I am trying to unlock an old phone that I have but the the AppleID is connected to an email that I no longer have access to

Hello haleygenovese95,

If you have not already, follow these steps to reset your password:

On your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Apple Watch with watchOS 8 or later

1. Go to Settings.

2. Tap [your name] > Password & Security > Change Password.

3. If you're signed into iCloud and have a passcode enabled, you'll be prompted to enter the passcode for your device.

4. Follow the onscreen steps to update your password.

For steps involving other devices, look here: If you forgot your Apple ID password - Apple Support

If the issue involves receiving an authentication code: Get a verification code and sign in with two-factor authentication - Apple Support

If you are not able to get the code using those methods, resetting the password for your Apple ID will also provide access. Here are a couple ways to do that: If you forgot your Apple ID password - Apple Support

If you are not able to receive the code using any of the methods outlined above, then the next step would be to start the account recovery process. Those instructions can be found here: How to use account recovery when you can’t reset your Apple ID password - Apple Support

Have a good day.