Computing devices and methods for controlling light output of a display are disclosed. In one example, a default brightness setting is set to an indoor light output level. A UV light sensor is activated to detect UV radiation levels. Based on determining that one or more of the UV radiation levels exceed a UV threshold, the default brightness setting is updated to correspond to an outdoor light output level that is greater than the indoor light output level. Without using information from an ambient light sensor, the display is activated from a deactivated state to illuminate at the updated default brightness setting corresponding to the outdoor light output level.
