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).
December 18, 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.
Apple Support
support.apple.com › en-us › 105090
If you see an iPhone, iPad, or Apple Vision Pro unavailable message or Security Lockout screen - Apple Support
From your device's Lock Screen, try to enter your passcode until the "[Device] Unavailable" screen appears. ... On the Security Lockout screen, tap Start [Device] Reset to confirm. Enter your Apple Account password to sign out of your Apple Account on your device.
someone tried to log in many times and filed but i do remember the passcode, is there a way to not lose all data?
If it says security lockout or disabled, you can force an update with a computer and it will Lock it out once more for an hour, then give you one more shot to put in the passcode. This would not remove the data unless the update fails or you click restore. You would need to put the phone in recovery mode. More on reddit.com
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July 24, 2022This iPhone is in security lockout. You c… - Apple Community
My iPhone is saying this :This iPhone is in security lockout. You can try to try your pass code again in (null) you can race or and reset this iPhone now. how do I try to get in with the pass code in null? ... You will have to either enter your correct passcode when the elapsed time is up or ... More on discussions.apple.com
Try passcode again in null - Apple Community
Posted on May 10, 2022 10:39 AM · Posted on May 10, 2022 11:49 AM More on discussions.apple.com
You can try your passcode again in (null) - Apple Community
The better response to a complete lockout message should have not show the message You can try your passcode again in (null) at all, this way people, users, or humans can not misinterpreted the message that there is still a chance to unlock the phone without losing their data. ... This iPhone is in security ... More on discussions.apple.com
How to enter iPhone passcode in null?
In fact, it is impossible to enter your iPhone passcode in null. When seeing the support.apple.com/iphone/passcode null error, you can try the above solutions to fix the error. Or you can directly using MagFone iPhone Unlocker to remove the screen passcode soon.
magfone.com
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]
How many attempts before seeing iPhone Security Lock null?
Apple allows users to enter the wrong passcode up to 10 times on the iPhone Lock Screen. After making several attempts to unlock your iPhone with the wrong passcode, you will see an iPhone Unavailable message or a Security Lockout screen. However, when more than 10 attempts are made to enter the wrong passcode, your iPhone will be in Security Lockout null.
magfone.com
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]
How to unlock iPhone in null without losing data?
If you want to unlock your iPhone in null without losing data, you can refer to the solution introduced in Part 2. Actually, it is a bit possible to fix the iPhone Security Lockout null error without losing data. After unlocking iPhone in null mode, you can restore your data and settings from a backup.
magfone.com
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]
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
February 10, 2026 - In this case, you can no longer try entering the lock screen passcode and the iPhone is permanently disabled. The only way to use it again is to reset it, which means losing all your data.
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 - Part 4. Alternative Ways to Fix ... Again in Null" message is an unusual one, and it typically indicates a more serious issue with your iPhone's operating system....
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 - Continued attempts result in a security lockout with the message "This iPhone is in security lockout. You can try your passcode again in (null), or you can erase and reset this iPhone now."
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
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.
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!
January 19, 2026 - If you updated your passcode within the last 72 hours and then forgot it, Apple now allows you to use your old passcode to reset the timer. This is the only method that fixes the error without data loss.
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 - You can try 10 attempts before the security lockout is null. Soon after your 10th attempt, you will witness this error text and do not allow you to type the passcode further. There is no way to enter the passcode after trying the last attempt. You can try third-party tools like the UnlcokGo ...
Passixer
passixer.com › fix › you-can-try-your-passcode-again-in-null.html
'You Can Try Your Passcode Again in Null' Error iPhone [Fixes]
... On the Unavailable/Security Lockout screen, locate the Erase iPhone icon at the bottom right corner of your screen and click on it. Next, you will be directed to a screen displaying the consequence of your action. If you don’t mind losing your data, click Erase iPhone again.
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?
July 24, 2022 - If it says security lockout or disabled, you can force an update with a computer and it will Lock it out once more for an hour, then give you one more shot to put in the passcode.
iMobie
imobie.com › home › iphone unlocker › how to unlock iphone security lockout
iPhone Security Lockout Meaning and 4 Ways to Fix
August 15, 2025 - When your iPhone displays the message “Security Lockout“, it means that too many incorrect passcode attempts have been made, triggering a security feature designed to prevent unauthorized access.
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.
AppGeeker
appgeeker.com › unlock › security-lockout-iphone.html
What to Do When iPhone is in Security Lockout - 3 Fixes
December 8, 2025 - While your iPhone goes to Security Lockout screen with a 15 minutes timer after the ninth wrong attempt to enter your passcode, there is one other option appearing on the bottom right corner of the screen — Erase iPhone. This is an new feature Apple adds in the iOS 15.2 or newer to help user ...
Apple Community
discussions.apple.com › thread › 255961300
This iPhone is in security lockout. You c… - Apple Community
February 7, 2025 - You can try to try your pass code again in (null) you can race or and reset this iPhone now. how do I try to get in with the pass code in null? ... You will have to either enter your correct passcode when the elapsed time is up or use your Apple Account and password to erase and restore your iPhone.
Softwaredive
softwaredive.com › home › resources › how to fix iphone unavailable lock screen – 6 solutions
How to Fix iPhone Unavailable Lock Screen - 6 Solutions - SoftwareDive.com
March 22, 2026 - Erase All Content and settings, This iPhone is in Security lockout. You can try your passcode again in [time] hours or minutes. or you can erase and reset this iPhone now, showing you the address support.apple.com/iphone/passcode.
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
March 22, 2026 - 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 ...
Apple Community
discussions.apple.com › thread › 255607218
You can try your passcode again in (null) - Apple Community
May 8, 2024 - The better response to a complete lockout message should have not show the message You can try your passcode again in (null) at all, this way people, users, or humans can not misinterpreted the message that there is still a chance to unlock the phone without losing their data.
EaseUS
mobi.easeus.com › iphone unlocking tips › iphone security lockout: what does it mean and how to fix
How to Fix Security Lockout on iPhone in 2026 - EaseUS
January 21, 2026 - If your iPhone shows "Security Lockout, try again in [number] minutes/hours," you still can unlock your iPhone with the correct lock screen passcode. If you forgot iPhone passcode completely, you have to erase your iPhone to get it unlocked, ...