iPhone unlock

Hey there, and welcome to Apple Support Communities davine81,

We can certainly understand your concern and see you came to us from the article If you see an iPhone or iPad unavailable message or Security Lockout screen.

To answer your question, in order to not lose your data you will need to enter the original password of the device to unlock it. If you do not remember your password and need to reset your device the data on the system will be removed. However, once the system is restored you can recover your iPhone from an iCloud backup in order to restore the missing data. Please keep in mind any new data created after the save point will be lost. Check out these steps on how to restore your device from iCloud.

" Restore your device from an iCloud backup

1. Turn on your device. You should see a Hello screen. If you already set up your device, you need to erase all of its content before you can use these steps to restore from your backup.
2. Follow the onscreen setup steps until you reach the Apps & Data screen, then tap Restore from iCloud Backup. 

3. Sign in to iCloud with your Apple ID.

4. Choose a backup. Look at the date and size of each and pick the most relevant. After you choose a backup, the transfer starts. If a message says that a newer version of software is required, follow the onscreen steps to update. If you don't see onscreen steps to help you update, learn what to do.

5. When asked, sign in with your Apple ID to restore your apps and purchases. If you've purchased iTunes or App Store content using multiple Apple IDs, you'll be asked to sign in to each. If you can't remember your password, you can tap Skip this Step and sign in later. You won't be able to use the apps until you sign in with your Apple ID.

6. Stay connected to Wi-Fi and wait for a progress bar to appear and complete. Depending on the size of the backup and the network speed, the progress bar might need a few minutes to an hour to complete. If you disconnect from Wi-Fi too soon, the progress will pause until you reconnect.

7. Now you can finish setup and enjoy your device. Content like your apps, photos, music, and other information will continue to restore in the background for the next several hours or days, depending on the amount of information there is. Try to connect often to Wi-Fi and power to let the process complete.

Get help with restoring from your iCloud backup. "

For additional information, check out this link: Restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch from a backup - Apple Support

These steps will help ensure your device is working with ease and can fix common issues like the ones you’re experiencing.

Kindest regards!