Forgot my password. What do I do without erasing the phone

I presume you mean passcode since you are worried about erasing your device (which you may have to if what you want is what I think you want).

If you see a waiting period you can try again after the timer ends. If you actually have a disabled device or forgotten device passcode, refer to this support article for various methods that you can use to resolve this. --> If you see an iPhone or iPad unavailable message or Security Lockout screen - Apple Support Which one you can use depends upon your equipment configuration. If you can use the iOS15.2+ method you may not need a computer.

How to reset your device if you are running iOS 15.2 or later:

Advance step: If you're using an eSIM, contact your carrier before trying these steps and ask for a QR code to set up your eSIM again.

1. From your device's Lock Screen, try to enter your passcode five times until the "[Device] Unavailable" screen appears and your device asks you to try again later.

2. When you're able to, continue to enter your passcode until the "Security Lockout" screen appears and you get the Erase [Device] option in the bottom corner of the screen.
 3. Tap Erase [Device], then tap Erase [Device] again to confirm.

4. Enter your Apple ID password to sign out of your Apple ID on your device.

5. Tap Erase [Device] to permanently delete all of your data and settings.

6. When your device restarts, follow the onscreen instructions to set up your device again, restore your data and settings from a backup, and set a new passcode.

If you can't follow the above steps (e.g., you are using an older iOS version), you can use a computer to reset your device --> If you forgot your iPhone passcode - Apple Support .

You can only reach the "Security Lockout" screen if you have an active cellular or Wi-Fi connection and previously enabled Find My ( Find My - Official Apple Support ) on your device. After you try to enter your password ten times, your device will either erase itself or show Security Lockout and the option to Erase [Device] without a timer, depending on how you previously set up your device. 

Read the support article for full information. You can also watch the 5 min. 16 sec. video "How to restore your iPhone if you forgot your passcode" at https://www.youtube.com/watch/7s8-zLG9ySQ

Whichever method you use will result in erasing the iPhone. You can, however, restore it from a backup as described in this support article --> Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch from a backup - Apple Support

Here are resources if you are prompted for your username and password and have forgotten them:

If you forgot your Apple ID email address or phone number - Apple Support Note that typically this is an email address you use.

If you forgot your Apple ID password - Apple Support

If you do not have a computer, use this link Find Locations to find an Apple service location, or ask a friend if you can use theirs.

1. Use Touch ID or Face ID: If your iPhone supports Touch ID or Face ID, you can try using these biometric authentication methods to unlock your phone.
2. Restart your iPhone: Restarting your iPhone can sometimes resolve minor software glitches that may be affecting your password entry.
3. Check for iCloud Keychain: If you have iCloud Keychain enabled and you've saved your password there, you might be able to retrieve it on another device linked to the same Apple ID.
4. Try Recovery Mode: If you've backed up your iPhone recently and you're okay with restoring your device, you can use Recovery Mode to erase the device and then restore from the backup. Here's how to do it:

• • Connect your iPhone to a computer with iTunes (or Finder, if you have macOS Catalina or later).
  • Follow the instructions to enter Recovery Mode. For example, on an iPhone 8 or newer, quickly press and release the Volume Up button, then quickly press and release the Volume Down button, and finally, press and hold the Side button until you see the recovery mode screen.
  • Choose the "Restore" option when prompted. This will erase your iPhone and install the latest iOS version.
  • After the process completes, you can restore your data from the backup.

Contact Apple Support: If none of the above methods work, it's best to get in touch with Apple Support. They might be able to help you through additional steps or provide guidance based on your specific situation.

Remember that your iPhone's security is essential to protect your personal data, so it's important to follow Apple's security measures to regain access. If you end up not being able to recover the password, erasing the iPhone and setting it up as new may be the only option to gain access again. Make sure to regularly back up your data to prevent significant data loss in the future.

MyMacComputr wrote:

Contact Apple Support: If none of the above methods work, it's best to get in touch with Apple Support. They might be able to help you through additional steps or provide guidance based on your specific situation.

Apple Support cannot unlock a phone if the user has forgotten the password.

I forgot my password Pls what do I do as I do not want to erase my iphone

Not sure if you are looking for another long post with multiple links to other documents, or whether you are simply looking for an answer to your question.

Unfortunately, it is already too late to save the data on the phone, so you have two options:

1) Do nothing and the phone will remain just as it is now

2) Reset / erase the phone and then set it up again, hopefully using a recent backup, so your phone will look just like it did before you forgot the passcode