isRequired,
   user: PropTypes.shape({
-    authenticated: PropTypes.bool.isRequired
+    authenticated: PropTypes.bool.isRequired,
+    id: PropTypes.string
   }).isRequired,
   createProject: PropTypes.func.isRequired,
   saveProject: PropTypes.func.isRequired,
@@ -163,7 +173,8 @@ IDEView.propTypes = {
     id: PropTypes.string,
     name: PropTypes.string.isRequired,
     owner: PropTypes.shape({
-      username: PropTypes.string
+      username: PropTypes.string,
+      id: PropTypes.string
     })
   }).isRequired,
   setProjectName: PropTypes.func.isRequired,
diff --git a/client/modules/User/actions.js b/client/modules/User/actions.js
index e46cb778..941624b9 100644
--- a/client/modules/User/actions.js
+++ b/client/modules/User/actions.js
@@ -51,6 +51,8 @@ export function getUser() {
           preferences: response.data.preferences
         });
       })
-      .catch(response => dispatch(authError(response.data.error)));
+      .catch(response => {
+        dispatch(authError(response.data.error));
+      });
   };
 }
diff --git a/server/controllers/project.controller.js b/server/controllers/project.controller.js
index 955b9b1b..cdbfd650 100644
--- a/server/controllers/project.controller.js
+++ b/server/controllers/project.controller.js
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ export function getProjects(req, res) {
   if (req.user) {
     Project.find({user: req.user._id}) // eslint-disable-line no-underscore-dangle
       .sort('-createdAt')
-      .select('name files _id createdAt updatedAt')
+      .select('name files id createdAt updatedAt')
       .exec((err, projects) => {
         res.json(projects);
       });
diff --git a/server/controllers/session.controller.js b/server/controllers/session.controller.js
index c36c9d51..cbee93f4 100644
--- a/server/controllers/session.controller.js
+++ b/server/controllers/session.controller.js
@@ -11,7 +11,9 @@ export function createSession(req, res, next) {
       if (innerErr) { return next(innerErr); }
       return res.json({
         email: req.user.email,
-        username: req.user.username
+        username: req.user.username,
+        preferences: req.user.preferences,
+        id: req.user._id
       });
     });
   })(req, res, next);
@@ -22,7 +24,8 @@ export function getSession(req, res) {
     return res.json({
       email: req.user.email,
       username: req.user.username,
-      preferences: req.user.preferences
+      preferences: req.user.preferences,
+      id: req.user._id
     });
   }
   return res.status(404).send({ message: 'Session does not exist' });
diff --git a/server/controllers/user.controller.js b/server/controllers/user.controller.js
index 436c774c..488aca5f 100644
--- a/server/controllers/user.controller.js
+++ b/server/controllers/user.controller.js
@@ -22,7 +22,9 @@ export function createUser(req, res, next) {
           }
           res.json({
             email: req.user.email,
-            username: req.user.username
+            username: req.user.username,
+            preferences: req.user.preferences,
+            id: req.user._id
           });
         });
       });
diff --git a/server/models/user.js b/server/models/user.js
index 8f7aff93..c593159c 100644
--- a/server/models/user.js
+++ b/server/models/user.js
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ const userSchema = new Schema({
   email: { type: String, unique: true },
   tokens: Array,
   preferences: {
-    textSize: { type: Number, default: 18 },
+    fontSize: { type: Number, default: 18 },
     indentationAmount: { type: Number, default: 2 },
     isTabIndent: { type: Boolean, default: false },
     autosave: { type: Boolean, default: true }
@@ -33,6 +33,15 @@ userSchema.pre('save', function checkPassword(next) { // eslint-disable-line con
   });
 });
 
+userSchema.virtual('id').get(function(){
+    return this._id.toHexString();
+});
+
+userSchema.set('toJSON', {
+    virtuals: true
+});
+
+
 /**
  * Helper method for validating user's password.
  */