diff --git a/mitmproxy/addons/core.py b/mitmproxy/addons/core.py
index 46cff8b50..875da32b1 100644
--- a/mitmproxy/addons/core.py
+++ b/mitmproxy/addons/core.py
@@ -153,3 +153,62 @@ class Core:
 
         ctx.master.addons.trigger("update", updated)
         ctx.log.alert("Set %s on  %s flows." % (spec, len(updated)))
+
+    @command.command("flow.decode")
+    def decode(self, flows: typing.Sequence[flow.Flow], part: str) -> None:
+        """
+            Decode flows.
+        """
+        updated = []
+        for f in flows:
+            p = getattr(f, part, None)
+            if p:
+                p.decode()
+                updated.append(f)
+        ctx.master.addons.trigger("update", updated)
+        ctx.log.alert("Decoded %s flows." % len(updated))
+
+    @command.command("flow.encode.toggle")
+    def encode_toggle(self, flows: typing.Sequence[flow.Flow], part: str) -> None:
+        """
+            Toggle flow encoding on and off, using deflate for encoding.
+        """
+        updated = []
+        for f in flows:
+            p = getattr(f, part, None)
+            if p:
+                current_enc = p.headers.get("content-encoding", "identity")
+                if current_enc == "identity":
+                    p.encode("deflate")
+                else:
+                    p.decode()
+                updated.append(f)
+        ctx.master.addons.trigger("update", updated)
+        ctx.log.alert("Toggled encoding on %s flows." % len(updated))
+
+    @command.command("flow.encode")
+    def encode(self, flows: typing.Sequence[flow.Flow], part: str, enc: str) -> None:
+        """
+            Encode flows with a specified encoding.
+        """
+        if enc not in self.encode_options():
+            raise exceptions.CommandError("Invalid encoding format: %s" % enc)
+
+        updated = []
+        for f in flows:
+            p = getattr(f, part, None)
+            if p:
+                current_enc = p.headers.get("content-encoding", "identity")
+                if current_enc == "identity":
+                    p.encode(enc)
+                    updated.append(f)
+        ctx.master.addons.trigger("update", updated)
+        ctx.log.alert("Encoded %s flows." % len(updated))
+
+    @command.command("flow.encode.options")
+    def encode_options(self) -> typing.Sequence[str]:
+        """
+            The possible values for an encoding specification.
+
+        """
+        return ["gzip", "deflate", "br"]
diff --git a/mitmproxy/tools/console/flowview.py b/mitmproxy/tools/console/flowview.py
index 50f0d176d..20573efe6 100644
--- a/mitmproxy/tools/console/flowview.py
+++ b/mitmproxy/tools/console/flowview.py
@@ -122,8 +122,6 @@ TAB_RESP = 1
 
 
 class FlowDetails(tabs.Tabs):
-    highlight_color = "focusfield"
-
     def __init__(self, master, tab_offset):
         self.master = master
         super().__init__([], tab_offset)
@@ -288,14 +286,7 @@ class FlowDetails(tabs.Tabs):
         self.view.settings[self.flow][(self.tab_offset, "prettyview")] = view.name.lower()
 
     def keypress(self, size, key):
-        conn = None  # type: Optional[Union[http.HTTPRequest, http.HTTPResponse]]
-        if self.tab_offset == TAB_REQ:
-            conn = self.flow.request
-        elif self.tab_offset == TAB_RESP:
-            conn = self.flow.response
-
         key = super().keypress(size, key)
-
         key = common.shortcuts(key)
         if key in ("up", "down", "page up", "page down"):
             # Pass scroll events to the wrapped widget
@@ -313,39 +304,10 @@ class FlowDetails(tabs.Tabs):
                     self.change_this_display_mode
                 )
             )
-        elif key == "z":
-            self.flow.backup()
-            enc = conn.headers.get("content-encoding", "identity")
-            if enc != "identity":
-                try:
-                    conn.decode()
-                except ValueError:
-                    signals.status_message.send(
-                        message = "Could not decode - invalid data?"
-                    )
-            else:
-                signals.status_prompt_onekey.send(
-                    prompt = "Select encoding: ",
-                    keys = (
-                        ("gzip", "z"),
-                        ("deflate", "d"),
-                        ("brotli", "b"),
-                    ),
-                    callback = self.encode_callback,
-                    args = (conn,)
-                )
         else:
             # Key is not handled here.
             return key
 
-    def encode_callback(self, key, conn):
-        encoding_map = {
-            "z": "gzip",
-            "d": "deflate",
-            "b": "br",
-        }
-        conn.encode(encoding_map[key])
-
 
 class FlowView(urwid.Frame):
     keyctx = "flowview"
diff --git a/mitmproxy/tools/console/master.py b/mitmproxy/tools/console/master.py
index fb613f14e..159d3c3c0 100644
--- a/mitmproxy/tools/console/master.py
+++ b/mitmproxy/tools/console/master.py
@@ -318,6 +318,12 @@ def default_keymap(km):
         ["flowview"]
     )
     km.add("p", "view.focus.prev", ["flowview"])
+    km.add(
+        "z",
+        "console.choose \"Part\" request,response "
+        "flow.encode.toggle @focus {choice}",
+        ["flowview"]
+    )
 
 
 class ConsoleMaster(master.Master):
diff --git a/test/mitmproxy/addons/test_core.py b/test/mitmproxy/addons/test_core.py
index 302b78ae0..eaf0dfa08 100644
--- a/test/mitmproxy/addons/test_core.py
+++ b/test/mitmproxy/addons/test_core.py
@@ -100,3 +100,31 @@ def test_flow_set():
         assert f.response.reason != "foo"
         sa.flow_set([f], "reason", "foo")
         assert f.response.reason == "foo"
+
+
+def test_encoding():
+    sa = core.Core()
+    with taddons.context():
+        f = tflow.tflow()
+        assert sa.encode_options()
+        sa.encode([f], "request", "deflate")
+        assert f.request.headers["content-encoding"] == "deflate"
+
+        sa.encode([f], "request", "br")
+        assert f.request.headers["content-encoding"] == "deflate"
+
+        sa.decode([f], "request")
+        assert "content-encoding" not in f.request.headers
+
+        sa.encode([f], "request", "br")
+        assert f.request.headers["content-encoding"] == "br"
+
+        sa.encode_toggle([f], "request")
+        assert "content-encoding" not in f.request.headers
+        sa.encode_toggle([f], "request")
+        assert f.request.headers["content-encoding"] == "deflate"
+        sa.encode_toggle([f], "request")
+        assert "content-encoding" not in f.request.headers
+
+        with pytest.raises(exceptions.CommandError):
+            sa.encode([f], "request", "invalid")