Technology giant Apple has finally released a fix for 'Error 53' which disabled iPhones. The error, which was first reported by The Guardian, affected users who had used repaired their iPhone's screen or a Touch ID-enabled home button from anyone other than the Apple Store or Apple-authorized repair center.
The problem occured when users tried to update to a newer version of iOS. The smartphone's software checks to make sure the Touch ID sensor matches the rest of the hardware. In case it doesn't match, user's phones stopped functioning.
Apple initially claimed that "Error 53" was a security measure. The company told Guardian that the data from the fingerprint is stored within its own special area of the phone.
However, many users questioned the company over the measure saying this should lead to the disabling of the Touch ID features and not the entire smartphone.
In fact, Apple is also facing a class action lawsuit over this. Law firm Pfau Cochran Vertetis Amala PLLC (PCVA) filed a class-action lawsuit to get compensation for those affected by the problem.
"The first objective is to get all the affected iPhone customers reoutfitted with working phones, and without the overwhelming costs that thousands of people are facing right now with error 53 codes and bricked phones," said Darrell Cochran, lead attorney for the suit, in a release.
Now in an interesting aboutface, Apple has released an updated version of iOS 9.2.1 for iTunes that the company claims will fix phones bricked by "Error 53".
Here's the Apple statement issued to the media
Some customers' devices are showing 'Connect to iTunes' after attempting an iOS update or a restore from iTunes on a Mac or PC. This reports as an Error 53 in iTunes and appears when a device fails a security test. This test was designed to check whether Touch ID works properly before the device leaves the factory.
Apple released a software update that allows customers who have encountered this error message to successfully restore their device using iTunes on a Mac or PC.
We apologize for any inconvenience, this was designed to be a factory test and was not intended to affect customers. Customers who paid for an out-of-warranty replacement of their device based on this issue should contact AppleCare about a reimbursement.