Multiple Back Ups to the Same Mac

I have various backups (finally located these) from different devices (phone/ipad) etc. I want to restore a particular backup. Searching tells me to 'enter time machine' and choose 'restore' this opens the desktop and nothing else and there are no other options. I have tried opening 'time machine preferences/select back up disc' which then prompts 'create airport time capsule' which means nothing to me tbh. Other searches tell me to restore from icloud - there is nothing there. Any advice very welcome as I spend hours every day trying to perform basic functions without much success. Thank you,