diff --git a/changelog/unreleased/issue-4033 b/changelog/unreleased/issue-4033
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..1f356caaa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog/unreleased/issue-4033
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+# The first line must start with Bugfix:, Enhancement: or Change:,
+# including the colon. Use present tense. Remove lines starting with '#'
+# from this template.
+Change: copy command no longer prints skipped existing snapshots by default
+
+# Describe the problem in the past tense, the new behavior in the present
+# tense. Mention the affected commands, backends, operating systems, etc.
+# Focus on user-facing behavior, not the implementation.
+
+Restic copy always printed each skipped snapshot that existed on the remote and
+would bury the snapshots that were copied amongst the output.  The new default
+only outputs new copies.  Increase the verbose level to see skipped existing
+snapshots.
+
+# The last section is a list of issue, PR and forum URLs.
+# The first issue ID determines the filename for the changelog entry:
+# changelog/unreleased/issue-1234. If there are no relevant issue links,
+# use the PR ID and call the file pull-55555.
+
+https://github.com/restic/restic/issues/4033
diff --git a/cmd/restic/cmd_copy.go b/cmd/restic/cmd_copy.go
index 08df7e8a7..14ab1917a 100644
--- a/cmd/restic/cmd_copy.go
+++ b/cmd/restic/cmd_copy.go
@@ -120,7 +120,6 @@ func runCopy(ctx context.Context, opts CopyOptions, gopts GlobalOptions, args []
 	visitedTrees := restic.NewIDSet()
 
 	for sn := range FindFilteredSnapshots(ctx, srcSnapshotLister, srcRepo, opts.Hosts, opts.Tags, opts.Paths, args) {
-		Verbosef("\nsnapshot %s of %v at %s)\n", sn.ID().Str(), sn.Paths, sn.Time)
 
 		// check whether the destination has a snapshot with the same persistent ID which has similar snapshot fields
 		srcOriginal := *sn.ID()
@@ -131,7 +130,8 @@ func runCopy(ctx context.Context, opts CopyOptions, gopts GlobalOptions, args []
 			isCopy := false
 			for _, originalSn := range originalSns {
 				if similarSnapshots(originalSn, sn) {
-					Verbosef("skipping source snapshot %s, was already copied to snapshot %s\n", sn.ID().Str(), originalSn.ID().Str())
+					Verboseff("\nsnapshot %s of %v at %s)\n", sn.ID().Str(), sn.Paths, sn.Time)
+					Verboseff("skipping source snapshot %s, was already copied to snapshot %s\n", sn.ID().Str(), originalSn.ID().Str())
 					isCopy = true
 					break
 				}
@@ -140,6 +140,7 @@ func runCopy(ctx context.Context, opts CopyOptions, gopts GlobalOptions, args []
 				continue
 			}
 		}
+		Verbosef("\nsnapshot %s of %v at %s)\n", sn.ID().Str(), sn.Paths, sn.Time)
 		Verbosef("  copy started, this may take a while...\n")
 		if err := copyTree(ctx, srcRepo, dstRepo, visitedTrees, *sn.Tree, gopts.Quiet); err != nil {
 			return err