Apple responded on controversial iPhone ‘Error 53’

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 wherein users can take their bricked devices to the designated service centers and get them exchanged / replaced for a new device.

Some iPhone 6 users who had their smartphones repaired by third-party technicians are reporting that a mysterious “error 53” message is permanently bricking their iPhones (via The Guardian).

He said: “The “error 53″ page on our website has had more than 183,000 hits, suggesting this is a big problem for Apple users”. However, the problem arises when the iPhone repaired by a third-party store gets a new version of the iOS.

Today Apple has confirmed that there is, indeed, a trackable reason why some unique users are receiving an “error 53” on their iPhones.

“We take customer security very seriously and Error 53 is the result of security checks created to protect our customers”, Apple said in an official statement sent to ZDNet.

The Error 53 issue that iPhone 6 owners who have upgraded their Touch ID sensors are seeing is not a bug, but a security feature, says Apple.

Faulty screens or other invalid components related to the Touch ID sensor could also cause the pairing to fail.

Essentially, as Apple has told the press, the phone’s Touch ID button needs to interact with a “secure enclave” where your fingerprints are stored.

“Error 53” is shown in those devices in which the Touch ID has been repaired by non-Apple representatives or other stores approved by them. Each Touch ID sensor is uniquely tied to the iOS device’s motherboard for additional security. Moreover whenever a new iOS update is installed on the device, apple reassures that the Touch ID sensors are replaced. If you’ve contacted Apple Support about this issue, let us know what their response has been in the comments…

So you’ve dropped your iPhone or iPad and now your home button or touch ID doesn’t work. Getting your iPhone repaired by Apple isn’t easy when you don’t live near an Apple Store. The error makes the device useless to a large extent. However, if you are facing the same issue, you will find that your iPhone (if updated) will display the Error 53 message.