How to access older iPhone auto-backups / restore lost Safari cards?

Question

Recently I've lost all my open Safari cards on my iPhone. Since i want to move my data to a new model anyway, I was just disabling wifi every time I plugged it to the charger in order to not let it auto-backup. I did not turn off the backup function, because I was too scared of the iThreat, threatening they'll delete all my iCloud files, backups, photos, etc. if i cancel anything iCloud-related. So sadly, that one time I forgot to turn off the wifi, and it did back up automatically. Since I've tried doing a computer backup many times before on many different PC's and cables, changing settings, including replacing the whole charging port, I couldn't do it, so iCloud backups are the only ones I could make. Now, as you might have guessed, the latest backup doesn't contain any of those lost 48 open cards, and the latest backup i did manually is almost half-year old.

Is there any way I can get access to the older AUTOMATIC iCloud backup? If not, how do I get my cards back? They couldn't just disappear without the trace of I didn't physically press 'delete' button right?? 😰

Answer 1

Recently I've lost all my open Safari cards on my iPhone.

I'm assuming you're referring to your open tabs/windows. These aren't backed up.

Since i want to move my data to a new model anyway, I was just disabling wifi every time I plugged it to the charger in order to not let it auto-backup.

This, quite frankly, doesn't make sense. Auto-backups to iCloud don't interfere with manual backups to your computer. It also doesn't interfere with backups made on other devices.

I did not turn off the backup function, because I was too scared of the iThreat, threatening they'll delete all my iCloud files, backups, photos, etc. if i cancel anything iCloud-related.

It tells you that it will remove your iCloud Backup of the current device if you turn it off, because you're turning it off.

So sadly, that one time I forgot to turn off the wifi, and it did back up automatically. Since I've tried doing a computer backup many times before on many different PC's and cables, changing settings, including replacing the whole charging port, I couldn't do it, so iCloud backups are the only ones I could make.

This is a whole other issue, it seems.

Now, as you might have guessed, the latest backup doesn't contain any of those lost 48 open cards, and the latest backup i did manually is almost half-year old.

Is there any way I can get access to the older AUTOMATIC iCloud backup?

iCloud will show you a list of backups you can pick from when you restore your device. There is no guarantee any specific backup other than the latest will be available, but there usually are.

If not, how do I get my cards back? They couldn't just disappear without the trace of I didn't physically press 'delete' button right?? 😰

Again assuming you're referring to the open Safari windows, these aren't backed up. Use bookmarks if you want to save websites.