Document and Entity Information - USD ($) $ in Millions	12 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017	Feb. 23, 2018	Jun. 30, 2017
Document and Entity Information [Abstract]
Document Type	10-K
Amendment Flag	false
Document Period End Date	Dec. 31, 2017
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2017
Document Fiscal Period Focus	FY
Trading Symbol	RNWK
Entity Registrant Name	REALNETWORKS INC
Entity Central Index Key	0001046327
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Filer Category	Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		37,341,387
Entity Well-known Seasoned Issuer	No
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Voluntary Filers	No
Entity Public Float			$ 104