iOS 13 update bricked my iPhone SE

If your iOS device restarts or displays the Apple logo or a spinning gear unexpectedly - https://support.apple.com/HT203899

Try recovery mode. Unfortunately right now is probably not the best time to try and download a huge amount of installer files from Apple because everybody else in the world is trying to do so as well.

If you can't update or restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support - https://support.apple.com/HT201263

yes I also have an iphone SE also and updated to 13 today too. I had all kinds of problems also just getting the update to install. I even tried doing the update by plugging my iphone into my computer itunes and making that itunes do it. nothing worked. finally I synced my iphone to the icloud, went back to my computer itunes with my iphone plugged into it and made my computer itunes do a factory reset on the iphone then a restore all my iphone info from the icloud. it worked for me and I got new 13 ios. hope this helps you figure this problem out.

Hi Dan

In the end I had to rest my phone to factory settings. When I then went to iCloud to restore the latest back up I was greatly relieved to see not only my iPhone back up but my iPad too. I keep them synced.

I cant say if iOS 13.3.1 is of any help. I can say that my phone hasn't prompted me to do the update as it usually does which is curious.

It is unlikely it is the update alone that is causing this, otherwise we'd be seeing thousands of topics about this and not just yours. You can take your phone to an Apple Genius Bar and see if they can get the update to work.

How to find your nearest Apple Authorized Service Provider (AASP) or Apple Authorized Distributor (AAD) - https://locate.apple.com/country

Genius Bar appointment - Unfortunately Apple has made this tricky to get to directly. Go to https://www.apple.com/retail/geniusbar/ > Get hardware help. Select your hardware and continue selecting options requiring replacing parts until you see "Bring in for Repair" --> Sign in with Apple ID

At this stage I would take it to an Apple Store and let them figure it out.

Looks like you tried just about everything you can possibly do to get this fixed. Sorry, it didn't work out for you. The only thing I can suggest is making a Genius Bar appointment at your local Apple Store or Apple Authorized Service Provider to have them take a look and get this resolved for you quickly so you can get back to using your phone.

Ref: Genius Bar Reservation and Apple Support Options - Apple

Isn't recovery (vs. restore) mode and DFU essentially the same thing? These links, and yours, seem to indicate it is. DFU just seems to be an older term (the DFU link is from 9 years ago).

Oct. 2017 https://discussions.apple.com/thread/7940102

"You'll want to plug the iPad in first to you computer, and then press the home button and power button at the same time until the screen goes black. 2 seconds after the screen goes black, let go of the power button, but keep holding the home button until iTunes recognizes the iPad in recovery mode. This is called DFU mode. Unfortunately if the iPad is disabled, a complete restore is the only option. I hope it's backed up somewhere."

If you can't update or restore your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support

This article is about recovery mode.

One further thing in addition to what the other two posters said.

I had a new iPhone 6, and updated back then over wifi and some thing corrupted the core files and nothing I did and none of the steps they walked me through worked - only thing worked was for apple store to install below the iOS level, And restore my phone from backup,

Hi Dan,

I just wanted to give you a quick update. I tried iOS 13.3 beta 2 and beta 3, and both still suffer the same issue. It looks like the iOS 10.x to iOS 13.x direct upgrade is still not supported/working.

... and DFU mode would be the "last resort" before going to the Genius Bar. Good luck!

Ref: http://osxdaily.com/2010/06/24/iphone-dfu-mode-explained-and-how-to-enter-dfu-mode-on-your-iphone/

FWIW, I just updated my iPhone SE to iOS 13 and had no issues doing so. However, unlike you, my phone was running iOS 12.4.1 when I upgraded it ... so I don't know if the issue you are having is the result of upgrading from a much earlier version.

What have you tried, so far yourself, to resolve this? Hard reset, restore, etc.?