You are correct, she would have had to set up a password to get locked out like this. Answer from StoniePony on reddit.com
Reddit
reddit.com › r/applehelp › my grandmother's iphonex with supposedly no password is now locked out (null).
r/applehelp on Reddit: My grandmother's IPhoneX with supposedly no password is now locked out (null).
October 15, 2023 -
I'm the tech support grandchild and my grandmother (with Alzheimer's) came to me asking why her phone was locked out with a message stating "This iphone is in security lockout. you can try your passcode again in (null)". Her phone was originally setup to not have a password - but for this to happen I'm assuming she set one on her own and forgot what it was, locking her out of her phone after too many attempts. Is there some edge case that would cause this to happen with no password or is my assumption that this is her own doing in fact correct?
Edit: I don't know what IOS version it was on.
Reddit
reddit.com › r/applehelp › someone tried to log in many times and filed but i do remember the passcode, is there a way to not lose all data?
r/applehelp on Reddit: someone tried to log in many times and filed but i do remember the passcode, is there a way to not lose all data?
December 26, 2021 - this is not the original screenshot. the device that is locked says: “This iPhone is in security lockout. You can try your passcode again in (null), or you can erase and reset this iPhone now.
Videos
Reddit
reddit.com › r/applehelp › aunt says this appeared as soon as they entered mexico on their trip (little cousins phone) and got no password attempts. what could have caused this?
r/applehelp on Reddit: Aunt says this appeared as soon as they entered Mexico on their trip (little cousins phone) and got no password attempts. What could have caused this?
May 23, 2022 - The phrasing makes it clear that (null) usually displays the amount of time before your next try to enter a passcode. If too many attempts have been made, it should say, “You have no more passcode tries remaining,” instead of “You can ...
Reddit
reddit.com › r/applehelp › this is the photo. someone else, not me tried to enter the passcode many times, that it led the iphone, to the security lock. is there a way to unlock it without losing all of my data since i know the passcode?
r/applehelp on Reddit: this is the photo. someone else, not me tried to enter the passcode many times, that it led the iPhone, to the security lock. is there a way to unlock it without losing all of my data since i know the passcode?
July 24, 2022 - The device will still become disabled and you will still need to restore it to use it again. The only thing you can really do to prevent lockout is to turn off the passcode, which is very risky for security.
Reddit
reddit.com › user/victormoreno559 › this iphone is in security lockout. you can try your passcode again in (null)
[Mature Content] r/u_Victormoreno559 on Reddit: this iphone is in security lockout. you can try your passcode again in (null)
June 21, 2022 - No, I tried updating it thru iTunes, then it seemed like it worked, it gave me time , to try again in 55 minutes.
Tenorshare
tenorshare.com › unlock-iphone › you-can-try-your-passcode-again-in-null.html
How to Fix "This iPhone Is in Security Lockout Null" 2025
August 2, 2024 - The first thing we are going to do is to explain to you what “You can try passcode again in null” means. When you enter the wrong screen lock passcode enough times, the iPhone becomes unavailable or goes into security lockout.
Apple Community
discussions.apple.com › thread › 253886654
Try passcode again in null - Apple Community
May 10, 2022 - Probably you may have entered the wrong passcode multiple times. After 10 failed attempts the iPhone will get disabled. Following this process is the only way out if your iPhone is disabled.
Softwaredive
softwaredive.com › home › resources › how to fix “you can try your passcode again in null” error [updated]
How to Fix "You Can Try Your Passcode Again in Null" Error [Updated] - SoftwareDive.com
November 17, 2025 - Before reaching the 10 failed attempts, your device will display a message indicating that you can try again after a specific wait time (e.g., “Try again in [number] minutes/hours”). If the timer is still showing, you still have chances to enter the correct passcode. However, once it displays “iPhone Unavailable” with no timer (i.e., the timer is “null”), you’ve reached the maximum 10 failed attempts.
Dr.Buho
drbuho.com › how-to › null-iphone-passcode
How to Fix "iPhone in Security Lockout Null" - Dr.Buho
May 28, 2025 - If you see “This iPhone is in security lockout. You can try your passcode again in (null),” it typically means that the device has been disabled due to too many incorrect passcode attempts.
Passixer
passixer.com › fix › you-can-try-your-passcode-again-in-null.html
'You Can Try Your Passcode Again in Null' Error iPhone [Fixes]
December 26, 2025 - Rather sourcing how to unlock the corresponding device should be what heats up the mind. If you’ve had 10 consecutive failed screen passcode attempts on your iPhone and discover the error message “You Can Try Your Passcode Again in Null”, one of the solutions recommended in this post should help you clear it.
MagFone
magfone.com › home › resource › unlock ios › how to fix you can try your passcode again in null
You Can Try Your Passcode Again in Null? Fixed! [Updated]
January 24, 2025 - If you've entered the wrong passcode ... "try again in X minutes" message usually appears. However, if the system glitches, it might display the "in null" error instead....
iToolab
itoolab.com › unlock › you-can-try-your-passcode-again-in-null
How to Fix "You Can Try Your Passcode Again in Null" Error?
August 25, 2023 - The error message “You can try your passcode again in null” means that you have made ten failed attempts to enter your passcode, and there are no more attempts left. The iPhone allows ten attempts to try with your passcode. When you enter the wrong passcode for the 10th time, you have no ...
JustAnswer
justanswer.com › mac-computers › irln1-phone-security-lockout-says-when-turn.html
How to Resolve iPhone Security Lockout and Access Your Photos
February 18, 2022 - Customer: My phone is in security lockout and it says this when I turn it on “this phone is in security lockout.you can try your passcode again in (null), or you can erase and reset this iPhone now.” I don’t want to reset it because I ...
Dr.Fone
drfone.wondershare.com › how-to › screen lock removal › ultimate guide to fix you can try your passcode again in null
Ultimate Guide To Fix You Can Try Your Passcode Again In Null
Repeatedly entering an incorrect ... a warning such as "try again in X minutes." If a system malfunction occurs, it may instead show the ambiguous "try passcode again in null" error....
UltFone
ultfone.com › home › ultfone iphone unlock › how to unlock support.apple.com/iphone/passcode (null) screen [2026 solved]
Unlock Support Apple com iPhone Passcode (Null) Screen 2026
February 3, 2026 - If your iPhone shows "support.apple.com/iphone/passcode (null)," it's due to repeated wrong passcode attempts, especially on iOS 15.2 or later. This can lead to messages like "iPhone Unavailable, try again in X minutes".
Apple Community
discussions.apple.com › thread › 254149873
Passcode in null - Apple Community
Wait for an hour to see if the screen will change to allow you to enter your passcode. If no luck, your only option at this point is to tap Erase and then set the phone up again.
TunesKit
tuneskit.com › unlock-ios › you-can-try-your-passcode-again-in-null.html
You Can Try Your Passcode Again in Null? Solutions Are Here!
December 11, 2024 - This message suggests that there's supposed to be a specific duration or timeframe mentioned after "in", indicating when you can try your passcode again. However, due to the technical issue, the system failed to retrieve or display this information ...
Quora
quora.com › Is-it-possible-to-get-out-of-iPhone-security-lockout-mode-iPhone-unavailable-with-null-attempts-left-on-passcode-without-erasing-it-to-factory-settings-There-is-no-backup
Is it possible to get out of iPhone security lockout mode (iPhone unavailable) with null attempts left on passcode, without erasing it to factory settings? There is no backup. - Quora
Answer (1 of 4): No. You’ll have to factory reset it, losing the data on it. After someone has entered the incorrect passcode numerous times, the device is locked in order to protect your data from thieves and strangers. The time to back up your data is before disaster happens. Apple makes it r...
Apple Community
discussions.apple.com › thread › 255607218
You can try your passcode again in (null) - Apple Community
May 8, 2024 - The first failed passcode attempt gave the user a response that ...You can try your passcode again in 1 minute. As the user fails to enter the correct passcode, that time changes, but it is just an algorithm that change the variable to 1 minute, 10 minutes, 1 hour, 10 hours, etc...
Apple Community
discussions.apple.com › thread › 254377239
How to try passcode again in null - Apple Community
"How to try passcode again in null: I remember my passcode but my iPhone 11 Pro Max is not allowing me to enter the password again because it security lock. How can a try my passcode again?" ... You can't. You have entered it incorrectly yoo many times. ... Hold it Right There! Being Locked Out...