‘Error 53’: Your repaired iPhone is dead

The latest iPhone 6 software update is triggering a disturbing error that effectively “bricks” your phone with no prospect of recovering data.

Those who have had repairs related to the home button or screen carried out on their iPhones by non-authorized Apple personal are finding that, with iOS 9, the device can’t verify the touch sensor – resulting in Apple locking down the smartphone with error 53. Your device may get bricked and will show “Error 53”.

The error is affecting the iPhone 6, in cases where the home button or Touch ID sensor has been repaired and replaced by a third-party piece of hardware, including refurbished models.

The error is generated by security checks created to protect its customers, according to Apple. Should there be a mismatch, it would disable Apple Pay services, along with Touch ID authentication.

“We protect fingerprint data using a secure enclave, which is uniquely paired to the touch ID sensor”. There is also an option to trade your old phone for an Apple Store Gift Card.

Last week, some criticised the company for integrating a new security error that shuts phones down if they detect that they have been tampered with.

Users are now being warned by the others to just ignore the update if they know or if they are unsure how error 53 works. “If a customer encounters Error 53, we encourage them to contact Apple Support”, Apple said in an emailed statement to BGR India. However, if you are facing the same issue, you will find that your iPhone (if updated) will display the Error 53 message. Apple said its software checks that the fingerprint sensor matches the device’s other components.

Kyle Wiens from iFixit, “the free fix guide for everything, written by everyone”, believes there is something more sinister behind the feature, telling The Guardian that “all along, Apple’s view is that it does not want third parties carrying out repairs to its products, and this looks like an obvious extension of that”.

Apple advises anyone who has experienced the problem should contact them, visit an Apple store, or an authorised Apple provider.

Sending the damaged iPhone 6 to Apple still won’t solve the problem, which leads to only one solution: replacing the broken unit.