Apple Has a New Fix for Phones Bricked by Error 53

In the latest update to iOS, Apple has issued a patch for one of its most stubborn and mystifying errors, potentially restoring countless bricked phones to functionality. Typically triggered by third-party repairs, Error 53 has been causing headaches for months, but became particularly prominent earlier this month when a freelance reporter described severe difficulty restoring his phone after having it repaired while on assignment in Macedonia.

While rare, the error is significant because of its severe consequences. Error 53 is typically triggered by a disruption of the link between the Touch ID fingerprint reader and the Secure Enclave within the phone, which often causes the phone to brick completely. Many users who took those phones to nearby Apple stores were told the phones were effectively unrecoverable.

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This article originally appeared on Recode.net.

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