diff --git a/src/output.h b/src/output.h
--- a/src/output.h
+++ b/src/output.h
@@ -106,9 +106,22 @@
          *
          * @return identifying hash of this output
          * @since 5.15
+         * @deprecated
+         * @see hashMd5
          */
         QString hash() const;
 
+        /**
+         * Returns an identifying hex encoded MD5-hash for this output.
+         *
+         * The hash is calculated either via the edid hash or if no
+         * edid is available by the output name, which is hashed as well.
+         *
+         * @return identifying hash of this output
+         * @since 5.17
+         */
+        QString hashMd5() const;
+
         Type type() const;
         void setType(Type type);
 
diff --git a/src/output.cpp b/src/output.cpp
--- a/src/output.cpp
+++ b/src/output.cpp
@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@
 #include <QStringList>
 #include <QScopedPointer>
 #include <QRect>
+#include <QCryptographicHash>
 
 using namespace KScreen;
 
@@ -218,6 +219,16 @@
     return name();
 }
 
+QString Output::hashMd5() const
+{
+    if (edid() && edid()->isValid()) {
+        return edid()->hash();
+    }
+    const auto hash = QCryptographicHash::hash(name().toLatin1(),
+                                               QCryptographicHash::Md5);
+    return QString::fromLatin1(hash.toHex());
+}
+
 Output::Type Output::type() const
 {
     return d->type;