can't verify with phone number - account recovery

Erasing a device does not remove activation lock, which is tied to the AppleID used with iCloud. So erasing it won’t fix your problem as you will not be able to complete activation and setup without the AppleID password.

All you can do at this point is wait for the automated account recovery process to complete. And then going forward, be more careful with account passwords - maybe get a password manager app (mSecure, 1Password, etc) and keep the passwords you make recorded for future reference.

You can also take complete control and use a recovery key (How to generate a recovery key - Apple Support). However if you do go that route, do NOT lose or forget that 28 digit recovery key, as without it, there will be no mechanism at all to recover the account. The advantage of a recovery key, as long as you record and keep safe that 28 character key, is you don’t need Apple at all to recover an AppleID when you forget the passcode.

Contact Apple ID Support for assistance.  See the Apple Support articles below for contact information.  

Apple ID - Official Apple Support.   -

Contact Apple for help with Apple ID account security - Apple Support.  *   (Link doesn’t always load)  

Get Support      -    Work through the screens to get a chat option. You may have to pick a slightly different problem.

Apple Support schedule phone call.   -

If necessary, try Twitter

https://twitter.com/AppleSupport.    -          

From the Apple Support article below. 

Without proof of your identity via security questions and other carefully selected criteria, Apple Support can't help you reset a password or perform any other actions on your account. These policies are audited and reviewed on a regular basis.

Security and your Apple ID - Apple Support.      *

I also faced the same issue. Check this link https://support.apple.com/en-in/HT201487.

Hoping it will resolve your issue :)

This will also be a good learning opportunity about in the how age of technology things like usernames and passwords to accounts are really important. It used to be if somebody had improper access to your account all they could do was post to a BBS under your name. Now they can clear out your bank accounts and steal your identity.

agoico wrote:

But are those password managers secure?

Yes, they use high end encryption. They have been around for many years (at least mSecure and 1Password).

Regardless, for your accounts, you have to accept responsibility for remembering your passwords. Recovering an account should not be a simple, easy quick solution as that simply means a company is not being rigorous in verifying the account is actually yours to recover.

That old review isn’t even for the current version. See a more up to date review at https://www.techradar.com/reviews/msecure

I use it on several iOS, iPadOS, MacOS and one Windows 10 device. I don’t normally sync the windows 10 device since it’s a work computer so only saves work related site passwords. All the other devices sync via iCloud.

When I do want to make copies of my work passwords on my other devices (as backups in case the Lenovo dies), I just switch it to LAN sync over WiFi and make a one-way sync to my Apple devices, then turn off WiFi sync and have to Apple devices go back to iCloud sync.

Read about the service here: How to use account recovery when you can’t reset your Apple ID password - Apple Support