what do i do if my sleep button is broken and i forgot my password

Hello there, markfromghresham.

It sounds like you've forgotten the password for your iPhone and are unable to perform troubleshooting steps as your Sleep/Wake button is broken. The following Knowledge Base article provides some alternate recommendations for restoring your phone:

If you forgot the passcode for your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, or your device is disabled

If you enter the wrong passcode in to an iOS device six times in a row, you'll be locked out and a message will say that your device is disabled.

Pick a method to erase

Unless you made a backup before you forgot your passcode, there isn't a way to save your device's data. You'll need to erase your device, which deletes all of your data and settings:

• If you've synced with iTunes, use these steps.
• If you're signed in to iCloud and Find My iPhone is enabled, use these steps.
• If you don't use iCloud and you can't sync or connect with iTunes, use recovery mode.

Restore using iTunes

If you've synced your device with iTunes, you can restore your device.

1. Connect your device to the computer you synced with.
2. Open iTunes. If asked for a passcode, try another computer you've synced with, or use recovery mode.
3. Wait for iTunes to sync your device and make a backup. If it doesn't, learn what to do.
4. Once the sync and backup have finished,click Restore [your device].
   
5. When you reach the Set Up screen while restoring your iOS device, tap Restore from iTunes backup.
6. Select your device in iTunes. Look at the date and size of each backup and pick the most relevant one.

Erase using Find my iPhone

If you set up Find My iPhone on your iOS device or Mac, you can use iCloud to erase and restore it.

1. From another device, go to icloud.com/find.
2. If prompted, sign in with your Apple ID.
3. Click All Devices at the top of your browser window.
4. Select the device you want to erase.
5. Click Erase [device] to erase your device and its passcode.
6. Now you can either restore from a backup or set up as new.

If your device isn't connected to a Wi-Fi or cellular network, you can't erase it with Find My iPhone.

Ultimately, though the article recommends this if you can't proceed due to the button:

Get more help

If you can’t force restart or use recovery mode because of broken buttons, contact Apple Support.

Thanks for being a part of Apple Support Communities.

Kind Regards.