- Thousands of iPhone 6 users claim they have been left holding almost worthless phones because Apple’s latest operating system permanently disables the handset if it detects that a repair has been carried out by a non-Apple technician.
Relatively few people outside the tech world are aware of the so-called “error 53” problem, but if it happens to you you’ll know about it. And according to one specialist journalist, it “will kill your iPhone”.
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But the problem only comes to light when the latest version of Apple’s iPhone software, iOS 9, is installed. Indeed, the phone may have been working perfectly for weeks or months since a repair or being damaged.
I currently work at a cell phone repair shop, and have been since my sophomore year of college (approx 5 years). Error 53 is an issue with iPhones 5s and above (the ones with the fingerprint scanner). These home buttons are married to the motherboard which is what allows iTunes/Apple to recognize if a new one has been installed. When getting a screen replaced, there is no reason not to use the original home button. The home button can be transferred to the new screen. So why does Error 53 happen? Shoddy repair jobs. The buttons and their flexes (flat bundle of cables) are very fragile. Even the slightest tear can render a flex inoperable. When a repair shop has to replace a home button it's because they were removing the home button too fast and tore the flex. That or they were trying to snag an OEM part, which is a shady practice. Error 53 sucks. But if a repair shop is going a good repair, there shouldn't be an issue.
That makes a bit more sense. I can only imagine though, that in some places, your only option would be a crappy repair shop or just get a new phone. That could be a rock and a hard place for a lot of people.But if a repair shop is going a good repair, there shouldn't be an issue.
And here's an article backing that up. Crazy world.