How do I bypass a forgotten security pattern without doing a hard reset?

[AC Question]

Phone is locked. Pattern has been forgotten. Is there any way past without having to do a factory reset?

 

[hallux]

Some phones allow for an unlock using the Google account after a designated number of failed unlock attempts.

 

[Rukbat]

If not, see if your carrier can help you. (Your identity and the account that the phone is on have to match, and we can't check that - they can.)

If not, sorry, no. (Booting to download mode and reflashing the ROM usually lets you use the phone again - but anything you put in the phone is gone if you do that.)