The aim of this study is to identify effective interventions to increase physical activity in the population or selected groups. A two-stage search of systematic reviews from the past 5 years was conducted, first for ‘physical activity’ and ‘policy’ or ‘interventions’, then for each of the identified areas. Results. 9011 systematic and umbrella reviews were identified, of which 68 studies were included in the review. Effective interventions to increase physical activity included the use of wearable physical activity trackers. Potentially effective interventions included health care consultations, physical activity programmes in educational organizations, community-based interventions, ‘cueing’, motivational signs about taking the stairs instead of the lift, use of digital physical activity support services, gamification of physical activity, behaviour change techniques and infrastructure to support walking cycling or mechanical scooter riding. Potentially effective interventions to increase physical activity include social media advertising campaigns (primarily effective for walking) and financial incentives.