The issue came to light earlier this month after The Guardian published a widely-cited article looking into “error 53.” The problem affects Apple’s iPhone 6 and 6S handsets where the Touch ID fingerprint sensor is integrated into the home button.
Owners who have taken their phone to a third-party repair shop for a home button repair have been left with unusable phones. Because the Touch ID sensor with the user’s credentials is linked to the home button, iOS refuses to start if it detects the button has been tampered with or changed. This results in the “error 53” message and a bricked device for people who just want their phone to be repaired for far less than Apple’s prices.
Once triggered with a recent software update, error 53 leaves the iPhone completely dead. There is no known method to persuade iOS to boot up again with even a software restore impossible. The new installation would still detect the home button as invalid and refuse to load. The phone is effectively worthless — unusable and unsellable.
Apple’s lack of warning to users that repairs may leave their iPhone bricked has been interpreted by many as a sign that it is trying to drive third-party repair stores out of business. By forcing customers to return to an Apple Store for costly repairs, consumers are left without choice or a cheaper option.
This week, Apple backed down on the problem and posted a support page to help users restore bricked iPhones to operation. It is reversing the iOS update, issuing a new patch for iOS 9.2.1 that should halt “error 53.” Apple claims the security check “wasn’t intended” to affect customers, suggesting it hadn’t properly evaluated the effects of adding it.
The company said: “After you try to update or restore your iOS device in iTunes on your Mac or PC, you might see error 53 in iTunes and “Connect to iTunes” on your device. Error 53 appears when a device fails a security test. This test was designed to check whether Touch ID works properly before the device leaves the factory, and wasn’t intended to affect customers.”
Phones that are already bricked have to be restored using iTunes. iTunes should be updated and the phone connected with USB. The software should provide an option to restore the phone. Full instructions can be viewed on Apple’s website.
Unlucky customers who may have already paid for a brand-new handset to replace a bricked phone will also be supported by Apple. The company advises people who have bought an out-of-warranty device replacement because of error 53 to contact Apple Support directly and ask about obtaining a refund for the value of the new phone.
