How can I access data from my iPhone with a black screen to Mac?

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How can I access data from my iPhone with a black screen to Mac?

I have an old iPhone 8 Plus that had water damage and the screen has never worked since. I did just manage to identify it on my Mac connecting with USB. The data available is very minimal. The photos say that I am using iCloud so they aren't available. I managed to find a few documents that I used in a scanner app. I don't know where everything is or how I can access data and photos. I checked my iCloud and the photos from the phone are not there so I have no idea how to get them. I have done a backup but when I go to the folder in Finder, the backup is just gibberish ( all kinds of folders). I did select not to encrypt the backup so Im not sure what to do next.

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Original Title: Iphone backup to Mac/Black Screen

Earlier iPhone models

Posted on Aug 13, 2025 06:58 PM

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Answer 1

Aug 14, 2025 08:51 AM in response to Jackie7394

Jackie7394 wrote: … The photos say that I am using iCloud so they aren't available.

If iCloud is turned on, then whatever pictures are in the phone are also at iCloud.com. Also, if iCloud is turned on, there are no pictures in the iCloud Backup. The computer backup may not be encrypted, but it's not readable. To restore a computer backup requires that that you connect a functioning iPhone that has been fully reset-- a backup replaces everything on the phone.

I'm glad there's only "minimal" data!

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