Apple apologises, fixes Error 53

iPhone users affected by Error 53 can now restore their devices or seek a refund for new ones they bought as result.

---

Apple has apologised for the disastrous Error 53 bug that rendered thousands of iPhones unusable, and has issued a fix for victims.

Users can now bring their iPhones back to life by downloading an iPhone update.

The tech giant has also offered to reimburse users who paid for an out-of-warranty replacement of their device out of their own pockets.

Error 53, which drew widespread attention on technology news sites about two weeks ago, essentially bricked iPhone 6 and iPhone 6S handsets when users allowed non-Apple-certified repairers to replace their devices' Touch ID-equipped home buttons.

After the non-certified repairs, an affected device would operate as usual until the user updated its iOS or attempted to restore their device's memory from a backup. Apple's software would then detect a part that wasn't paired with the device (as only authorised Apple repairers can do), and shut the device down permanently.

Apple initially defended the error as a "security measure," claiming it was necessary in order to prevent cyber criminals from using fraudulent Touch ID sensors to break into users' devices and possibly make payments from their accounts using Apple Pay.

Sceptical users were quick to point out the flaws in Apple's explanation; for example that the alleged "security measure" is easy for cyber criminals to avoid if it only takes effect after an iOS update.

Error 53 victims can now restore their iPhones by installing the latest iTunes update on their Mac or PC notebooks or desktop, plugging the phone into the computer, force restarting it, and subsequently restoring the device.

While Apple initially sidestepped responsibility for replacing users' iPhones by arguing that users had violated Apple's terms and conditions by seeking unauthorised repairs, the company is now reportedly offering refunds for new iPhones to users who bought replacements out of their own pockets when error 53 voided their original devices.