The story about the iPhone 6 and Error 53 - caused by specific third party repairs to devices, isn't over yet and will likely rumble on, I suspect, until Apple is forced to come up with a better solution than we've seen so far.
It's a PR nightmare for sure - even though most agree that security of Touch ID is paramount, it's my view that this has been handled badly even before cases of Error 53 turned up in the wild following iPhone 6 repairs. Apple should have made it clearer that this could happen and why it would happen - if either the logic board or Touch ID sensor/Home Button are replaced in the unit.
The Home Button and Touch ID sensor in the iPhone 6. Image Credit: Antony Leather
Third party repairs don't necessarily cause the iPhone 6 to be bricked, but if you replace the Touch ID sensor as part of a screen repair - which incidentally is significantly easier than not doing so as it can come built into the new screen, then you'll likely be hit with the dreaded error the next time you update the device's iOS version.
So, what does this mean for third party repairs and can you still do them yourself? Well, things are now fairly clear as to what causes the error in the first place and it's still possible to replace the screen or all manner of other components without triggering Error 53. For instance, I've personally changed the battery on my iPhone 6 and have since updated to iOS 9 and haven't been met with Error 53. The key is NOT to replace the Touch ID button/Home Button. Unfortunately, when replacing the screen, as I've already mentioned, it's much, much easier to replace the entire section - Home Button and all.
I did this very thing in my complete How to replace the iPhone 5's screen guide back in 2014. You buy the single-piece screen and home button assembly (usually for a much lower price than sending your device to Apple for the same repair), open up the device, remove the old screen, pop in the new one and you're done. Literally 5-10 minutes work if you know what you're doing and a far quicker and cheaper solution than sending your device off to Apple too.
So, if like me you're not Apple's biggest fan after this news, here's how to replace your own iPhone 6's screen. Be warned, though, this is not a straightforward process. If anything, I'm showing just how much of a nightmare it's going to be for repair shops to carry out a screen repair now and it's something you should insist upon if you get your iPhone 6 repaired - this is very important.
For starters you'll need an iPhone-specific tool kit as well as a replacement screen. This costs less than $125 for everything although it will mean transplanting a lot of gear from your old screen, which will take longer. This comprises:
- A suction cup to lift the screen out of the case
- A plastic pick for removing the internal screen connection,
- A small crosshead screwdriver
- A 5-star pentalope screwdriver for removing the iPhone's main screws.
- iPhone 6 LCD screen - make sure it does not come with a home button attached
Image Credit: Antony Leather
I've been speaking to Etradesupply who first alerted me to the fact that Error 53 can raise its head if you replace the Home Button last year and has confirmed it's had no issues using this method to replace the iPhone 6's screen. Also, thanks to them for supplying the tools and iPhone 6 screen, which I've linked to above.
Image Credit: Antony Leather
Step 1. Switch off the device and remove the two screws at the base using the 5-star screwdriver.
Image Credit: Antony Leather
Step 2. Use the suction cup to remove the screen. Place it as close to the Home Button as you can to get some leverage. You can then use a fingernail to prise the gap open.
Step 3. Remove battery shield. Before you unplug any other cables or deal with screws, locate the battery shield and remove it using the screwdriver. It's to the right of the battery and looks like this.
Step4. Disconnect the battery using the plastic pick. All the connectors will dislodge in the same way - put the pick under the connector and lever it up. It will pop off.
Step 5. Locate the connector shield above the sim card slot. Remove it using the small crosshead screwdriver. At no point should you lift the screen by more than 90 degrees. Also, be very sure to remember which screws go where as they're not the same length. See more on this in step 26.
Image Credit: Antony Leather
Step 6. Disconnect the four flex cables that are attached to the screen using the plastic pick to lift them off gently.
Image Credit: Antony Leather
Step 7. Remove the screen then the Home Button plate.
Image Credit: Antony Leather
Step 8. Remove the screen backing plate screws.
Step 9. Remove screws in the sides of the backing plate.
Image Credit: Antony Leather
Step 10. Use scalpel to lift the Home Button cable. This will likely be stuck down so use a hair dryer in 10-20 second bursts to warm the adhesive. Point the blade edge down so you're prising the cable away from the chassis and not cutting into it.
Image Credit: Antony Leather
Step 11. Remove Home Button. The source of all our problems. It should come away with its rubber surround intact. However, as reader Eric L has correctly pointed out, depending on the extent of the damage to your screen, you'll need to clear off any debris that might be stuck to the Home Button and rubber surround first. Unfortunately, if your Home Button is also damaged, you'll need to get in touch with Apple to replace it and your screen as there's currently no way to replace the Home Button assembly yourself without triggering Error 53.
Image Credit: Antony Leather
Step 12. Transplant Home Button into new screen.
Image Credit: Antony Leather
Step 13. Lift backing plate cable - again you may need to use a hair dryer and scalpel to deal with the adhesive.
Image Credit: Antony Leather
Step 14. Remove backing plate.
Image Credit: Antony Leather
Step 16. Remove components
Image Credit: Antony Leather
Step 18. Detach plastic mount. There's a small gold chip at the end of the plastic/rubber mount. You can use a scalpel to prize/cut off the rubber and adhesive backing here. It should look like this. We don't need these as the new screen comes with new ones.
Image Credit: Antony Leather
Step 20. Install ribbon set
Image Credit: Antony Leather
Step 21. Reinstall components - the top cable overlays over this.
Image Credit: Antony Leather
Step 22. Attach cables and camera
Image Credit: Antony Leather
Step 23. Reinstall shield
Image Credit: Antony Leather
Step 24. Overlay cables. The screen section cables need to be overlaid in the right order - you'll likely need to tuck one under the other so they connect one by one into the large medium and small connectors in the next step.
Image Credit: Antony Leather
Step 25. Reattach screen cables. There are four to reattach and each one is a different size. Use the plastic pic to gently press them into place.
Image Credit: Antony Leather
Step 26. Attach screen cable shield, but be extra careful to use the correct screw for each hole. In particular, the three screws nearest to the SIM card slot use the shortest three of the five screws. The screw I'm dealing with in the above photo is the longest screw, and the one at the top left of the shield is in between. Screwing the long screw into any of the other holes can damage your phone.
Image Credit: Antony Leather
Step 27. Attach Home Button Shield
Image Credit: Antony Leather
Step 28. Power on iPhone. With all cables attached, power on the phone. It should fire up as normal. Also check that the camera and Touch ID work.
Image Credit: Antony Leather
Step 29. Install case screws
That's it! So it's clear that Error 53 is certainly a big issue, but not something that's going to kill off home or third part repairs altogether. However, it has made replacing an iPhone screen far more difficult and time-consuming due to the fact that several of the ribbon cables are glued down and you need to transplant a number of components. This means that instead of a 5-minute repair, you're now looking at at least 30 minutes, possibly more if you're also replacing the camera and speaker modules between screens too.
Fixing a device that already has Error 53 (apparently it has been done) is likely not going to be possible unless you have the original home button and cables for your iPhone 6 - reinserting it can apparently fix the error. That's obviously no good if you took your iPhone with its smashed screen to a repair shop 3 months ago and have since disposed of the old one with touch button attached. In the meantime, let's hope Apple finds a solution to help unbrick the iPhones of those poor souls out there and if you get your iPhone 6 repaired by a third party, then make very sure they reattach the old Home Button assembly.
