Morten Frank

Q: iPhone 6 has not worked for several months, after updating iOS. Caused by error 53

A couple of months ago I set my iPhone 6 to update as I went to bed and when I woke up the next morning, my iPhone was dead.

The screen has been replaced (and therefore the home button), since it was cracked. When I read about error 53 I was deeply disappointed about Apple but they got some of my respect back, for releasing the fix and owning up to it. However -  Apples guide to restoring (https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT205628) does not work for me, and the store I bought it from will not take responsibility... I've called Apple support (Denmark) and they will not take responsibility either. Apple refers me to the store from which i bought it and hence, I'm now stuck with a broken iPhone 6 worth nothing.


I've been buying and using Apples products for a long time; stationary, laptops, tablets and phones are all Apple... I'm not an "Apple fan" simply buying anything and everything that gets pushed out, regardless of the quality; I use Apple products both personally and professionally simply because of their superiority, compared to anything else on the market. It's so sad to see the quality of Apples products going south (and apparently their support too).


Has anyone else experienced problems trying to recover from error 53?

iPhone 6

Posted on Mar 23, 2016 5:55 PM

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Q: iPhone 6 has not worked for several months, after updating iOS. Caused by error 53

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  • by deggie,

    deggie deggie Mar 23, 2016 10:05 PM in response to Morten Frank
    Level 9 (54,570 points)
    iPhone
    Mar 23, 2016 10:05 PM in response to Morten Frank

    If you tried everything in the article listed and it still didn't work, and the store you bought it from is not an authorized reseller, then your only hope is going back to that store.

  • by Morten Frank,

    Morten Frank Morten Frank Mar 25, 2016 9:27 AM in response to deggie
    Level 1 (0 points)
    iPhone
    Mar 25, 2016 9:27 AM in response to deggie

    Hi Deggie.


    The store I bought it from is an authorized reseller, they are just unreasonable. They sent my phone to the repair shop for analysis, but when they realized that the screen had been replaced by a third party, they evaded their responsibilities. The store claims that the shop who replaced the screen, is responsible for the phone not working and that therefore, they will not repair or even analyze the phone. This is even though the screen was replaced 6 months before my iPhone stopped working.

     

    Facts:

    1. I bought an iPhone 6 from an authorized Apple reseller
    2. I unfortunately smashed the screen
    3. I went to a professional and well known screen repair shop (who uses non-original screens)
    4. Approximately six months after the screen was replaced, Apple releases an update for iOS rendering my iPhone 6 worthless (error 53)
    5. I deliver the phone for repair, at the authorized Apple reseller store, from which i bought it
    6. The authorized Apple reseller sends the phone to the repair shop
    7. The repair shop performs the following;
      1. Removes the front screen
      2. Realizes that the screen has been replaced with a non-original screen
      3. Assembles the iPhone, without performing any further analysis
    8. I get the response that they will not repair the phone, as the screen has been replaced with non-original parts, by a third party. That the error is caused by the screen repair shop (this is even though the error presented itself six months after the screen was replaced, and immediately after the iOS update was released)
    9. I went back to the screen repair shop and told them about the response, I got from the authorized Apple reseller store. They were so kind as to change the screen without charge, even though they knew that they were not responsible. Of course this changed nothing - the phone was still broken
    10. I went back to the authorized Apple reseller shop and tried to reason with them once again, using simple logic and common sense. However I got the same response: "We've concluded that the error is caused by the replacement of the screen, by the screen repair shop."; I replied: "But I can see from the repair report that you did not perform any actual analysis of the iPhone... as soon as you realized that the screen has been replaced, you evaded all responsibilities. How can you conclude anything on those grounds?" to which he replied: "We've concluded that the error is caused by the replacement of the screen, by the screen repair shop." - like a broken record. However he was kind enough to offer me that they repair it for a cost, that is greater that buying a new iPhone 6
    11. A couple of months later word got out that Apple themselves, was responsible for rendering my iPhone useless (error 53)
    12. Apple releases an update that should fix the problem
    13. I follow the guide released by Apple, but nothing seems to work; the iPhone is still not functioning
    14. I call Apple support Denmark who refers me to the shop, from which I bought the iPhone. I explain to Apple support that the store I bought it from, will not take responsibility. Apple support replies that they cannot take responsibility either, and that I should submit a complaint to the store I bought it from (I've already done this, but it doesn't seem to have any effect)


    In conclusion I'm stuck with an iPhone 6 worth nothing! I don't care where the responsibility lies as a consumer I think it's bad enough that Apple forces me to use my time, following some guide for repairing a phone, that I bought and they broke. Apple pushed out an update redering it useless, and the guide does not fix the problem for me, but apparently this is my problem?

  • by Rudegar,

    Rudegar Rudegar Mar 25, 2016 9:35 AM in response to Morten Frank
    Level 7 (28,611 points)
    Apple TV
    Mar 25, 2016 9:35 AM in response to Morten Frank

    it unclear if you blame the authorized Apple reseller or apple themselves or both

    if you wish to complain to apple you should use the apple feedback http://www.apple.com/feedback/

     

    writing your ills in a user helping user forum can get you nothing but sympathy

  • by Morten Frank,

    Morten Frank Morten Frank Mar 25, 2016 9:38 AM in response to Rudegar
    Level 1 (0 points)
    iPhone
    Mar 25, 2016 9:38 AM in response to Rudegar

    Hi Rudegar.

     

    I'm blaming both. It's simple; I'm stuck with a broken phone, and on one will take responsibility - I will submit a complaint... thanks.

  • by deggie,

    deggie deggie Mar 25, 2016 11:22 AM in response to Morten Frank
    Level 9 (54,570 points)
    iPhone
    Mar 25, 2016 11:22 AM in response to Morten Frank

    Did the 3rd party repair site replace your home button when they originally replaced the screen? When you went back did they replace the home button again or did they put the old one back in? Did the 3rd party repair site attempt to Restore the phone on their computer after the second install?

     

    Yours is the first one that I have seen across the internet that did not work after installing the newer version of 9.2.1 by using a computer. It is possible yours is continuing to report the error due to a defective home button on the screens that the 3rd party repair shop is using. Go back again and have them put a 3rd on and let them try to activate it on their computers. If if fails get your money back and go to a different 3rd party repair shop.

     

    The authorized reseller is not in any way responsible for this, you and the 3rd party shop are. You chose to go to a 3rd party shop to save money and it didn't work out for you. If you had read your warranty then you would have known this voids any service through Apple.

  • by Morten Frank,

    Morten Frank Morten Frank Mar 25, 2016 2:53 PM in response to deggie
    Level 1 (0 points)
    iPhone
    Mar 25, 2016 2:53 PM in response to deggie

    Okay lawyer deggie - Thanks for you insights.

    According to Danish law, the authorized Apple retail store needs to prove, that the error is in fact caused by the Apple retail store (in Denmark Apple is not above the law).

     

     

    <Edited by Host>

  • by deggie,

    deggie deggie Mar 25, 2016 2:13 PM in response to Morten Frank
    Level 9 (54,570 points)
    iPhone
    Mar 25, 2016 2:13 PM in response to Morten Frank

    No, they aren't above the law but since you have a non-Apple part (or parts) in your Apple iPhone and the phone is not working, and in fact you have had a second non-Apple part put in it and it still doesn't work, and virtually everyone else with this issue has been restored to working order with Apple's software update then almost any reasonable person is going to believe that the parts you used are causing your issue. Apple did not break your product, you did when you took it to a 3rd party shop and had that screen put in. Not all 3rd party screens are created equal, some are of high quality equal to the screen installed by Apple (but still not an Apple part) and some are frankly just barely above junk. The shop you are using is fishing from the bottom of the scale. And who knows what else they broke while they were in there. Either contact Apple Customer Service like I suggested or find a more reliable 3rd party repair shop and have them diagnose and fix your iPhone.

     

    Apple did not break your iPhone, you did and they aren't mistreating you. Take responsibility for your own choices.