IPhones ‘disabled’ if Apple detects third-party repairs

9 to 5 Mac reports that the service is to roll out in Apple stores in the USA next week, but Alphr says “given the program runs over here as well, there’s no reason to believe Apple wouldn’t bring it to the United Kingdom in time”. The error message bricks the unofficially repaired devices, because of which users permanently lose all their saved data – including messages, photos, and videos. The problems appear to occur because Apple wants to ensure that the hardware which is used to get access to everything on the phone as well as to make payments stays safe.

“If there’s a mismatch, the check fails and Touch ID is disabled”.

This means that, at least according to Apple’s standard line, it’s to prevent tampering or anything that might compromise a user’s security. The report includes a quote from an unnamed “specialist” journalist (whatever the hell that is) who claimed that Error 53 will “will kill your iPhone“.

Apple has advised users facing the problem to contact Apple support.

“I have replaced my iPhone 6 screen by a third party one, and have learned my lesson”.

The “Error 53” glitch, which was previously being considered a bug, is triggered during the software update process on iPhone 6, if the owners have had the Touch ID sensor of the handset repaired by an unofficial technician.

In the official statement, Apple said, “If your iOS device has Touch ID (pictured above), iOS checks that the Touch ID sensor matches your device’s other components during an update or restore”.

Users who have got their handsets repaired from third-party service centres and updated their iPhones to the latest versions are seeing “Error 53” pop up on their screens. Thankfully, there will soon be a more appropriate place for you to put that busted up device-Apple is launching an iPhone trade-in program.

Before this new program, Apple Store employees did not perform screen protector installations for customers’ iPhones due to the possibility of the installation of a third-party product not working properly.

It’s a move that may expand the iPhone customer pool for Apple, which could use an uptick in smartphone sales.