Apple is overdoing a security check by bricking people’s iPhones and iPads

Since the tech giant released the iOS9 update, several users have reported that their devices have stoped working and that a message reading “error 53” has appeared on their screens. It further noted that if the consumer encounters Error 53, they should contact Apple Support.

If devices have undergone repairs by third party repairs to components like the home button or the screen, the error 53 message can have devastating consequences. With subsequent restores and updates, additional security checks usually result in error 53’s being displayed on the screen. “When iOS detects that the pairing fails, touch ID, including Apple Pay, is disabled so the device remains secure”, Apple told the Guardian.

People who have upgraded to iOS 9 and had their Touch ID button repaired by an unauthorized dealer are the ones who will have this Error 53. This error is down to Touch ID and is triggered by an unauthorised technician fiddling with the sensor on an iOS 9 device.

It’s called Error 53 and those who find this error essentially end up with a bricked phone. More iPhone users are getting steamed over error 52 which basically transforms your iPhone into a paperweight. Other reports suggest Apple might also go back to the future with a 4-inch phone – last seen in Apple’s 2013 iPhone 5S – as a companion to the next generation of bigger-screen iPhones. The company has asked users to contact Apple support to resolve the issue.

The Apple Store Reuse and Recycle iPhone trade-in program that is now the company’s norm allows its customers to trade in an older iPhone model for credit toward the purchase of a new iPhone model.

So, what’s error 53?

However, this is not feasible for all users since Apple doesn’t have authorized service points in all locations and users are forced to approach third party mobile fix shops.

According to some commentators, the issue was mainly related to the fix of the fingerprint scanner which was embedded in the home button of the phone. It means that if you want to keep your warranty, you’ll have to pay more money to have your iPhone fixed at an official Apple store. The company has been finding itself more and more distressed lately, from both a financial and a creative point of view. Surely even Apple now realise it is their problem?