Q&A: Apple’s Error 53

What is it?

Error 53 has been knocking around for a while. Essentially, it means your iPhone has detected something about its TouchID sensor that isn’t quite right, and it has shut your phone down. It can mean the death of your iPhone, and there seems to be very little comeback for most of users who are experiencing the problem.

Why is it happening?

According to reports, it is third party repairs that affect the ‘home’ button on the iPhone 6 and above - the TouchID fingerprint sensor - that are triggering the error. So if you have had the sensor or home button replaced, you may fall victim to it. But users are only encountering the error if they upgrade their iPhone software to the latest version.

There have been some reports of users getting error 53 without any hardware modifications taking place. According to Dublin-based repair shop ExpressTech, it can occur when the phone suffers water damage.

It can also affect ipads fitted with the technology.

What does Apple say?

Apple says the error is actually a security feature that prevents people from interfering with the fingerprint reader.

“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.”

Can it be fixed?

It depends. ExpressTech’s Graham Kennedy said the company had seen a number of phones hit with this error, some because of a problem with the TouchID sensor itself and others because there was an issue with the cable connecting the sensor to the motherboard. If it’s the latter, Kennedy said they had some success with replacing the cable, restoring the phone to a fully functional iPhone. But if the home button and TouchID sensor has been replaced completely by a third party, the error is - right now, at least - permanent. Basically, your expensive iPhone is a brick.

Error 53 has been knocking around for a while, but it was after the introduction of iOS 9 that the number of reports spiked.

What are consumers saying?

Those with bricked iPhones are, understandably, a bit peeved. There have been suggestions that the company should have been upfront about the possibility that third party repairs could cause a problem with handsets.

What should I do?

If your phone has been repaired by a third-party repair shop and you’ve upgraded the software since, you may escape the dreaded error 53. If you replaced the home button and you haven’t updated the software yet, and you don’t have the original sensor any more, sit tight and see what happens in the next few weeks.

If your phone needs a repair, with bring it to an authorised Apple repair centre, or ensure that the repair shop you are entrusting your device to carries out checks on the TouchID sensor to see if it is still functioning properly both before and after the repair.