diff --git a/app/controllers/public/api/v1/portals/articles_controller.rb b/app/controllers/public/api/v1/portals/articles_controller.rb
index 32a147d34..02023559b 100644
--- a/app/controllers/public/api/v1/portals/articles_controller.rb
+++ b/app/controllers/public/api/v1/portals/articles_controller.rb
@@ -7,7 +7,11 @@ class Public::Api::V1::Portals::ArticlesController < Public::Api::V1::Portals::B
 
   def index
     @articles = @portal.articles.published.includes(:category, :author)
+
+    @articles = @articles.where(locale: permitted_params[:locale]) if permitted_params[:locale].present?
+
     @articles_count = @articles.count
+
     search_articles
     order_by_sort_param
     limit_results
diff --git a/app/javascript/dashboard/routes/dashboard/helpcenter/components/ArticleSearch/ArticleView.vue b/app/javascript/dashboard/routes/dashboard/helpcenter/components/ArticleSearch/ArticleView.vue
index f2a2ab4d6..7c7dd0040 100644
--- a/app/javascript/dashboard/routes/dashboard/helpcenter/components/ArticleSearch/ArticleView.vue
+++ b/app/javascript/dashboard/routes/dashboard/helpcenter/components/ArticleSearch/ArticleView.vue
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 <script setup>
 import IframeLoader from 'shared/components/IframeLoader.vue';
 import Button from 'dashboard/components-next/button/Button.vue';
+import { useMapGetter } from 'dashboard/composables/store';
 
 defineProps({
   url: {
@@ -11,6 +12,8 @@ defineProps({
 
 const emit = defineEmits(['back', 'insert']);
 
+const isRTL = useMapGetter('accounts/isRTL');
+
 const onBack = e => {
   e.stopPropagation();
   emit('back');
@@ -35,7 +38,7 @@ const onInsert = e => {
     </div>
     <div class="-ml-4 h-full overflow-y-auto">
       <div class="w-full h-full min-h-0">
-        <IframeLoader :url="url" />
+        <IframeLoader :url="url" :is-rtl="isRTL" is-dir-applied />
       </div>
     </div>
 
diff --git a/app/javascript/portal/portalHelpers.js b/app/javascript/portal/portalHelpers.js
index 35e54d154..1fdc51276 100644
--- a/app/javascript/portal/portalHelpers.js
+++ b/app/javascript/portal/portalHelpers.js
@@ -112,11 +112,14 @@ export const InitializationHelpers = {
   },
 
   setDirectionAttribute: () => {
-    const portalElement = document.getElementById('portal');
-    if (!portalElement) return;
+    const htmlElement = document.querySelector('html');
+    // If direction is already applied through props, do not apply again (iframe case)
+    const hasDirApplied = htmlElement.getAttribute('data-dir-applied');
+    if (!htmlElement || hasDirApplied) return;
 
-    const locale = document.querySelector('.locale-switcher')?.value;
-    portalElement.dir = locale && getLanguageDirection(locale) ? 'rtl' : 'ltr';
+    const localeFromHtml = htmlElement.lang;
+    htmlElement.dir =
+      localeFromHtml && getLanguageDirection(localeFromHtml) ? 'rtl' : 'ltr';
   },
 
   initializeThemesInPortal: initializeTheme,
diff --git a/app/javascript/shared/components/IframeLoader.vue b/app/javascript/shared/components/IframeLoader.vue
index b3c91b8f0..0a99816b4 100644
--- a/app/javascript/shared/components/IframeLoader.vue
+++ b/app/javascript/shared/components/IframeLoader.vue
@@ -1,64 +1,56 @@
-<script>
+<script setup>
+import { ref, useTemplateRef, computed, watch } from 'vue';
+import { useI18n } from 'vue-i18n';
 import ArticleSkeletonLoader from 'shared/components/ArticleSkeletonLoader.vue';
 
-export default {
-  name: 'IframeLoader',
-  components: {
-    ArticleSkeletonLoader,
+const props = defineProps({
+  url: {
+    type: String,
+    default: '',
   },
-  props: {
-    url: {
-      type: String,
-      default: '',
-    },
-    isRtl: {
-      type: Boolean,
-      default: false,
-    },
+  isRtl: {
+    type: Boolean,
+    default: false,
   },
-  data() {
-    return {
-      isLoading: true,
-      showEmptyState: !this.url,
-    };
+  isDirApplied: {
+    type: Boolean,
+    default: false,
   },
-  watch: {
-    isRtl: {
-      immediate: true,
-      handler(value) {
-        this.$nextTick(() => {
-          const iframeElement = this.$el.querySelector('iframe');
-          if (iframeElement) {
-            iframeElement.onload = () => {
-              try {
-                const iframeDocument =
-                  iframeElement.contentDocument ||
-                  (iframeElement.contentWindow &&
-                    iframeElement.contentWindow.document);
+});
 
-                if (iframeDocument) {
-                  iframeDocument.documentElement.dir = value ? 'rtl' : 'ltr';
-                }
-              } catch (e) {
-                // error
-              }
-            };
-          }
-        });
-      },
-    },
-  },
-  methods: {
-    handleIframeLoad() {
-      // Once loaded, the loading state is hidden
-      this.isLoading = false;
-    },
-    handleIframeError() {
-      // Hide the loading state and show the empty state when an error occurs
-      this.isLoading = false;
-      this.showEmptyState = true;
-    },
-  },
+const { t } = useI18n();
+
+const iframe = useTemplateRef('iframe');
+const isLoading = ref(true);
+const showEmptyState = ref(!props.url);
+
+const direction = computed(() => (props.isRtl ? 'rtl' : 'ltr'));
+
+const applyDirection = () => {
+  if (!iframe.value) return;
+  if (!props.isDirApplied) return; // If direction is already applied through props, do not apply again (iframe case)
+  try {
+    const doc =
+      iframe.value.contentDocument || iframe.value.contentWindow?.document;
+    if (doc?.documentElement) {
+      doc.documentElement.dir = direction.value;
+      doc.documentElement.setAttribute('data-dir-applied', 'true');
+    }
+  } catch (e) {
+    // error
+  }
+};
+
+watch(() => props.isRtl, applyDirection);
+
+const handleIframeLoad = () => {
+  isLoading.value = false;
+  applyDirection();
+};
+
+const handleIframeError = () => {
+  isLoading.value = false;
+  showEmptyState.value = true;
 };
 </script>
 
@@ -66,6 +58,7 @@ export default {
   <div class="relative overflow-hidden pb-1/2 h-full">
     <iframe
       v-if="url"
+      ref="iframe"
       :src="url"
       class="absolute w-full h-full top-0 left-0"
       @load="handleIframeLoad"
@@ -79,7 +72,7 @@ export default {
       v-if="showEmptyState"
       class="absolute w-full h-full top-0 left-0 flex justify-center items-center"
     >
-      <p>{{ $t('PORTAL.IFRAME_ERROR') }}</p>
+      <p>{{ t('PORTAL.IFRAME_ERROR') }}</p>
     </div>
   </div>
 </template>
diff --git a/app/javascript/shared/helpers/portalHelper.js b/app/javascript/shared/helpers/portalHelper.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a9e92a92a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/javascript/shared/helpers/portalHelper.js
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+/**
+ * Determine the best-matching locale from the list of locales allowed by the portal.
+ *
+ * The matching happens in the following order:
+ * 1. Exact match – the visitor-selected locale equals one in the `allowedLocales` list
+ *    (e.g., `fr` ➜ `fr`).
+ * 2. Base language match – the base part of a compound locale (before the underscore)
+ *    matches (e.g., `fr_CA` ➜ `fr`).
+ * 3. Variant match – when the base language is selected but a regional variant exists
+ *    in the portal list (e.g., `fr` ➜ `fr_BE`).
+ *
+ * If none of these rules find a match, the function returns `null`,
+ * Don't show popular articles if locale doesn't match with allowed locales
+ *
+ * @export
+ * @param {string} selectedLocale The locale selected by the visitor (e.g., `fr_CA`).
+ * @param {string[]} allowedLocales Array of locales enabled for the portal.
+ * @returns {(string|null)} A locale string that should be used, or `null` if no suitable match.
+ */
+export const getMatchingLocale = (selectedLocale = '', allowedLocales = []) => {
+  // Ensure inputs are valid
+  if (
+    !selectedLocale ||
+    !Array.isArray(allowedLocales) ||
+    !allowedLocales.length
+  ) {
+    return null;
+  }
+
+  const [lang] = selectedLocale.split('_');
+
+  const priorityMatches = [
+    selectedLocale, // exact match
+    lang, // base language match
+    allowedLocales.find(l => l.startsWith(`${lang}_`)), // first variant match
+  ];
+
+  // Return the first match that exists in the allowed list, or null
+  return priorityMatches.find(l => l && allowedLocales.includes(l)) ?? null;
+};
diff --git a/app/javascript/shared/helpers/specs/portalHelper.spec.js b/app/javascript/shared/helpers/specs/portalHelper.spec.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e79c9a3d9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/javascript/shared/helpers/specs/portalHelper.spec.js
@@ -0,0 +1,28 @@
+import { getMatchingLocale } from 'shared/helpers/portalHelper';
+
+describe('portalHelper - getMatchingLocale', () => {
+  it('returns exact match when present', () => {
+    const result = getMatchingLocale('fr', ['en', 'fr']);
+    expect(result).toBe('fr');
+  });
+
+  it('returns base language match when exact variant not present', () => {
+    const result = getMatchingLocale('fr_CA', ['en', 'fr']);
+    expect(result).toBe('fr');
+  });
+
+  it('returns variant match when base language not present', () => {
+    const result = getMatchingLocale('fr', ['en', 'fr_BE']);
+    expect(result).toBe('fr_BE');
+  });
+
+  it('returns null when no match found', () => {
+    const result = getMatchingLocale('de', ['en', 'fr']);
+    expect(result).toBeNull();
+  });
+
+  it('returns null for invalid inputs', () => {
+    expect(getMatchingLocale('', [])).toBeNull();
+    expect(getMatchingLocale(null, null)).toBeNull();
+  });
+});
diff --git a/app/javascript/widget/components/pageComponents/Home/Article/ArticleContainer.vue b/app/javascript/widget/components/pageComponents/Home/Article/ArticleContainer.vue
index 1d5fdc99d..e093d4316 100644
--- a/app/javascript/widget/components/pageComponents/Home/Article/ArticleContainer.vue
+++ b/app/javascript/widget/components/pageComponents/Home/Article/ArticleContainer.vue
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import { useRouter } from 'vue-router';
 import { useStore } from 'dashboard/composables/store';
 import { useMapGetter } from 'dashboard/composables/store.js';
 import { useDarkMode } from 'widget/composables/useDarkMode';
+import { getMatchingLocale } from 'shared/helpers/portalHelper';
 
 const store = useStore();
 const router = useRouter();
@@ -20,17 +21,8 @@ const articleUiFlags = useMapGetter('article/uiFlags');
 
 const locale = computed(() => {
   const { locale: selectedLocale } = i18n;
-  const {
-    allowed_locales: allowedLocales,
-    default_locale: defaultLocale = 'en',
-  } = portal.value.config;
-  // IMPORTANT: Variation strict locale matching, Follow iso_639_1_code
-  // If the exact match of a locale is available in the list of portal locales, return it
-  // Else return the default locale. Eg: `es` will not work if `es_ES` is available in the list
-  if (allowedLocales.includes(selectedLocale)) {
-    return locale;
-  }
-  return defaultLocale;
+  const { allowed_locales: allowedLocales } = portal.value.config;
+  return getMatchingLocale(selectedLocale.value, allowedLocales);
 });
 
 const fetchArticles = () => {
@@ -46,6 +38,7 @@ const openArticleInArticleViewer = link => {
   const params = new URLSearchParams({
     show_plain_layout: 'true',
     theme: prefersDarkMode.value ? 'dark' : 'light',
+    ...(locale.value && { locale: locale.value }),
   });
 
   // Combine link with query parameters
@@ -64,7 +57,8 @@ const hasArticles = computed(
   () =>
     !articleUiFlags.value.isFetching &&
     !articleUiFlags.value.isError &&
-    !!popularArticles.value.length
+    !!popularArticles.value.length &&
+    !!locale.value
 );
 onMounted(() => fetchArticles());
 </script>
diff --git a/app/javascript/widget/store/modules/articles.js b/app/javascript/widget/store/modules/articles.js
index 27faa297b..2ad6ae1dd 100644
--- a/app/javascript/widget/store/modules/articles.js
+++ b/app/javascript/widget/store/modules/articles.js
@@ -23,6 +23,7 @@ export const actions = {
     commit('setError', false);
 
     try {
+      if (!locale) return;
       const cachedData = getFromCache(`${CACHE_KEY_PREFIX}${slug}_${locale}`);
       if (cachedData) {
         commit('setArticles', cachedData);
diff --git a/app/javascript/widget/views/ArticleViewer.vue b/app/javascript/widget/views/ArticleViewer.vue
index d3e1f9437..9289d0546 100644
--- a/app/javascript/widget/views/ArticleViewer.vue
+++ b/app/javascript/widget/views/ArticleViewer.vue
@@ -1,24 +1,16 @@
 <script>
 import IframeLoader from 'shared/components/IframeLoader.vue';
-import { getLanguageDirection } from 'dashboard/components/widgets/conversation/advancedFilterItems/languages';
 
 export default {
   name: 'ArticleViewer',
   components: {
     IframeLoader,
   },
-  computed: {
-    isRTL() {
-      return this.$root.$i18n.locale
-        ? getLanguageDirection(this.$root.$i18n.locale)
-        : false;
-    },
-  },
 };
 </script>
 
 <template>
   <div class="bg-white h-full">
-    <IframeLoader :url="$route.query.link" :is-rtl="isRTL" />
+    <IframeLoader :url="$route.query.link" />
   </div>
 </template>
diff --git a/spec/controllers/public/api/v1/portals/articles_controller_spec.rb b/spec/controllers/public/api/v1/portals/articles_controller_spec.rb
index e6429a1de..2d8c5fcd5 100644
--- a/spec/controllers/public/api/v1/portals/articles_controller_spec.rb
+++ b/spec/controllers/public/api/v1/portals/articles_controller_spec.rb
@@ -65,6 +65,14 @@ RSpec.describe 'Public Articles API', type: :request do
       expect(response).to have_http_status(:success)
       response_data = JSON.parse(response.body, symbolize_names: true)[:payload]
       expect(response_data.length).to eq(2)
+      # Only count articles in the current locale (category.locale is 'en')
+      expect(JSON.parse(response.body, symbolize_names: true)[:meta][:articles_count]).to eq(3)
+    end
+
+    it 'returns articles count from all locales when locale parameter is not present' do
+      get "/hc/#{portal.slug}/articles.json"
+
+      expect(response).to have_http_status(:success)
       expect(JSON.parse(response.body, symbolize_names: true)[:meta][:articles_count]).to eq(5)
     end