iPhone 6 can be restore error 53

im trying to update but my iphone 6 keeps getting stuck on the apple logo loading bar. it gets halfway then stops and on the computer screen something pops up and says (the iPhone "iPhone" could not be restored. an unkown error occured (53).)

I trying from several computers and switch cable's and the iPhone can be restore

can someone please help me with this?

iPhone 6, iOS 8.3

Posted on Sep 19, 2015 9:44 AM

Reply
22 replies

Sep 19, 2015 10:36 AM in response to adirmesi

HI

i had a similar problem. Apple is workin on a fix and will run it out in due course. If you have backed up your device reinstall the old iOS and wait for the fix to be sent out. My Iphone completely crashed and my backup in Icloud had not been stored by iCloud as the limit of 5Gb had been breached by my phones 16Gb. So I lost everything data, photos, personal and private phone numbers etc as I had to take it into the apple shop on my birthday today ( thank you for the not birthday present apple ), the phone had to be reset to factory like a new iPhone a big shock.

Mal

Nov 4, 2015 10:42 AM in response to adirmesi

Yo tengo un Iphone 6 aqui en Honduras ya no cuento con garantia y quiero saber como puedo salir del error 53, lo lleve al Taller Autorizado de Jetstereo y me dicen que aparace vinvulado y no es asi ya lo borre del mi cuenta de icloud, deberian en las proximas versiones de iOS corregir este terrible error o al menos hacer algo por los que ya no contamos con garantia.

Feb 15, 2016 11:57 AM in response to adirmesi

I took my iPhone 6 to the "Genius Bar," after attempting to update the iOS from 9.? to the next 9.? as instructed by the iPhone and getting an incomprehensible "error 53" message. I performed all the usual workarounds (Different cable, different computer, etc.). The young man took my phone "into the back" for 93 seconds (yes, I timed him) and came bouncing out with, "You have water in your phone and need a new one."

#1) No water was spilled or any other way that it even MIGHT have become wet. None!

#2) I don't know how anyone could open up an iPhone & diagnose the problem in 93 seconds or less.

#3) The phone was happily running on 9. whatever and would Still be running if I hadn't followed Apple's suggestion to update.

#4) How could a "wet" phone be running perfectly for months then and seize up only when updated?

#5) Why does the phone inspection have to occur behind closed doors?

#6) Why does the "Solution" all too often become a very expensive New iPhone?

Anyone who's read the recent Forbes Magazine article on Apple's slipping credibility in the all important Quality metric would know why I'm so skeptical.

I'm an Apple affecianado & virtual evangelist since 1984 in my position as Technology Coordinator for the high school I worked at for 30 years.

I'm Very Disappointed at my treatment by Apple!


<Edited by Host>

Feb 15, 2016 12:39 PM in response to JacaseyCED

1 & 2 All they have to do is check the moisture sensor in the SIM slot or open it up and check one of the other sensors (there are multiple ones).

3. Was the Touch ID still working?

4. Because there is a security check in the update to match the Touch ID to the security enclave.

5. Because they have a controlled environment there including a workbench.

6. They should have offered you an out-of-warranty replacement of the iPhone for $299 I believe. Did they not do so?


What did the service manager at the store say when you asked these questions?

Feb 16, 2016 5:01 AM in response to adirmesi

I was looking at a 1970 Error 53 issue on another post and they indicated that just pulling the battery cable and letting it sit for about 30 seconds and then reconnecting the battery to perform a PRAM reset fixed that Error 53 issue. I'm wondering if maybe that will also fix any other Error 53 issue where nothing internal has been altered. Or has anyone tried to just let the battery drain and see if that also resets the issue. I personally would hate to crack open the phone or have someone repair hardware that didn't need to be replaced if a simple reset will work.


Has anyone tried this with success?


Thanks

Feb 16, 2016 6:26 AM in response to David Blank2

David Blank2 wrote:


I was looking at a 1970 Error 53 issue on another post and they indicated that just pulling the battery cable and letting it sit for about 30 seconds and then reconnecting the battery to perform a PRAM reset fixed that Error 53 issue. I'm wondering if maybe that will also fix any other Error 53 issue where nothing internal has been altered. Or has anyone tried to just let the battery drain and see if that also resets the issue. I personally would hate to crack open the phone or have someone repair hardware that didn't need to be replaced if a simple reset will work.


Has anyone tried this with success?


Thanks

"Cracking open the phone" as you so eloquently put it, is what has to be done to pull the battery cable as well. Draining the battery by just letting it lie will also no drain the battery to a point that would reset the device either. There is still battery left for the purpose of holding internal information. The 1970 issue is completely different than the error 53 being discussed here. This one is generally involving issues with 3rd party repairs or failures of the Touch ID system. The Touch ID failure does not have to be due to an internal alteration, but could be a hardware failure, as the error originally involved.

Feb 16, 2016 6:42 AM in response to ChrisJ4203

Here's my concern. I have run into a couple of people that swear they have not had ANY alterations to their iPhone 6, they have never been repaired by a third party, they never got dropped, never got wet, basically perfectly good working units and all they did was perform the upgrade to iOS 9 and that's when they got the error. That's my concern. I honestly think that if it hasn't been tampered with or opened up by ANYONE, and it was perfectly working, is there anyone that can give some guidance on how to reset it. They honestly don't think they should have to pay money to fix this issue even if it's barely out of warranty as one Apple Store rep just assumed it needed a $300 board. It just doesn't make sense what options they've been given so far. What would you recommend? From reading various posts, it's obvious that there are several different ways to evoke the Error 53 brick syndrome.


Thanks!

Feb 16, 2016 6:50 AM in response to David Blank2

If they have not altered the device, then it is generally a hardware error. Most people that you see posting with this type of issue find that Touch ID is no longer working, or never did, but since they do not use it, it has never been an issue. These devices need to be taken back to Apple. Apple will deal with hardware errors as they always have, either under warranty or with an out of warranty replacement if the device is out of warranty. If out of warranty, there have been numerous independent repairs enthusiasts that have posted they can enter the device and do something. Individuals opening their devices is not recommended since that will void all warranty or post-warranty support from Apple. The decision to use a 3rd party repair is on the individual, since that will void post-warranty support as well.

Feb 16, 2016 10:29 AM in response to David Blank2

Thank you David for summing up my "error 53"

frustration so comprehensively & clearly.


iPhone 6 to the "Genius Bar," after attempting to update the iOS from 9.? to the next 9.? as instructed by the iPhone and getting an incomprehensible "error 53" message. I performed all the usual workarounds (Different cable, different computer, etc.). The young man took my phone "into the back" for 93 seconds (yes, I timed him) and came bouncing out with, "You have water in your phone and need a new one."

#1) No water was spilled or any other way that it even MIGHT have become wet. None!

#2) I don't know how anyone could open up an iPhone & diagnose the problem in 93 seconds or less.

#3) The phone was happily running on 9. whatever and would Still be running if I hadn't followed Apple's suggestion to update.

#4) How could a "wet" phone be running perfectly for months then and seize up only when updated?

#5) Why does the phone inspection have to occur behind closed doors?

#6) Why does the "Solution" all too often become a very expensive New iPhone?

Anyone who's read the recent Forbes Magazine article on Apple's slipping credibility in the all important Quality metric would know why I'm so skeptical.

I'm an Apple affecianado & virtual evangelist since 1984 in my position as Technology Coordinator for the high school I worked at for 30 years.

I'm Very Disappointed at my treatment by Apple


<Edited by Host>

Feb 16, 2016 12:15 PM in response to JacaseyCED

I know that Apple Stores are not all the same. Since I got to know many of the people my local store because i visit regularly, they don't give me any bad advice and I have only good things to say about them. But I know they aren't all the same and not all techs are even aware of everything regarding every issue. Just from my limited amount of time investigating Error 53, I think they simply might not even know how to fix all scenarios. Which i feel is understandable.


I just think they should at least perform a diagnostic and see what errors it comes up with. In your case, I would have talked to a manager right then and there and then maybe escalated to Apple Support with a higher level specialist because sometimes they actually know more than the Genius Bar people. I have found the higher level specialists to be very helpful at their Support Line. Anyway, I know that anyone that's had any tampering through a un-authorized service location trying to fix the Fingerprint ID simply isn't the route to go and unfortunately some go that route, which does lead to hardware replacement. I just haven't had any first hand experience with a know perfectly good working unit having the problem and I'm hoping there is a relatively simple way to reset it, either by disconnecting the battery.


I haven't heard if a hard reset would work either. No one has suggested that, but at this point, the simple approaches do have to be evaluated.


Anyway, I would at least get a trouble ticket going with Support, at least you get escalated upward and hopefully you get it resolved.

Feb 16, 2016 12:37 PM in response to ChrisJ4203

I understand what you are saying. NO, i don't open my devices at all, nor do I recommend that practice, nor do I recommend going to a 3rd party that isn't an authorized service provider. I only work with Apple directly.


My frustration is that if a perfectly good working unit that's not been opened by anyone experiences the Error 53 during the OS update and everything was in perfect working condition, whether it's under warranty or out of warranty. I think, or at least HOPE, that there is a relavitey simply procedure to get it working again. Whether it's a hard reset, disconnecting the battery and reconnecting it, it just seems to me that the hardware shouldn't have been damaged during the OS update process. If someone un-authorized tried to replace a Fingerprint Sensor, absolutely, that is something that definitely requires attention from an AASP or Apple directly. But there should be some diagnostic that proves that it is, in fact, a hardware issue. I'm just trying to see what will work for a scenario that seems to be unrelated to the fingerprint sensor or the 1970 issue.


Thanks!

Feb 16, 2016 2:56 PM in response to David Blank2

I can understand frustration. So you are saying that you have a device that was working perfectly, all aspects of the device were working, including the Touch ID and home button, there is no damage to the device, it was not dropped, had no possible water damage and then encountered the error 53? Then I'm saying that is a regular hardware error, not one linked to, as you said, "unrelated to the fingerprint sensor or the 1970 issue". Besides, the 1970 issue is not generating the error 53.

Feb 16, 2016 3:14 PM in response to ChrisJ4203

yes, a fully working product that's not been dropped, etc. The problem I have is how just updating the OS will cause a hardware error on a 100% perfectly working unit? The people I talked to said that the device wasn't put under diagnostics to prove an actual hardware error. Why would a simple OS update cause hardware to be replaced in a perfectly working unit prior to the update? That simply doesn't make sense. I just think maybe this is something new that people might not fully grasp yet. My gut tells me that if an OS update causes a perfectly working, non-tampered device should be able to be reset somehow without the user spending any money on hardware replacement and if so, I would think that Apple should take some ownership of the OS flaw and repair/replace without charge to the customer since the customer didn't cause the problem, the OS update did.


As far as the 1970 issue, I was just reading about it on an Apple related site and they just said that it was causing the Error, but there was a relatively simple way to reset the device by disconnecting and reconnecting the battery and the was the fix. Or at least that's what they said. No, I'm not going to reset my clock to prove it because I don't want to purposely cause any problems with my personal phone. :-) There was also another article that suggested that Apple was working on a fix to prevent any problems relating to setting the date back. This was through some of the Apple related rumor sites, which I take with a grain of salt.


I'm really not trying to be a nuisance, but I'm just trying to grasp this so that we can all give the best advice that actually gets the problem solved as quickly as possible and with Apple's full blessing. I have just never seen a software related update cause hardware problems. I'm just wondering if for future OS updates if there is a test we can perform at home before we upgrade the OS, I know Apple Genius and AASP's have those tests, but we don't and I would hate to constantly go to Apple Store or AASP to get it tested just to perform a simple OS update, but I will if I have to. I do have AppleCare on my device. :-)

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iPhone 6 can be restore error 53

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