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squirrelybush
User level: Level 1 (4 points)

Retrieving old backups on an iPad

Hi all, I fear this may be impossible, is there any way at all to access an old iCloud backup when the only backup listed is my most recent backup? Lost my local save on a game containing over a year's progress on my iPad and I'm really really hoping I can get it back somehow, since iCloud also failed me: turned out it hadn't been saving to iCloud since the day I first started playing the game, and so now I'm left with a completely blank local save and a cloud save with practically zero progress. So really hoping there is a way for me to retrieve a backup from about 48 hrs ago so that I can get my local save back, thank you

Posted on Oct 26, 2026 11:49 AM

3 replies

Mac Jim ID
User level: Level 10 (105,996 points)

Oct 26, 2026 12:05 PM in response to squirrelybush

Sorry, there is not. iCloud backups overwrite any previous backup. For creating archived backups where they are not overwritten, you would have needed to use a computer to create the archived backup.


The purpose of the iCloud backup is to restore a device to its last saved state, not to go back in time like you can do with the Time Machine feature on a Mac.

Richard.Taylor
User level: Level 7 (25,466 points)

Oct 27, 2026 7:36 AM in response to squirrelybush

As Mac Jim ID said, iCloud just isn't meant as a backup service. "Backup" usually means that you capture files at a moment in time, so if you accidentally mess one up, you can go "back up" in time to an earlier version. iCloud Drive and iCloud Photos synchronize, i. e. mirrors, what's on the device, so there's no going back. And the Mobile Backup only goes back one day, enough to restore after buying a new phone or after a disaster.


Unfortunately, if you don't keep your own backups to an external drive, then there really isn't any place else to look. To back up your pictures you can just plug in an external drive, select the pictures, and use Share>Save to Files. Alternatively, you can backup to a computer:

Transfer photos and videos from your iPhone or iPad to your Mac or PC

If you haven't done one of those backups, then your remaining pictures and files continue to be in peril. 

Kilgore-Trout
User level: Level 8 (43,363 points)

Oct 26, 2026 12:02 PM in response to squirrelybush

The only back up available will be the last one (for each device).

Originally posted at discussions.apple.com/thread/256383444