UNAUDITED CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		6 Months Ended
	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020	Jun. 30, 2021	Jun. 30, 2020
Income Statement [Abstract]
Revenue	$ 14,561	$ 17,085	$ 30,449	$ 33,907
Cost of revenue	3,572	4,263	7,251	8,367
Gross profit	10,989	12,822	23,198	25,540
Operating expenses:
Research and development	6,330	5,988	12,568	12,594
Sales and marketing	5,259	4,839	10,396	10,839
General and administrative	4,376	3,978	9,274	9,139
Business Combination, Contingent Consideration Arrangements, Change in Amount of Contingent Consideration, Liability	0	100	(1,040)	(200)
Restructuring and other charges	718	704	3,889	790
Total operating expenses	16,683	15,609	35,087	33,162
Operating loss	(5,694)	(2,787)	(11,889)	(7,622)
Other income (expenses):
Interest Expense	24	5	119	5
Interest income	7	19	20	25
Gain (Loss) on Sale of Investments	(569)	(53)	(4,841)	(53)
Gain (Loss) on Extinguishment of Debt	2,897	0	2,897	0
Other income (expense), net	1,916	(71)	2,020	167
Nonoperating Income (Expense), Total	4,227	(110)	(23)	134
Loss from continuing operations before income taxes	(1,467)	(2,897)	(11,912)	(7,488)
Income tax expense	18	265	127	290
Net loss from continuing operations	(1,485)	(3,162)	(12,039)	(7,778)
Net loss from discontinued operations, net of tax	0	(2,392)	0	(2,465)
Net loss	(1,485)	(5,554)	(12,039)	(10,243)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests of continuing operations	(138)	(66)	(244)	(119)
Net loss attributable to noncontrolling interests of discontinued operations	0	(376)	0	(370)
Net loss attributable to RealNetworks	(1,347)	(5,112)	(11,795)	(9,754)
Income (Loss) from Continuing Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	(1,347)	(3,096)	(11,795)	(7,659)
Income (Loss) from Discontinued Operations, Net of Tax, Attributable to Parent	0	(2,016)	0	(2,095)
Net Income (Loss) Attributable to Parent	$ (1,347)	$ (5,112)	$ (11,795)	$ (9,754)
Continuing operations, basic (USD per share)	$ (0.03)	$ (0.08)	$ (0.28)	$ (0.20)
Discontinued operations, basic (USD per share)	0	(0.05)	0	(0.06)
Basic net income (loss) per share (USD per share)	(0.03)	(0.13)	(0.28)	(0.26)
Continuing operations, diluted (USD per share)	(0.03)	(0.08)	(0.28)	(0.20)
Discontinued operations, diluted (USD per share)	0	(0.05)	0	(0.06)
Diluted net income (loss) per share (USD per share)	$ (0.03)	$ (0.13)	$ (0.28)	$ (0.26)
Shares used to compute basic net income (loss) per share	44,284,000	38,243,000	41,409,000	38,236,000
Shares used to compute diluted net income (loss) per share	44,284,000	38,243,000	41,409,000	38,236,000