The only exception is a feature called found in some modern UEFI menus (common on MSI, ASUS, or Gigabyte motherboards). This doesn't "format" the drive for use, but it does completely wipe the data from an SSD, returning it to a factory-fresh state. How to Format a Drive "Before" Windows Starts
Save and exit. The PC will boot into the Windows installer. Format via Setup: Select your language and click "Install Now." Choose "Custom: Install Windows only (advanced)."
While you cannot format from the BIOS, you use the BIOS to reach a tool that can format the drive. This is the industry-standard method for wiping drives.
Since you can’t do it from BIOS, use one of these methods:
Users often want to format their drive because the operating system is broken. This creates a paradox:
The BIOS (or its modern replacement, UEFI) is low-level firmware responsible for initializing hardware and booting the operating system. It has no built-in file system tools (like NTFS, exFAT, or APFS). Formatting requires writing a file system structure—something only an operating system or dedicated bootable software can do.
Note: If you just want to wipe it and not reinstall Windows, you can simply exit the installer after the format is complete. Method 2: Using the Command Prompt (The Pro Way)
The computer will restart, but instead of loading Windows, it will load the software on your USB stick.
Formatting a drive involves creating a file system (like NTFS for Windows or EXT4 for Linux). To do this, the computer needs to run software that can write complex data tables to the disk sectors. The BIOS lacks the code libraries required to interface with the drive at that level. It can detect the drive’s existence (via the SATA/NVMe controller), but it cannot write the files necessary to "format" it.
You just want to clear space or fix a minor software error; a standard format is faster and less stressful on the hardware.