iPhones 'disabled' if Apple detects third-party repairs

**Monseratto** · February 6th, 2016 11:47 AM

Have your iPhone repaired in Greenhills at your own risk...

iPhones 'disabled' if Apple detects third-party repairs - BBC News

The latest software update for iPhone 6 handsets is allegedly rendering the devices useless if it detects repairs not carried out by Apple.

The problem is known as "error 53" and has appeared in Apple products before.

The Guardian reports that users' phones were disabled after the Touch ID home button was repaired by a non-Apple engineer.

The issue appears to arise once devices have been updated to the latest operating system, iOS 9.

In its report, the Guardian cites the experiences of a freelance photographer, Antonio Olmos, who says the problem occurred on his phone after he upgraded its software.

"When Olmos, who says he has spent thousands of pounds on Apple products over the years, took it to an Apple store in London, staff told him there was nothing they could do, and that his phone was now junk," the paper notes.

Photos 'irretrievable'

Many iPhone 6 customers have been discussing error 53 online.

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.

"I did get the front screen replaced, and I understand that it's now considered "tampered with", but at least let me use my iPhone on the old IOS system... I can't retrieve old photos or important documents I once had."

Apple told the paper that iPhone software checks whether any repairs were authorised by Apple.

A spokeswoman said: "When an iPhone is serviced by an unauthorised repair provider, faulty screens or other invalid components that affect the touch ID sensor could cause the check to fail if the pairing cannot be validated.

"With a subsequent update or restore, additional security checks result in an 'error 53' being displayed."

Apple has advised users facing the problem to contact Apple support.

**EQAddict** · February 6th, 2016 12:39 PM

Yeah saw this as well. This is terrible news for the folks in GH and other areas. I mean that's literally half their service revenue. Wawa naman.

**shadow** · February 6th, 2016 12:42 PM

Read about it this morning, from what I understand it's just the touch ID hardware thats affected if you have it replace since it's security hazard.

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**machine.pistol** · February 6th, 2016 12:42 PM

Oh wow. It's good I only have a 5s whose LCD was replaced outside of the Apple network.

**yebo** · February 6th, 2016 12:57 PM

it's like buying a car where you can only have the oil changed at the dealership eh?

so technically speaking, who owns the phone? the buyer who paid for it, or is it apple still?

**luis_** · February 6th, 2016 03:05 PM

9.2.1 version ba? Iphone 6 ng gf ko pina screen replacement ko sa greenhills before pa yung huling update dahil nabasag. As of now wala pa naman yang error 53 at working din yung touch id.

Nag inquire rin ako sa apple noon magkano pa replace ng screen sabi ba naman replace unit sila worth almost 20k hehe. Sa greenhills 2.5k siningil sa akin at maganda rin replacement screen. Hindi ko ma notice pinagkaiba side by side sa ibang unit.

**shadow** · February 6th, 2016 03:20 PM

Pag yun lang touch ID ang affected dahil daw sa fingerprint scanning.

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**luis_** · February 6th, 2016 03:35 PM

Nadadamay yung touch id pag nag palit ng screen magkadikit kasi yun. Binaklas nya yung sa luma tapos nilipat doon sa bagong screen. Ang minor palpak sa ngayon ay may konting play yung button. Di ko pa nabalik dahil medyo malayo na sa akin yung greenhills.

**jaypee10** · February 8th, 2016 01:52 PM

Originally Posted by luis_

9.2.1 version ba? Iphone 6 ng gf ko pina screen replacement ko sa greenhills before pa yung huling update dahil nabasag. As of now wala pa naman yang error 53 at working din yung touch id.

Nag inquire rin ako sa apple noon magkano pa replace ng screen sabi ba naman replace unit sila worth almost 20k hehe. Sa greenhills 2.5k siningil sa akin at maganda rin replacement screen. Hindi ko ma notice pinagkaiba side by side sa ibang unit.

sa 2.5k bro na siningil sayo akala mo naka mura ka.pero glass lang pinalitan sayo at hindi buong screen.iniscrape lang nila ung basag na glass at glue .para palitan ng glass sa ibabaw.problema niya may mga part na dead na ang touch screen,

ang replace namin sa ganyan ay 6K kung 6plus at 3k kung iphone 6 lang.
baka nga hindi pa sinalang sa vacum ung pagkaka lagay ng glass mo.dinikit lang sa mga gilid..

**luis_** · February 8th, 2016 02:05 PM

ah nakita ko bro paano ginawa. 2nd time ko na magpagawa sa kanya. yung 1st na pinagawa ko iphone 5 na basag screen din. replacement screen pinalit kasama yung lcd. 2k lang singil kaso problema yung replacement hindi maganda kulay. halatang ibang iba kapag tinabi sa kapwa iphone 5. pinamigay na rin namin yun kaya wala na ring paki hehe.

kaya bago ko ipagawa yung iphone 6, tumawag muna sa apple dahil worry ko nga yung quality ng screen na ipapalit. e ayun hindi daw sila nagrerepair at nag rereplace lang sila na so balik greenhills. haha. buong lcd ulit pinalitan tapos dinukot nga lang yung sa touch id sa luma at nilagay doon sa replacement. buti ganoon ginawa dahil nag search ako lumalabas lang yung error 53 kapag may part number na hindi nag match sa original set niya. luckily rin yung quality ng replacement kapag tinabi sa iphone 6 almost the same pa rin hindi tulad nung pinalit sa iphone 5 dati.

natanong ko na rin yang palit glass lang talaga. sabi niya mas mura pero hindi niya nirerecommend dahil nag dedead spot nga. pinakita niyang sample yung phone niya sa akin dahil glass replacement lang daw ginawa niya doon. dami nga dead spot at may stripes pa.