How to update your iPhone to fix Error 53

By Rene Ritchie
last updated

Error 53 occurs when a security check detects your Touch ID button no longer matches other components in your iPhone. It was designed to make sure no one could bypass security to get at your data or access your credit cards via Apple Pay. The "Error 53" part, however, was meant to be shown at factories, not to consumers. So, Apple has released an iOS update to fix it.

Note, this won't re-enable Touch ID, as that would be a security risk. It'll simply remove the error message. Also note, you need to use iTunes for the update, and expressly request it through the Restore button. It's a straight-forward process, and we'll walk you through it step by step!

1. Make sure iTunes is up-to-date

The first thing you need to do is make sure you're running the latest version of iTunes. If you're on a Mac:

  1. Launch iTunes from the Dock, LaunchPad, or via Spotlight.
  2. Click on the menu bar at the top.
  3. Click on iTunes and then Check for Updates.
  4. Click to install any available updates.

Launch iTunes, click on the iTunes menu, click on Check for Updates

If you're running iTunes on a Windows PC:

  1. Launch iTunes.
  2. Click on Help.
  3. Click on Check for updates.

2. How to reset your iPhone or iPad

Next, you need to reset your iPhone or iPad:

  1. Press and hold down the On/Off button on the right side (iPhone 6 or later) or top (all other iPhones, iPods, and iPads).
  2. Press and hold down the Home button on the front of your iPhone, iPod touch, or iPad while still holding down the On/Off button.
  3. Keep holding both buttons as the screen turns off keep holding both buttons until the turns back on again and displays the Apple logo.

Hold down the sleep and home button until your iPhone reboots

3. Update your iPhone using iTunes

Once that's all done, you can update to the fixed version of iOS:

  1. Launch iTunes on your Mac or Windows PC
  2. Plug your iPhone into your computer using your USB to Lightning cable.
  3. Click on the device icon at the top left to go to the device tab.
  4. Click on Restore in the Summary pane.

  1. Click on Download and Install.
  2. Agree to the Terms and Conditions.
  3. Enter the Passcode on your iPhone or iPad, if prompted.

What to do if you still get Error 53

Reinstalling the latest version of iOS onto your iPhone should clear Error 53. If it doesn't, you'll need to contact Apple support. (It may be worth trying the update at least a couple times just to make sure it doesn't work for you.)

If you had Error 53, did the update fix it? Let us know in the comments!

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Rene Ritchie
Rene Ritchie
Contributor

Rene Ritchie is one of the most respected Apple analysts in the business, reaching a combined audience of over 40 million readers a month. His YouTube channel, Vector, has over 90 thousand subscribers and 14 million views and his podcasts, including Debug, have been downloaded over 20 million times. He also regularly co-hosts MacBreak Weekly for the TWiT network and co-hosted CES Live! and Talk Mobile. Based in Montreal, Rene is a former director of product marketing, web developer, and graphic designer. He's authored several books and appeared on numerous television and radio segments to discuss Apple and the technology industry. When not working, he likes to cook, grapple, and spend time with his friends and family.

16 Comments
  • Good on Apple in caving in, albeit with some PR spin BS.
  • It sounds more like full back-pedal finding something to blame. The lawsuit ink is still drying as this reversal comes out.
  • iPhone users are the biggest lot of whiners ever!
  • Because having your phone repaired by your local repair shop because the nearest Apple Store is 50 miles away deserves you having your phone disabled? Let's see your phone get disabled, you telling me you won't whine?
  • Not really. iPhone users expect perfection from Apple and they demand it. On the other hand Android users know from the get-go they are glued, screwed, and tattooed as far as bug fixes and updates go. And let’s not even talk about the security sieve that is Android.
  • Riiiiiggghhht
  • +1 Sent from the iMore App
  • Very true Posted via the iMore App on my iPhone 6s Plus 64 gigabytes
  • Nailed it Sent from the iMore App
  • Step 3b mentions the 30 pin cable. I thought this issue was only with phones with Touch ID, which only have Lightning. Sent from the iMore App
  • Once again, those with no computer get left out!
  • Apple store! How exactly is anyone going to reset/recover a "bricked" error 53 phone without a computer anyway? If you want to protect yourself from error 53 & don't have a comp you can apply that over the air instead of with a computer, this is for users with bricked error 53 iphones.
  • Good but sucks that Touch ID won't work. Nice PR spin Apple did saying that consumers weren't suppose to see this. Posted via the iMore App on my iPhone 6s Plus 64 gigabytes
  • Good. I will tell my sister to update her iPhone 6 to the latest version of iOS.
  • So what will this update do ?
    Like the middle ground that the more moderate users asked ?
    To still punish them by disabling Touch ID but without locking the other functions.
  • hi,
    recently after the update to iOS 9.2.1, I'm not able to sync my photos through iTunes. An Error (-54) props up.
    Phone: Iphone 6S 64GB Gold unlocked and 1 week old
    PC used running Windows 10
    Updated recently
    touch iD works perfect... I've not experienced the Error -53 issue.
    This is an Error -54 issue
    Kindly help