14 DAY TRIAL // Earlier today, it has emerged that a number of iPhone devices that were updated to iOS 9 got stuck with an unexpected “Error 53” that pretty much bricked them completely and made it impossible to boot into iOS or access any data stored on the phones.
At first glance, it looked like the upgrade to iOS 9 “punished” iPhones for using unauthorized components, as all the bricked devices got one thing in common: they were all repaired in non-Apple service centers and were using uncertified parts.
In a statement for Gizmodo, Apple confirms that the fatal Error 53 is what you’ll get for putting unauthorized hardware in an iPhone.
“We take customer security very seriously and Error 53 is the result of security checks designed to protect our customers. iOS checks that the Touch ID sensor in your iPhone or iPad correctly matches your device’s other components. If iOS finds a mismatch, the check fails and Touch ID, including for Apple Pay use, is disabled. This security measure is necessary to protect your device and prevent a fraudulent Touch ID sensor from being used. If a customer encounters Error 53, we encourage them to contact Apple Support,” a company spokesperson was quoted as saying.
No warranty, no fix
So basically, if you’re one of those who got the fatal Error 53, it’s because someone at the service center that repaired your iPhone messed with the Touch ID sensor. Apple says this is a security feature to make sure that no one gets around the security system of the iPhone, so it fully bricks your device in order to avoid providing someone else with access to your data.
And obviously, the company claims that bricked device owners should contact Apple Support for assistance. But since all these iPhones have already been repaired in non-Apple service centers, hence no more warranty, Apple can do only little about them.
We’re still looking for a workaround to address this error and will update the article when more information is available.