What Is iPhone Error 53 and How Do You Fix It? GA S REGULAR Menu Lifewire Tech for Humans Newsletter! Search Close GO Computers, Laptops & Tablets > Apple
What Is iPhone Error 53 and How Do You Fix It?
Update or restore your iPhone to get it working again
By Sam Costello Sam Costello Writer Ithaca College Sam Costello has been writing about tech since 2000. His writing has appeared in publications such as CNN.com, PC World, InfoWord, and many others. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on June 12, 2020 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Apple Macs iPad iPhone error 53 is a somewhat obscure problem that can cause an iPhone to not work. It's important to understand what it is, what causes it, and how to avoid it. According to most reports, error 53 may occur under the following certain conditions: You own an iPhone 6, 6 Plus, 6S, or 6S Plus. The phone has iOS 8.3 or higher. You are trying to update the OS or restore the iPhone. A hardware repair was performed on the phone by someone other than Apple. You are trying to restore an iOS device using macOS Catalina 10.15, macOS Mojave 10.14 or earlier, or a PC with iTunes. yuoak / DigitalVision Vectors / Getty Images Causes of iPhone Error 53
In its error code page, Apple lumps error 53 in with several dozen other hardware problems and provides some generic suggestions. The current version of the page does not provide a useful explanation for what causes error 53, but an older version of the page claimed the following: If your iOS device has Touch ID, iOS checks that the Touch ID sensor matches your device's other components during an update or restore. This check keeps your device and the iOS features related to Touch ID secure. When iOS finds an unidentified or unexpected Touch ID module, the check fails. The important part is that the Touch ID fingerprint sensor is matched to the other hardware components of that device, such as the motherboard or cable that connects the Touch ID sensor to the motherboard. Apple prefers that Apple parts are used in an iPhone. Apple has strict security around Touch ID. Touch ID uses fingerprint data, which must be protected for reasons of personal identity. It's also used to secure both your iPhone and Apple Pay data. An iPhone whose Touch ID unit does not match the rest of its hardware might have been tampered with, making it vulnerable to attack. Since the components of the iPhone are aware of each other, getting a repair with components that don't match can cause iPhone error 53. For example, you may think you can repair a cracked screen or a broken Home button with any compatible part. According to Apple, you may get the error if those parts don't match—something many third-party repair shops may be unaware of. If you see error 53, it's most likely because you had a repair done using parts that don't match each other. Any repair made to an iPhone by anyone other than Apple or an authorized third-party vendor voids the warranty. To avoid a problem with your warranty and error 53, always get repairs from Apple or an authorized provider. How to Fix iPhone Error 53
Follow these steps to update or restore your device so that it works properly again. Update the iPhone operating system. Apple fixed iPhone Error 53 with the release of iOS 9.2.1. This update allows people whose phones have been hit with error 53 to restore the phone on their own, without contacting Apple or paying Apple for repairs. Restore the iPhone. If updating iOS does not solve the problem, follow Apple's error-specific instructions for restoring a device with an iPhone Error 53. Contact Apple support. If none of the above works, contact Apple customer support or make an appointment with an Apple Genius bar. FAQ How can I downgrade iPhone firmware to its state before error 53? If you want to downgrade your iOS without losing data, download the old iOS version to your computer, then turn off Find My iPhone and put your device into Recovery Mode. Next, connect your iPhone to the computer you usually sync it to, open iTunes, and restore your phone in iTunes. Finally, restore the backed-up data to the phone. How do I fix error 53 on iPhone 5S when the phone won't connect to iTunes? First, make sure that your computer has the latest version of iTunes, then connect your device to your computer with a USB cable. Next, locate your device on your computer and select Update when you see the option to Restore or Update. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Unlock an iPhone Without a Passcode Here's How to Fix An iPhone That Won't Turn Off How to Fix iPhone Error 4013 6 Ways to Fix It When AirPods Won't Connect or Go Into Pairing Mode How to Fix 'iPhone Is Disabled' Error How to Reset Restrictions Passcode on an iPhone How to Easily Fix the iPhone White Screen of Death Error Code 0xc00000e9: What It Means and How to Fix It Where to Download iPhone Manuals for Every Model Everything You Need to Know About iPhone Touch Disease What Is a 401 Unauthorized Error and How Do You Fix It? Error 0x8007045d: What It Is and How to Fix It How to Fix iPhone Personal Hotspot That's Not Working How to Fix it When Your iPhone Won't Connect to Wi-Fi How to Get Into and Out of iPhone Recovery Mode 8 Ways to Fix It When an iPhone Speaker Is Not Working Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies