Error 53 Bricking Issue in Apple’s iPhone

The updated trade-in program now allows Apple Stores to credit customers for damaged iPhone 5s, iPhone 6 or iPhone 6 Plus handsets, the story reported.

Apple iPhone 6 and 6s users are, therefore, encouraged to take very good care of their phones to prevent the need for fix.

The company, however, advised iPhone users who are experiencing such problem to contact Apple directly or its authorized provider.

iOS users who have had their devices repaired by a third-party service may be in for an unpleasant surprise when they try to update their phone’s software.

If you have replaced the display and/or the home button from a third-party service centre, your Touch ID will not be validated as “original” and it will trigger the iOS security to “kill” the iPhone permanently.

Apple claims the error message is created to protect customers, but thousands of users have complained that their iPhones have been rendered useless and beyond revival.

Apple has issued a statement on Error 53 explaining that the issue is a result of security checks on your device. iOS checks to see if your iPhone’s Touch ID sensor matches the rest of the phone’s parts and if it doesn’t, Touch ID is disabled.

According to a spokeswoman from Apple, “We protect fingerprint data using a secure enclave, which is uniquely paired to the touch ID sensor”. This feature is capable of disabling the device completely if it has been repaired by a technician not authorized by the tech giant. “When iOS finds an unidentified or unexpected Touch ID module, the check fails”. Unfortunately you drop it, and break the home button. Apple advice was not to throw your phone out jut yet.

“Without this unique pairing [betweeen the touch sensor and “secure enclave” in the phone], a malicious Touch ID sensor could be substituted, thereby gaining access to the secure enclave”.

At Apple’s discussion forums, one user named wallihall wrote: “With this update I’m unable to use the phone, and still have to pay for the phone itself”. Error 53 roughly translates to “Your phone has been bricked, TTYL!” Apple has responded this uproar over controversial Error 53.

As the Wall Street Journal points out, some customers have gone to the Apple Store only to be turned away as the error message was like “the plague”, and the unauthorized repairs had voided the device’s warranty.