How do I view or retrieve iCloud backup from my Windows 10 laptop?

You accidentally deleted important videos and photos from your iPhone. You have an active iCloud backup, but when you open the iCloud for Windows app on your laptop, you cannot figure out how to browse or restore specific files. This is not your fault. Apple does not design iCloud backups to be browsable on a PC. A backup is not a folder of visible files—it is a single, encrypted archive meant only for full-device restoration .

The traditional method to get anything out of that backup would be to wipe your iPhone and perform a full restore. That is drastic, time-consuming, and risks losing other data. You want a way to retrieve iCloud backup without reset—to reach inside that backup file, find only the videos and photos you need, and pull them out individually.

How do you retrieve iCloud backup without reset:

Step 1: Download Your iCloud Backup to Your PC

Step 2: Download and Install iTunes Backup Explorer

Step 3: Load Your Backup into the Explorer

Step 4: Search for Your Deleted Videos and Photos

Step 5: Preview and Extract the Files