New phone I cloud back up

Did you use iCloud Photos on the iPhone 7? If so, they are not part of the backup but should sync to the new device when you sign into iCloud with the same AppleID on the new device.

There are two sources of data when restoring or setting up a new device. Some data is synchronized to iCloud and should sync back - Notes in icloud, messages in icloud, contacts, calendars in icloud, photos in icloud.

Other data associated with Apps is in the icloud backup, and is restored when restoring a device with that icloud backup file. Obviously, the icloud backup file must exist in your icloud account before you can restore a device with it.

If you do not use iCLoud photos, then photos are part of the iCloud backup, and will only be recoverable if the backup already exists.

Thanks Ferd, appreciate that comment - I wish there was an Apple support document that explained where people’s data lives - the difference between iCloud’s data sync services, and whats in an iCloud backup. Since setting up a new device or restoring an existing device involves both types of data, it should be explained clearly to folks somewhere? Given iCloud is both a backup service, and a sync service, this needs to be clarified for users to understand it all. Especially that distinction between the use of iCloud photos or not - all of this is in multiple support documents, but should be in one summary document.

If you previously backed up your iPhone 7, you can use that backup to restore the data to your iPhone 11: Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch from a backup - Apple Support

If your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch won't turn on or is frozen - Apple Support offers some troubleshooting tips.

Describe why the iPhone 7 doesn't work.

Without that piece of information, I would reluctantly say, that you have little or no hope to recover your data.

Great answer.

You captured the essence of trying to assist other users facing those issues. That’s why I appreciated your response. My attempt to provide an answer was failing.